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Concrete Formwork Construction Method

Updated Mar 25, 2026
Procedure for building and stripping concrete forms: wall forms, column forms, slab forms, and foundations.

Form design: sized for concrete pressure (150 pcf × rate of placement × temp factor). Maximum lateral pressure at bottom of form. 1) Layout: snap lines, set form anchors/kickers. 2) Footing forms: 2x lumber or steel panels, stakes at 24-36 in o.c., braced at top. Release agent (form oil) applied. 3) Wall forms: panel systems (aluminum, steel, or plywood) with walers and strongbacks. Tie spacing per form pressure calculation (typically 24 in horizontal × 12-24 in vertical). Snap ties with cones or she-bolts. Bracing: pipe braces (turnbuckle adjust) at 6-8 ft intervals. 4) Column forms: 4-sided plywood or fiber tubes (Sonotube). Column clamps at spacing per height. 5) Slab/deck forms: shoring (posts) + stringers + plywood or aluminum deck panels. Re-shoring below if multi-story. 6) Placement: vibrate concrete, do not overfill. 7) Stripping: minimum cure time before form removal. Walls: 24 hrs. Slabs: 7 days (or per ACI 347 based on strength). Columns: 24 hrs. Beams/cantilevers: 14-21 days. Forms cleaned and oiled for reuse.

TAGS
formworkconcreteformswallsslabmethod
DETAILS
crew size
4-8
equipment
["form panels","walers","snap ties","bracing","vibrator"]
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