5 Things to Know Before Buying Concrete Slab Formwork

Formwork in concrete construction, also called shuttering, is a structural mold in which fresh concrete is poured and hardened. Here are some things you should know about concrete formwork:

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1) Formwork Makes Up to 25 Percent of the Cost of a Structure

The construction of concrete formwork is no small undertaking; it takes time and can cost up to 25 percent of the total price of the structure. Luckily, stripped concrete formwork can be reused to reduce time and cost. Reusable forms are known as “panel forms,” while non-reusable concrete forms are called “stationary forms.”

2) Timber Is the Most Common Formwork Material

Across the different construction sectors, timber is the most common material used for concrete formwork. The timber should be well-seasoned, lightweight, easily workable, and free from loose knots. The downside of using timber concrete formwork is that it will warp, but the application of water-based treatments to the surface of the wood can help reduce this effect.

3) Steel, Plywood and Fiberglass Are Also Used In Formwork

In addition to timber, concrete formwork can be made out of steel, plywood, and fiberglass. These materials can be used separately or together.

The most common type of concrete formwork used in heavy civil construction is steel! Steel formwork consists of panels created from thin steel plates that are stiffened along the edges by small steel angles. The panel units are held together with clamps or bolts and nuts, and can be produced in large quantities in any shape or size. Steel formwork is stronger, more durable and has a longer life than timber formwork, and it will not shrink or warp.

Formwork can also be crafted from resin-bonded plywood sheets. The sheets are attached to timber frames to make up the formwork’s panels. The cost of plywood formwork is comparable to that of timber formwork, and can sometime be cheaper.

Fiberglass made of precast concrete and aluminium is used in cast-in-situ construction such as slabs or projects involving curved surfaces.

4) A Good Formwork is Strong But Light

A good formwork should be strong enough to withstand all types of loads, but it should also be as light as possible. The formwork should be constructed rigidly and braced both horizontally and vertically, so as to retain its shape. Similarly, the joints in the formwork should be tight against leakage and should rest on a firm base.

5) The Cost of Formwork Can Be Reduced

Though formwork constitutes a large portion of the cost of a structure, these costs can be reduced. In order to reduce the cost of formwork:

• The plan of the building should include a minimum number of variations to the sizes of the rooms so that the formwork can be reused

• The design of a building should use as few slender sections as possible

• Minimum sawing and cutting of wooden pieces should be made so that the material can be reused multiple times

• Formwork Can Sometimes Be Removed Early

Quickly hardening cement, warm weather and light loading conditions can allow for the early removal of formwork. Formwork should not be removed until all the concrete is able to withstand at least twice the amount of stress and pressure that the structure is expected to undergo. No matter when the formwork is removed, it should always be eased away gradually so that the load is slowly transferred to the concrete.

7) Steel Formwork Can be Resold

Because of its strength and long working life, there is a great used market for concrete formwork made of steel. Reselling concrete formwork after a project is a great way for contractors to make money. In addition, purchasing used and surplus formwork for a project is an equally great way for contractors to save money.

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In addition to concrete formwork, Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace hosts a wide variety of concrete equipment, including overhang brackets and concrete placing booms. Furthermore, our used material inventory ranges from used barrier wall to used and surplus sheet pile, and everything in between.

All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, create a wanted listing for free.

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Poured concrete is a viscous solution that can take up to 48 hours to properly set. During the setting time, the concrete needs to be contained in a concrete form. Concrete forms or formwork are the supporting materials or molds that are used when working with concrete. They also determine the final shape of the concrete, because liquid takes on the shape of its container.

However, not just any material can be used as a concrete form, as formwork needs to be able to hold the concrete’s weight and shape. For the formwork to be useful, it should have strong joints to prevent leaks, a rigid structure so that it doesn’t bend or break under the weight of the concrete, and it should also be able to be used with horizontal and vertical bracing. Keep reading for more details and important information about how to use concrete forms.

Related: Cement vs. Concrete: What’s the Difference?

1. Concrete forms are necessary to ensure that the concrete sets properly during a construction project.

Concrete is used regularly in construction projects. For example, it can be poured to create supports for a fence or gate or as a foundation for a new shed. However, when concrete is initially mixed, it isn’t a stiff compound that will hold a shape without help. It is a thick, viscous liquid that is difficult to mix, and it’s hard to manage without using concrete forms.

A concrete form or formwork is a support or mold that the concrete is poured into. Temporary or permanent, the formwork is built into the shape that the user wants the concrete to take when the liquid concrete begins to dry.

2. Timber is the most commonly used material for formwork.

There are several different materials that are used to make formwork, but the most commonly used material is timber. This is because timber is cost-effective, lightweight, durable, and flexible, allowing the concrete to shift while it sets without pieces breaking off or putting strain on the formwork.

For the best results, invest in timber formwork that is easy to work with, lightweight, and dried thoroughly. Also, make sure the timber doesn’t have any loose knots that could pop out and allow the wet concrete to seep through the hole. While there is the chance that wood formwork will warp if it absorbs the water from the concrete, this effect can be limited by treating the timber forms with a sealant.

3. While timber is most common, there are other materials that are used for concrete forms, including steel, plywood, and fiberglass.

In addition to timber, there are a few other common materials used to make concrete forms. Steel is regularly used in heavy civil construction to create thin steel plates, which can be held together with clamps or with fasteners to support broad concrete projects. This durable material is more expensive than timber, but it’s also stronger and can be reused or sold.

Another type of material used to make formwork is resin-bonded plywood. These sheets of plywood will typically be attached to timber frames to create large, inexpensive concrete forms. However, plywood is less durable and rarely reusable. Fiberglass concrete forms are best for projects with curved surfaces, though they are expensive and often need to be custom ordered.

Related: 13 Things All DIYers Should Know About Plywood

4. A good concrete formwork needs to be both strong and lightweight with a rigid construct that retains its shape under stress.

In order for a concrete formwork to be suitable for a construction project, it needs to be strong enough to hold the weight of the concrete without slipping, cracking, or bending. Any significant damage to the formwork will allow the concrete to pour out, or it may just ruin the intended shape if the concrete is partially cured.

However, the concrete forms also can be made with a lightweight material that are used without significant physical effort on the part of the user. Timber and plywood are great examples of material that is strong, flexible, and relatively lightweight, yet rigid enough that the concrete forms will keep the same shape, allowing the concrete to set in the desired form.

5. Concrete forms are necessary to create high-quality concrete, but with careful planning, measuring, and cutting, users can save on the overall cost of formwork.

Many people either don’t know about concrete forms or they don’t want to have to pay for timber or plywood to set up formwork because the extra cost is too high. Unfortunately, without the use of formwork, it’s all too easy for construction projects to go awry, leaving the concrete slab for the new shed or workshop uneven and difficult to use as support. So, while it’s a bad idea to go without concrete forms, there are ways that can help save on the cost of these materials.

Plan out the project carefully so that pieces of the formwork can be reused for multiple sections and it’s also a good idea to limit the number of slender sections to avoid wasting small pieces of timber or plywood. By reducing the number of cuts that need to be made in the concrete forms, there is less timber or plywood needed in total. However, users should keep in mind that while formwork typically costs about $1.10 per square foot of the concrete area, a rounded or contoured framework is generally more expensive.

Related: How To: Cut Concrete

6. One of the benefits of using steel is the long-lasting durability that allows it to be reused and even resold to help save on the cost of the project.

The initial cost and skill required to make steel concrete forms are higher than what’s needed for timber or plywood. Due to the impressive strength, durability, and resilience of steel, the steel concrete forms can be used on multiple projects without damage. For companies or independent professionals that regularly work with concrete, this is a way to cut costs on a project.

DIYers also can benefit from the long-lasting strength and flexibility of steel concrete forms by using this formwork on more than one project. If the steel formwork is just sitting in storage in the garage, consider selling it to another avid DIYer. A professional also may be interested in a bargain price for used concrete forms to help reduce the total cost of a project.

7. Formwork helps to ensure that the concrete sets properly, so it’s necessary for a range of projects including building a fence, installing a gate, pouring a foundation, and constructing a home. 

There are many different construction projects that utilize concrete and most of them require some type of formwork to ensure that the concrete sets according to plan. Goals can range from making a few simple steps to lead up to the porch to pouring a complex foundation to make insulating concrete forms for the home. Insulating concrete forms are essentially concrete walls that are poured between two layers of insulating material to create a strong and insulated foundation.

Other common uses for concrete forms include pouring a simple concrete slab to act as the foundation for a shed or workshop, securing the posts of a fence or a gate in the ground with a concrete base, or making simple paving stones for the yard with a shallow formwork mold.

Related: How To: Repair Concrete Steps

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