Testimonials
TF Concrete Forming Systems breathes design. We love to hear from our customers, and hope you enjoy reading what they have to say from us, along with learning about some of the unique aspects of some of our projects and why TF was a good fit for them.
Project: Slack Residence
Location: Charleston, SC
Product: ThermoForm
Why TF: Hurricane Resistance, Energy Efficiency, Low Maintenance
•The Slack Residence was a finalist for ICF Builder Magazine's Concrete Home of the Year Award
•Charleston Style and Design featured the Slack home
"In my role as an Owner/Builder I had the desire to build my retirement home with a complete concrete envelope. The drivers behind this desire was the experience of living in concrete homes for 16 years while living in Asia, the concern about hurricanes and earthquakes in Charleston SC, and the benefits of such construction on energy consumption. These design criteria’s led me to select TF System’s vertical ICF foam concrete forms for all the walls in the structure. For the horizontal pours I used a complimentary foam product to support the first floor pour and the flat roof pour. I can’t say enough about the superior features delivered by the vertical foam product design. The advantages include better control in achieving plumb and straight walls while using less lumber to stabilize the structure during the pouring of the concrete. This is also true of TF Systems uniquely designed corner forms. Their I-beam structural frames that are installed to hold the foam in place perfectly replicate the normal stud spacing for easy attachment of dry wall on the inside and any normal exterior product that might be selected. These three separate components (vertical foam, corner forms and I-beams) form the system for which the company draws its name and delivers to the market a superior product for building a concrete home."
Richard Slack
February 22, 2011
Project: Hinke Residence
Location: Wisconsin
Product: ThermoForm
"We are so satisfied with the TF product and installation crew that we can't wait to do our next home with TF and Kozial Constuction Inc."
Richard & Darlene Hinke
February 2011
"It’s evident the product is designed for installation convenience. If your familiar with ICF products you will note right away how TF differs from other ICF’s is the panel system."
Mike Mullins
Construction Foreman
Kozial Construction Inc
Project: Planet Fitness
Builder: Premier Construction Group, Inc.
Location: Green Bay, WI
Product: ThermoForm
Why TF: Energy Efficiency, Speed of Construction, Cold Weather Concrete Placement, Ease and Ability to build 20ft+ tall walls
Originally designed to use a well known block ICF system, Premier instead used ThermoForm to shorten their construction frame time to reduce exposure to poor winter conditions, while saving 47% on labor to install and complete the ICF portion of the project. The shortened time frame also allowed their client to open the 19,850 sq ft building for business earlier, increasing revenue while reducing loan and building costs.
"From a contractors standpoint, it is a very simple and intuitive system. I'm amazed by the different styles of installation that can be used with this system, and all are extremely efficient...The fact that this system can be easily panelized into 20’ sections is a testimonial to its ease of assembly."
David Kozial
President
Kozial Construction Inc. - Kozial trained on Planet Fitness site
"TF forms are the most efficient and convenient because walls can be pre-assembled before arrival to site or panelized on site, allowing us to have walls being assembled and installed at the same time... Another positive feature about the special design of the TF Forms is the continual access to the interior side of the ICF for all the other trades and contractors."
Mike Mullins
Construction Foreman
Kozial Construction Inc - Kozial trained on Planet Fitness site
Project: Maher Residence
Location: Wisconsin
Product: ThermoForm
Why TF: Low Energy Costs and to provide the maximum amount of living space in a medium sized house and lot.
•Constructed for under $100/sq ft
•Winner of Wisconsin Ready Mix Concrete Association Design Award
"The straight floor to ceiling walls, integral structure and great reduction in total length of joints is tough to beat"
David F. Maher
Owners' Words
"Living in Kansas, it's going to be nice to know that when storms come, my family will be safer inside ICF concrete walls. When we considered the extra safety, better insulation, sound barrier, and building convenience, it was an easy decision to use the TF System! When people ask if we planned to have a safe room, I tell them we planned to have a safe house; surrounded by ICF concrete walls!"
Justin Weibers
Manhattan, Kansas
"In Oklahoma storms are a big deal so having a home so much safer than a traditional home is a nice feeling."
James Ashford
Oklahoma
May 2011
"I like the protection the concrete core of an ICF home gives against weather and time."
Roy Wade
Kansas
May 2011
"The previous house that my husband and I had built was an energy efficient house in terms of R-Value & geothermal system. When I contracted with Dean (a TF distributor) to build my house in Alexandria MN, he sold me on the benefits of using the insulated concrete form system. The energy efficiency, structural benefits & return on investment were very important to me and made it easy for me to chose an ICF house. I'm truly happy with my beautiful home! Thanks!"
Diane Jamison
February 2011
"My wife and I built a custom home in 2010 using the TF System (insulated concrete forms) on the basement and main floor exterior walls. Our location is in western Minnesota on a lake facing the northwest. Our main concerns were the winter winds, cold and exterior noise. After doing some research, we decided on building a solid concrete two level house. We chose the vertical ICF system because of the superior insulating and soundproof benefits. Because the walls are perfectly flat, inside and outside finishing was easy (no warping). We are 100% satisfied with our bomb proof, fire proof, tornado proof and noise proof home with no moisture or rodent problems."
Paul and Sandy
February 2011
Builders Are Saying:
"Given our locale it's necessary to build a home that includes storm safety, and with ICF its practical and easy."
Mike Kirkpatrick
Alternative Energy Construction
Missouri
"We are a full service commercial and residential concrete contractor serving the Charleston, SC market area. From site preparation, to footings, slabs, walls and masonry, we are prepared to meet our customer’s requirements. TFSystem is out product of choice for ICF jobs. Their vertical system has been readily adapted by our masonry crews. TFSystem and their local distributor have given excellent support and technical service, allowing us to successfully present the product to the owner and deliver a responsible bid."
Eric Labarca, President
Red Bay Constructors, Inc.
Charleston, SC
"We started using the TF system several years ago in response to a customer's request for a "Green Home". We have found several advantages that have made us more competitive than our competitors. First, we no longer have to wait on a concrete contractor to get our basements put in. Instead of us having dead time between jobs we are able to start the next home on our schedule not someone else's. Secondly, if our customer is going to finish the basement, this system allows us to install drywall directly onto the forms. No more framing the walls out afterword or trying to use furring strips and styrofoam later. Next, this system allows us to have more work because we now do the basement concrete work as well as frame the house. We can do more business without needing to find more customers. Finally, we do not need to own and maintain expensive forms and trucks and equipment. All we need is a couple of battery saws and drills and we are in business.."
Jeff Roessner
Roessner Contracting Inc.
"I am always pleased to see a ThermoForm Vertical ICF project when I pull up to a jobsite. I know that the chances of any trouble with form failure or crooked walls is almost totally eliminated by contractors using ThermoForms. With my 30 years of concrete experience I am amazed at how much improvement the vertical ICF forms have been."
Rick Gazella
Gazella Concrete Pumping
Pulaski, WI
"Jim, I can't believe how strong the forms were when we were pouring. They hardly moved, they were amazing. I asked the driver if he had ever seen ICF's this strong and he said no. My dimension, diagonals, and heights were right on before and after we poured the walls. I love the forms and look forward to using them again."
Dave Kemp
Cincinnatus, NY