Building Your Own Home?
We’ll Handle the ICF.
You Run the Site.

Yes — that’s most of what we do for owner-builders. Send your plans, tell us which scope you want (foundation only, full shell, supply only, plans review), and we’ll come back with a written scope and a real number. There’s no expectation that we take over the rest of your build, and there’s no obligation if our number doesn’t work.

Yes. We coordinate around your project timeline and confirm a start date and finish date in writing. We also tell you what we need from the trade before us (typically excavation and footings) and what we hand off to the trade after us (typically your framer). Most owner-builders book us 6–10 weeks ahead for foundations — longer for full shells.

For a good number, we want to see: (1) site plan with grading and access; (2) foundation plan with footings and wall heights; (3) main floor plan and elevations if quoting above-grade ICF; (4) structural engineer’s rebar schedule if available. If you only have early concept drawings, we can give a ballpark range — useful for budgeting but not for committing.

This is the question to ask your real estate lawyer, not your ICF installer. The short version: in Ontario, a home built by the owner for their own use can qualify as an “owner-built home” exempt from Tarion warranty enrollment — but only if you exercise significant control over the build (decision-making, contractor selection, materials, schedule). “Significant control” isn’t strictly defined in regulation; it’s assessed case-by-case. There are also rules around how long you must hold the home before selling. The penalties for getting it wrong are serious. Before you start, sit down with a real estate lawyer familiar with Tarion/HCRA matters and confirm your build qualifies. We’ll provide our WSIB Clearance, insurance, and a clear scope — the kind of paperwork that supports your owner-builder file either way.

Honest answer: usually no, and we’ll tell you that upfront. The crew labour on an ICF wall is a smaller share of the total cost than people assume — blocks, rebar, concrete, pump, bracing equipment, and engineering account for most of it. What you can sometimes do is the prep (site grading, footings if you have an excavator) or the post (backfill, waterproofing). If you’re committed to learning ICF for future projects, supply-only with on-site guidance is a more honest option than partial install.

It happens often and it’s usually fine, as long as we get involved early. Send us the plans before construction documents are finalized. We’ll flag things like wall thicknesses, beam pocket details, ledger anchor specs, brick ledge geometry, and the rebar schedule that an ICF-experienced designer would catch. Better to fix on paper than in the field. Plans review is a service we offer for exactly this reason.

Every ICFpro installation is built to meet 2024 OBC requirements (O. Reg. 163/24, in force since January 1, 2025). ICF makes hitting SB-12 energy targets easier than wood frame, and we handle the structural details per CSA A23.3 and your engineer’s schedule. The 2024 OBC also brought new MVDS (Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary) requirements that interact with the airtight envelope ICF creates — we can flag this for your HVAC trade. Full detail in our ICF & 2024 OBC guide.

It happens. Owner-building is harder than most people expect — the coordination, the decision fatigue, the warranty piece. If you decide you want a full design-build relationship instead, our sister company ICFhome.ca handles that — same team, plans-to-keys project management. We’ve had owner-builders make that switch mid-project. No judgment.

Our core market is Simcoe County and the Georgian Bay region — Barrie, Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny Township, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Blue Mountain, Springwater, Oro-Medonte. We also take select projects in Muskoka, the Kawarthas, and GTA north. Outside this immediate area, contact us with the project specifics and we’ll tell you honestly whether the travel makes sense.