FROM IDAHO TO NEW YORK - MENZEL'S MONO-POUR METHOD 'MAKES IT'
 

This monopour with Fastfoot® was completed before noon. Note the absence of any concrete leaking from the forms. Fastfoot® is a closed form that protects concrete from rising ground moisture.

August 2008 - This great story comes from Mike Hoit, Sales Manager for Triple “A” Building Centers, a lumber and building materials supplier in upstate New York.

Triple “A”, with branches in Massena (315)764-0596, Canton 386-4531 and Potsdam 265-2350, supplies small and medium sized contractors as well as a large DIY customer base. Triple "A" distributes Logix ICF and Fab-Form products.

Using 'Menzel's Method', two hat tracks support each ICF block. On the corners the track is installed at 45 degrees.

Mike Hoit begins, "A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Richard Fearn of Fab-form with a link to an issue of ICF Builders magazine. I read the story about wet-set and mono-pour methods with interest as most of the builders in this area use the tried and tested (and time-consuming) traditional two-stage pouring of footing then walls. Shortly after reading the article I spoke to Tim Marshall, owner of Marshall Bros. Construction, a Fastfoot® user, and mentioned the monopour methods to him. His first reaction was less than enthusiastic, but I sent him the article so he could review it anyway."

Note Tim's detailing on his positioning angle - he sandwiches Fastfoot® between the base of the ICF block and the positioning angle. A screw through the angle and block prevents uplift.

"Much to my surprise, a few days later, we spoke again and Tim told me that after reading about the method he decided to try it. In fact, he had two foundations to pour and wanted to mono-pour both. One job called for only a footer and frost-wall while the other was ICF to the roof-line. Because of the daily cost of a concrete pump truck, he intended to pour both foundations in one day. The first job-site was easily accessible for both the pumper and concrete trucks. The second one, approximately 50 miles away, presented some problems of access for both the pumper and concrete trucks."
 

These forms are ready for concrete. The interior will be backfilled and compacted with a concrete slab placed at the height of the exterior EPS face.

"In a summer where the weather has been sketchy at best, the day of the pour dawned clear and bright with no forecast of rain. Being interested in the mono-pour process, I was on site at 7:00 AM. The pumper set up and the first concrete truck arrived at 7:30."

"After some initial problems with the boom plugging with concrete, the pour started and went smoothly. When the forms were full, the pumper was cleaned up and headed out to Marshall Bros' second site while the first crew finished vibrating and troweling off the forms."

The second pour took place at 1:00 PM. Access for the truck and pump was somewhat restricted, but by 4:30 PM the pour was complete.

"The second pour went even better. No problems with the pump and except for a minor concern about two corners of the ICF forms leaking a bit, everything went well. By 4:30 P.M. the second footer and two courses of block were poured, the pumper and last concrete truck pulled out and the second crew finished up vibrating the walls."

"In one day, Marshall Bros. Construction poured two foundations almost 600 feet combined and 50 miles apart! Wow!"

Marshall Construction's afternoon monopour used Menzel's Method with Fastfoot®. Note the beautiful lake in the background.

"Talking to Tim later, he said this method had saved him both time and money and would be his choice for all foundations in the future."

Thanks to Mike Hoit of Triple "A" for this excellent story.

Click here for details on the Menzel Method for mono-pouring with Fastfoot®.