In the United States, concrete forms are temporary moulds used to hold fresh concrete in place until it hardens. The most common type of formwork is made from wood, but metal, plastic, and fibre glass are also used. Of course, the material you choose for your forms depends largely on the project you’re working on.
For example, if you’re pouring a sidewalk, you’ll need forms that can withstand heavy traffic without being damaged. On the other hand, if you’re creating a decorative element like a fireplace hearth, you might be able to get away with using lighter-duty forms. No matter what type of project you’re working on, though, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when choosing your concrete forms.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Concrete Forms
- The weight of the fresh concrete
- The type of aggregate used in the concrete mix
- The size and shape of the area being poured
- the weather conditions during pouring and curing.
- Whether or not the forms need to be reusable,
Once you’ve taken all of those factors into consideration, you can start shopping for your forms. Here are a few of the most popular types of forms used in concrete work:
Wooden Forms
Wooden forms are perhaps the most versatile type of formwork available. They’re strong enough to support heavy loads, but they’re also easy to manipulate and remove when necessary. Plus, wooden forms can be used over and over again, which makes them a cost-effective choice for projects that require multiple pours. Just be sure to choose treated lumber that’s designed for outdoor use; otherwise, your forms might not last as long as you need them to.
Plastic Forms
Plastic forms offer many of the same advantages as wooden forms—they’re strong, lightweight, and easy to work with—but they have one major advantage: they don’t absorb moisture like wood does. That means they won’t warp or rot when exposed to rain or snow, which makes them ideal for use in any kind of weather conditions. However, plastic forms are not as durable as wooden ones, and they can’t be reused as often.
Fiberglass Forms
Fiberglass forms are another option for wet weather conditions since they won’t absorb moisture like wood does. They’re also non-conductive, which means they won’t interfere with any electrical wiring that might be running through the area being poured. Fiberglass forms are more expensive than both wooden and plastic forms, but they offer superior durability and can be reused multiple times.
Choosing the right concrete form work is essential for any pour project—whether you’re working on a small repair job or an entire new construction project. By keeping these factors in mind, you can ensure that your project turns out exactly as planned.
An Introduction to Concrete Forms
In the United States, concrete forms are temporary moulds used to hold fresh concrete in place until it hardens. The most common type of formwork is made from wood, but metal, plastic, and fibre glass are also used. Of course, the material you choose for your forms depends largely on the project you’re working on.
For example, if you’re pouring a sidewalk, you’ll need forms that can withstand heavy traffic without being damaged. On the other hand, if you’re creating a decorative element like a fireplace hearth, you might be able to get away with using lighter-duty forms. No matter what type of project you’re working on, though, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when choosing your concrete forms.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Concrete Forms
- The weight of the fresh concrete
- The type of aggregate used in the concrete mix
- The size and shape of the area being poured
- the weather conditions during pouring and curing.
- Whether or not the forms need to be reusable,
Once you’ve taken all of those factors into consideration, you can start shopping for your forms. Here are a few of the most popular types of forms used in concrete work:
Wooden Forms
Wooden forms are perhaps the most versatile type of formwork available. They’re strong enough to support heavy loads, but they’re also easy to manipulate and remove when necessary. Plus, wooden forms can be used over and over again, which makes them a cost-effective choice for projects that require multiple pours. Just be sure to choose treated lumber that’s designed for outdoor use; otherwise, your forms might not last as long as you need them to.
Plastic Forms
Plastic forms offer many of the same advantages as wooden forms—they’re strong, lightweight, and easy to work with—but they have one major advantage: they don’t absorb moisture like wood does. That means they won’t warp or rot when exposed to rain or snow, which makes them ideal for use in any kind of weather conditions. However, plastic forms are not as durable as wooden ones, and they can’t be reused as often.
Fiberglass Forms
Fiberglass forms are another option for wet weather conditions since they won’t absorb moisture like wood does. They’re also non-conductive, which means they won’t interfere with any electrical wiring that might be running through the area being poured. Fiberglass forms are more expensive than both wooden and plastic forms, but they offer superior durability and can be reused multiple times.
Choosing the right concrete form work is essential for any pour project—whether you’re working on a small repair job or an entire new construction project. By keeping these factors in mind, you can ensure that your project turns out exactly as planned.