Articles
The Advantages Of Different Kinds Of Concrete Formwork
by Gordon Freeman Freelance Writer If you are in the construction business, you should be very familiar with concrete framework. This is the frame that concrete can be poured into so that it is held in place until it dries, retaining the shape that you desire. This framework is used to create concrete pillars, concert walls and the slabs of concrete that are placed between the floors on high rise buildings. However, not all concrete formwork is the same. Formwork can be composed of plastic, wood, steel or aluminum. Before you purchase a type of formwork, it is important to learn about the benefits of each product so you select the material that is right for your job. Here are a list of some of the advantages to the different types of formwork.Plastic:
Plastic has not traditionally been used for formwork. However, while it hasn't been around that long, it is used often today due to the many benefits of using this product. Here are some of those benefits:
Reusable- Due to the fact that plastic is flexible, it can easily be glided off or away from concrete once it has set. This allows you to reuse the pieces over and over again.
Easy To Care For- Plastic is relatively easy to care for. You hose it off and it is ready to move from job to job. This is much different than wood and metal, which both need to be protected from the rain because the material can rot or rust. Ease of Setup- Plastic is lightweight. As such, it is easy to set up for a job or to tear down. You don't have to waste time tediously lifting or setting up the formwork.
Wood:
Wood is the oldest form of concrete formwork being used. It is quickly being replaced by metals and plastic, though it does have a few advantages. Here are a list of those:
Cost- Wood beams are very cost effective. It cost very little to nail together a few beams or wood pieces and build formwork. This is the cheapest option available. Sizing- If you are constructing a building with odd sized dimensions, finding a the right formwork can be difficult. This is where wood has an advantage. It is fast and easy to trim wood down or cut it to size. The same can't be said for metal, which needs to be shaped or welded, or plastic, so this is when wood is most commonly used.
Steel:
Steel is a strong and durable material, able to withstand the pressure that concrete can put on it. Here are the advantages to using steel for your concrete formwork. Adds an Indestructible Layer to Your Concrete- Steel is fairly indestructible. Therefore, if you are keeping the concrete formwork in place, rather than removing it, steel is often used to help reinforce the concrete.
Steel is Strong- If you are composing an oversized pillar or column, plastic or wood may not be able to contain all of the concrete that is being poured in the formwork. However, since steel is so strong, it does not bend, warp or crack as concrete expands and hardens.
Aluminum:
Aluminum is a metal that is fairly similar to steel. However, this material has its own advantages. Here are a couple of the advantages to using aluminum for your <a href="http://detailbydesign.com">concrete formwork</a>.
Cost- If you are comparing the cost of steel and aluminum, aluminum is much cheaper. So if you need a metal formwork and are on a budget, aluminum may be the best bet for you.
Easy to Manipulate- Aluminum is a soft metal. Therefore, it does not take much heat or effort to bend, twist, shape or break it. If you need a flexible metal, aluminum is the solution.
Sponsor Ads
About Gordon Freeman 
Freelance Writer
9 connections, 0 recommendations, 29 honor points.Joined APSense since, February 19th, 2013, From Miami, United States.
Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.
Comments
No comment, be the first to comment.
