Replies

1. 
   calvin | Jan 20, 2013 06:20pm | #1

   Andy

   I guess I either forgot reading about it or just plain didn't have any idea.

   But HERE"S a review by someone who used to post on this forum.  And, there's some info that was published on one of Taunton's -Green Building Advisor (look for that and there's a link on the bottom of this page to the site.

   I'm going to try to find Ron and see if he can provide some more hands on info.

   thanks for bringing this up.

2. 
   ronbudgell | Jan 21, 2013 06:42pm | #2

   Andy

   Calvin found me. Wasn't too hard.

   I've been using Fastfoot off and on for some years now and I think it's a great product that makes footing forming easier and faster, usually. Using it never, in my experience, makes anything slower or harder to do, but it isn't always appropriate to use it.

   For instance, if you plan to frame your floors with lumber and you're going to have, say, 2 x 10's on site anyway, you might as well use them for forming footings as spend money on something you don't need to. Fastfoot is especially good for something like ICF construction where lumber floor framing is not advisable. You can't use TJI's or floor trusses for form lumber and.unless you already have form lumber, it would be senseless to go out and buy a lot of heavy stuff to use once and store.

   Also, Fastfoot is simply beautiful for use where footings have to step. SOOO much easier on stepped footings than lumber! 

   Another great application for Fastfoot is where you need only a frost wall or stem wall on top of a footing. Fastfoot makes it easy to form and pour footing and wall at the same time.

   Using Fastfoot, all the wood used to brace it is recoverable, usually. It's clean and undamaged. Completely re-useable.

   Another or their products I like is the post footing form. It's a bag with an opening on one of the flat sides. You elevate the opening and pour concrete into the bag through it until you have enough. Nothing could be simpler. Their column forms are fun, too. You can carry 100' of column form in one hand.

   BTW, I have absolutely no connection to the company. Nothing at stake here.

   Ron

1. 
   apkitz | Jan 22, 2013 10:06am | #3

   Fastfoot

   This is why I love these forums. Great answers and people. 

   Thanks Ron for the reply. 

   My intent in using fast form is to get down the footingsand then to lay the sill plates and set in the SIP panels.... From your thoughts--I think it will do great... plus ill have alot of 2x4s for the interior framing... I just have to get my old concrete friend to try something new!

   And I am still open to any more comment out there! Thanks everyone!

1. 
   ronbudgell | Jan 22, 2013 05:35pm | #4

   I don't understand your description. Do you intend to install the SIPs directly on top of the footing? Will there be backfill against the SIPs?

   When you're selecting 2 x 4 to support the top edge, take the time to get straight stuff. It will make a difference when you install the walls.

   Even trivial seeming instructions for using the Fat Foot are more improtant then they might seem. Pay attention to them. An example is that they recommend pinning the centreline of the fabric to the ground with something like long roofing nails. The reason for this is that if the fabric is off centre when you pour, and it can be blown around by a bit of wind, then it is possible to load the rim supports unevenly and warp the surface. Pin the fabric down and keep things symmetrrical. Keeping the fabric symmetrical will keep the loading symmetrical.

   There are a few other little tricks for going around corners and things. Fastfoot explains them all very clearly on their website.

   Ron