Types of Formwork for Concrete Structures
Formwork has come a long way since its early use in ancient Rome. Where reeds and fibre helped to create construction masterpieces like the Pantheon and Colosseum, timber, steel and plastic variants realise the modern architectural visions that you see today.
The perfect framework for a stable build
Stability in construction is what all builders strive for and the way to do that is through formwork. Comprising of the basis of any construction, it is a temporary or permanent mould of various shapes and sizes in which concrete is poured to the required shape of the build thereby providing stability to the external structure.
Before starting, it is important that the general performance structure meets expectations. The pouring temperature and pressure of the concrete need to be taken into account before selecting the formwork to be used. It should also be able to resist the load exerted by dry and wet concrete.
Timber, plastic or steel – which option is best?
Timber has been in play since the fall of the Roman Empire and is still used to this day. Typically built on-site, the problem with timber is that it has a short lifespan and constructing it for large builds can be very time-consuming.
For small, repetitive projects, like housing estates, plastic is often used as it is lightweight and re-usable. Piers and column construction make use of a stay-in-place method as it is permanent and made from prefabricated fibre-reinforced plastic forms. Flexible formwork makes use of lightweight, high-strength sheets of plastic which are designed to complement the fluidity of the concrete work.
The preferred choice for general concrete construction is engineered formwork. It is built from prefabricated models where the frames are made from steel and aluminium. The reason why this is so popular amongst builders is that it can be constructed much faster and can be reused multiple times. Saving on time and money is important on a build and using this method will lower costs.
From start to finish, we are here for you
If you are unsure about which option is best suited to your concrete structure, your solution is to seek guidance from established professionals and Nhleko Scaffolding and Formwork are on hand to lend you the expert advice that is needed to make your building project a success. We are perfectly poised to supply you with quality formwork for your current or next project thereby ensuring a perfect build. Get in touch with us to learn more.