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Hiring · Vetting a Crew20 Questions to Ask an ICF Contractor
20 Questions to Ask an ICF Contractor
Before You Sign Anything
Anyone can buy ICF blocks. Not everyone should pour them. These are the questions we would ask if we were hiring an ICF crew for our own house, and the answers that should make you nervous.
The Short Answer
Ask about experience (how many ICF pours, which brands, references you can visit), process (bracing, lifts, bucks, who runs the pump), paperwork (insurance, WSIB, warranty, written scope), and price (what the number includes, per square foot of what). Walk away from anyone who cannot show you recent ICF work, will not put the scope in writing, or quotes a price without seeing drawings.
Experience
- How many ICF projects have you poured, and how many this year? You want a number, not "lots".
- Which brands do you install? Experience with the brand on your drawings matters for details like bucks and corners.
- Can I see a recent job, or talk to the owners? Good crews are proud of their walls.
- Who will actually be on site? The person quoting is not always the person stacking.
- Have you done this type of job? Walkout, pool, two storeys, retaining, waterfront.
Process and Quality
- What bracing system do you use, and how often do you check plumb during the pour?
- How do you pour? Listen for lifts of a few feet, working around the building.
- How do you brace window and door bucks? This is where blowouts happen.
- Who orders the concrete and what mix? Small stone, the strength on the drawings.
- What happens if a wall bulges? The right answer is calm and specific.
- Who sets anchors, sleeves and ledger connections? Get a list.
- What tolerance do you build to for straight and plumb?
Ask Us These Questions
We are happy to answer every one of them. Thirty years of ICF and 300+ projects across Simcoe County and Georgian Bay. Send your plans or call.
Insurance, Warranty and Paperwork
- Can I have your certificate of insurance and WSIB clearance? Before they start, not after.
- What is your warranty, in writing? Ours is 7 years on materials and workmanship.
- Will you work from stamped drawings, and who coordinates with the engineer?
- Who books the inspections?
Price and Scope
- Is the price per square foot of wall or per square foot of floor? It changes the total by three to five times.
- What is included? Forms, steel, concrete, pump, bracing, bucks, labour, waterproofing, backfill?
- What are the extras? Rock, winter, changes, extra trips.
- What is the payment schedule? Tied to stages, not front-loaded.
Our ICF cost guide shows what a complete scope should include.
Red Flags
Walk away if you hear
"We pour it all in one go, it is faster." "We do not need bracing on the short walls." "Insurance? We are covered." (with nothing on paper). "I can give you a price without seeing drawings." "Half up front, cash."
For a wider view on choosing a builder, see how to choose a custom home builder and why people hire ICFPro.
Get a Real Number for Your Project
Send us your plans or a rough sketch. We price the ICF work from real wall areas, not guesses, and tell you straight if ICF is not the right fit.
Questions We Get
How do I find a good ICF contractor?+
Ask how many ICF projects they have poured, which brands, and for recent jobs you can see. Get insurance, WSIB and warranty in writing, and a written scope that says what the price includes.
What should an ICF quote include?+
Forms, rebar, concrete and pump, bracing, window and door bucks, labour, and clearly stated items like waterproofing and backfill. It should say whether the price is per square foot of wall or floor.
What warranty should an ICF contractor give?+
At least a written warranty on materials and workmanship. We give 7 years on ours.
Should I pay a deposit to an ICF contractor?+
A reasonable deposit to schedule and order materials is normal. Payments should follow stages of work, not be mostly up front.