Concrete is one of the most popular materials used for building projects because of its unparalleled durability and cost-effectiveness. However, it is very demanding to get concrete in its desired shape, whatever that might be.
Moreover, how accurate and settled the concrete is installed also matters. The concrete that’s not settled properly wouldn’t provide as much durability as it should.
To make sure that the desired installation of concrete is accomplished, the first thing builders or constructors need to do is assemble a concrete form. The concrete form should be set up in a way that provides the slap its perfect shape.
Moreover, for wall form concretes, you could also buy a new concrete form – the new concrete form can be used for over 2,000 work cycles before losing its stability and becoming scrap. However, the even cheaper and easier option is to buy a used concrete formwork.
Buying a used concrete formwork is really going to help you cut the costs of your construction project. Since concrete forms can work for an extremely long time. There is a high possibility that your used-purchased concrete form is going to last as long as you would expect a new one too. Considering that, the used concrete form seems like a more sustainable and eco-friendly choice.
There is a very large market of concrete wall forms, and you can buy one according to your project’s needs.
To make sure that you are buying the right kind of concrete form for your project, there are some things that you need to consider. This will help you exclude the concrete forms that may be out of shape or are not in a good structure.
The article below includes factors to consider and look out for when you are setting up or choosing a concrete formwork for your project.
What Type of Concrete Form Do You Need?
There are multiple types of concrete forms available in the market for different sorts of projects. Every kind of concrete form comes for a different purpose and provides different additional properties. For instance, the only insulated concrete form provides insulation.
The first thing that you need to decide is what kind of concrete form you need that suits best for your requirement. Below are some concrete form types.
Wooden Concrete Forms
A wooden concrete form is the most conventional type of concrete form. It is used mainly for projects where concrete casting isn’t going to reach a height of more than 6 inches. Wooden concrete forms are made up of wooden boards that are either screwed or nailed together to create a mold for the concrete casting to be poured in. The desired formwork shape is acquired with the help of leveling devices.
For curves and designs, the form is made up of thinner cross-sections. Since wood is toxic, low-grade oil is applied on the surface before the casting is poured so it doesn’t stick to the surface of the wood.
Insulated Forms
The insulated concrete forms are made up of hollow blocks – these blocks are of insulating material that is used in the construction of insulated houses or rooms. Such systems are constructed on the foundation slab, which becomes a part of the foundation. To fill these hollow blocks with concrete casting, constructors place reinforcements.
When the concrete is poured, the whole system starts looking like a form-concrete-form sandwich, which is very energy-efficient. If you are implementing insulated concrete forms, you don’t need to remove them once the concrete is filled.
Concrete wall forms
These are the concrete wall forms that we talked about at the start of this article. You can either get them made on the order or buy a pre-manufactured one. You can also buy a used one if you want to save money since concrete wall forms can work for over 2,000 cycles, especially if it is made of steel.
It is used to cast large walls, piers, and foundations. The engineered wood framed with steel makes a whole concrete wall formwork. Some concrete wall forms are also completely made with steel – those are more durable.
Constructors use ties as reinforcements in concrete wall forms so the concrete stays in place after being poured. It comes in different shapes, sizes, and designs, or, again, you can order a custom-made one.
Foam concrete form
Foam concrete form is the most unconventional, non-traditional kind of concrete form. In this method, the concrete is poured in an upside-down direction to achieve the desired finish. Mainly, these forms are made with melamine. However, some are also made of acrylic glass or laminated board.
Foam concrete forms are mainly used in artistic projects. That is why these forms create negative spaces in the concrete casting’s final finish. It brings an artistic look to it.
Are You Renting or Buying?
Once you have finalized the kind of concrete form you need, let’s move on to the next step, which is deciding between renting and buying.
No one can deny that price is one of the most crucial factors in every decision. So, when you are taking up on a construction project, you need to decide whether you are going to buy a concrete form or you going to rent.
Your one option is to get a custom-made concrete form. In that case, you can’t exactly rent it; it is especially being made for you, so you are going to buy it. However, if you are going for a pre-manufactured concrete form, you have two options: buy or rent!
If you are going to own it, you need to analyze the cost of owning it for the long term – would you even need it that much in your future projects?
If it is better and cheaper to just rent it for this project, you should go for a form type you need and rent it.
Do You Have Experience?
If you are working for the first time with concrete forms, it is recommended that you be highly careful. People who are inexperienced and don’t have much training can do more loss than the profit they were planning to make.
Moreover, if you have experience with wooden concrete forms and the current project is demanding you to use a steel-concrete form, it is also a problem. You aren’t well-versed in using steel concrete forms, so some training would be educational and profitable in the long term.
If the workers aren’t familiar with the form type in the consideration, it is highly likely that a production loss will occur. Unfamiliarity is just an invitation to errors.
Therefore, it is better to have proper training and familiarity in the formwork type chosen than to experience a loss.
Conclusion
Now that you know about things you need to consider when setting up your concrete form project – which is concrete form type, ownership or rent, and experience in the certain type – you are simply on a higher level of knowledge than before, and you can definitely be expected to make a good, wise decision.
Some tips that could come in handy are: wooden forms are best for projects low height structures, while steel forms do wonders for tall projects, like 20 feet.
