Let’s Discuss Different Types of Concrete Formwork Alternatives

For many years, wood has been the preferred form-work of concrete contractors. It's reasonably priced and simple to use, lightweight, easily cut to size, and simple to replace and dismantle.

However, it has drawbacks such as limited usage and cannot be reused from one job to the next. As soon as wooden form-work dries, then it is also known to absorb water from concrete, reducing the strength of the concrete structure. In addition, wood with too much water content can deform wet concrete and cause cracks when it starts to shrink.

These difficulties have resulted in hundreds of form-work alternatives, including steel, aluminum, manufactured timber, plywood, plastics, and fabric, all of which claim to offer the trifecta of time, labor, and money savings. Such techniques are mostly used in Sidewalk Replacement in NYC or Sidewalk Replacement Services in NYC.

However, because form-work is an essential component of concrete construction, choosing the right form-work is critical to any job.

1. Rapid Forming Bracket : Innovative Concrete's Rapid Form Bracket was created to replace lumber supports in the construction of elevated slabs. Such kind of bracket is often used for foundation work around a structure, loading dock construction, and any job requiring vertical work. It is also used by professionals for Sidewalk Replacement in NYC or Sidewalk Replacement Services in NYC.

It is made of steel and powder-coated to prevent rust. It also saves time and money on layout, purchasing, measuring, cutting, constructing, and cleaning up after stripping of wood supports.

2. Fabric Form-Work : This kind of form-work was first used in concrete architectural structures in the early twentieth century. Today, as the public's focus on sustainability grows, the form-work alternative is slowly gaining traction in the construction industry.

The industry is being pressed more and more to address and reduce its carbon footprint. While using fabric does not eliminate the use of wood and/or metal, it can be reduced to essential components, saving natural resources.

3. Insulated Concrete Forms Technology : ICFs are a type of permanent concrete form-work used to construct a building's external wall envelope. However, as the popularity of energy-efficient and disaster-resistant homes and buildings grows, alternative form-work has regained some of that traction in recent years.