The Use of Formwork in Construction

Concrete formwork is the use of support structures and moulds to create structures out of concrete which is poured into the moulds.

There are many different types of formwork used in construction, usually differing according to what the building requirements and challenges are. Formwork is used by creating moulds out of wood, steel, aluminium or prefabricated forms into which the concrete is poured. This is then allowed to harden and set after which it is stripped, or in the case of stay-in-place formwork it is left as part of the structure.

Formwork allows contractors to cast and construct the main parts of a building which are required to be strong and support the structure such as floors and walls, as well as smaller parts of a building such as stairs relatively quickly.

Types of Formwork
There are many different types of concrete formwork used in construction. Traditional timber formwork uses timber and plywood to form the moulds for pouring. This method is cheaper than other methods, yet not as effective because wood is not as strong as metal or steel. However, on complicated sections of buildings which need great attention to detail, timber formwork is still widely used.

Engineered formwork systems use prefabricated moulds made from a metal frame, usually either steel or aluminum. Engineered formwork is much cheaper and quicker to use than traditional formwork. The frames are extremely strong and rarely need replacing, reducing costs. Due to the formwork systems being engineered, their construction is faster and requires less manpower, again saving money. Simple structures can be built with re-usable plastic formwork systems (a type of engineered formwork), which consist of strong, lightweight, interlocking systems.

Stay-in-place formwork is used generally for the supporting parts of a structure. This type of formwork consists of insulating concrete forms which are filled with reinforced concrete and once set, are left in place.

About Concrete
In construction formwork, concrete is used to pour into the formwork systems to create structures or parts thereof. Concrete is made of cement mixed with other substances such as limestone, granite, gavel and sand and mixed with water to form a mixture. After water has been added, the mixture undergoes hydration which is the reaction between the cement and water that leads to the hard substance of concrete which is then used for construction.

When concrete is mixed, the success and quality of the concrete in structures is known as workability. Concrete can be made to different qualities depending on the amount of water, the type of water, the shape of the mould, how long the cement has been hydrating for and amount and type of cement contained in the mixture. The quality of the cement is reduced if too much water is included, causing the cement to separate from the other substances which make up the concrete mixture.

Concrete can crack, which was problematic for constructions throughout history as they ran the risk of collapse. Today reinforced concrete is used which is a much stronger substance and rarely cracks. When concrete is reinforced, it is filled with metal rods and reinforcing bars with other materials such as glass and plastic fibre.

Concrete formwork is widely used in present day construction. With the many different types of formwork available, any building project is more easily achievable because different methods can be used to achieve the desired result. When reinforced, concrete is a virtually indestructible material, perfect for major construction work, as well as small, detailed and complex structures.

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Really Basic Stair Construction Advice

I have spent at least 10 years of my professional career doing nothing but building stairways, staircases and stairs in all shapes and forms. I have built stairways that curve and bend, long and small and even short and fat. I used to average building three sets of stairs a day and would consider myself to be a master stair framing and stair building professional.

I would like to share a little bit of my stair construction advice and things that I've learned about stair building with other contractors and anyone else who is interested in the art of stairway construction. You're going to need to understand simple math, before you can build a simple set of stairs.

If you can't add, subtract, multiply or divide, there is a good chance that you're going to have difficulties building a set of stairs and I would suggest that you quit reading this article immediately. A set of stairs is nothing more than equally divided sections that we call treads and risers.

In other words, each individual section or stair steps are equally divided and should be the same size. That wasn't that difficult now was it? Try to imagine each individual stair tread or stair riser section, the exact size, multiplied by how ever many stair treads and risers there are in that individual stair case.

If you have a set of stairs with 10 steps, each one of them are going to be exactly the same size and should not vary at all. If your first stair riser is 7 - 1/2 inches, every stair risers should be 7 - 1/2 inches. If one stair tread is 11 inches, then every one of the stair tread should be 11 inches.

I hope this gives you a basic idea about stairway construction. This article wasn't meant to teach you how to build stairs, it was meant to give you a basic idea about stair building and stairway construction.

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Building a Deck - Designer Tips on Decking Construction

Decking has become a popular solution to maximizing outdoor living space. With constant exposure to the environment, decking needs to be able to withstand all external conditions including fire hazards, insect damage, the sun, rain and windy conditions. When designing a deck you must factor in all of the local conditions in your area and select decking materials that will provide superior strength, longevity and dimensional stability.





There are a number of different materials that can be used for a deck's frame and covering.





Lets start with the Frame...





Primarily there are two choices for decking frames - steel of timber. Most steel frames comprise of colorbond steel bearers, joints and reinforced steel posts. Steel frame decking is quick to install and ideal for using in fire hazard areas. Timber frames can include timber for bearers, joists and posts or a combination of timber frame with steel posts. If selecting a timber frame for your deck then there is a choice of either hardwood or softwood such as treated pine.





Decking Materials





With the deck covering you can use a number of different hardwoods such as Merbau, Tallow wood, Ironbark and more. Hardwood is naturally more durable and resistant to insect damage and is the strongest choice in timber decking. Treated pine can also be used as decking material. The most common sizes of timber boards used for decking construction are 70mm, 90mm and 140mm.





An alternative to timber decking is 'compressed fibro sheeting' which then gets tiled over. The compressed fibro sheeting with tiles is one of my favorites because the finished product looks like a concrete slab but without the high costs. This method works best with steel frames and posts as they allow much less movement than timber. A compressed fibro deck if built correctly will last for over 30 years.





Handrails





There are many styles of handrails to complement your deck including tubular (pool fence type), stainless steel wires, glass or timber. The most popular style tends to be tubular because it is cost effective, looks great and is maintenance free.





Stairs





If your deck is elevated or requires stair access then just like deck construction, there are a number of different materials available for stairs. Including a steel welded stringer with timber treads, or a full set of hardwood or treated pine stairs.





Timber decking is ideal for sloping blocks, to cover old concrete patios or as an alternative to paving. Timber decking can be built at the same level as your existing floors to facilitate a smooth transition from indoors to outdoors. When designing a timber or steel frame deck remember that north facing decks are the best positioned to recieve the winter sun and summer shade.





Tip


Don't forget to protect timber decks with a quality timber finish such as decking oil or timber stain.

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Uni Span: construction industry products on rent

For all kinds of construction works a scaffold products is needed. Also know as scaffolding products is a devise where various materials like residential and commercial building would take place for a muscular construction.
Scaffolding and formwork is a key element of the construction industry. With the use of scaffolding and formwork, incredible structures with modern and complex architecture are able to be constructed. Scaffold products use in construction industries consist of a various materials which are used to build a skyscraper or a repairing purposed.
Scaffolding is used to create the support for formwork to be completed in building construction, as the scaffolding provides a medium for the concrete of the formwork to set. Scaffolding services are also used as a support structures for workers to access parts of the building which are difficult and dangerous to reach, such as alongside buildings at extremely high elevations.
A lot of budding contractors or builders view the purchase of a scaffold tubes, scaffold tie bars system as a large asset not only in financial terms but additionally in safety and security. At first sight this might seem to be a reasonable hypothesis, on the other hand, as the usage of scaffold products increases so do the quantity of mishaps.
In addition to the makers assembly directions there are 2 methods are  define through the Prefabricated Access Suppliers' and Manufacturers' Association (PASMA) that may be used in all constructions. The 1st recognized procedure is an advance guard rail system, which makes use of guard rail units that are specifically designed for that role. These kinds of guard rail sections are secured into position via the level below and transferred up onto the working platform position. These short-term handrails are later swapped with long term guard rails as the tower building progresses.
The second approved method of erection is the "3t" or "through the trap door" method. This necessitates the machinist standing upright in the position of the trap door upon the scaffolding platform. From this position it is easy to add or take away the parts which are acting as guard rails for the level above the platform. This process was designed to ensure that the operator will never stand on an un-guarded platform, yet can install the parts to a particular level while you are positioned inside the trap door of that level.

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