How to make formwork for a strip foundation with your own hands: choosing an option, installation, assembly

In any construction project, constructing a sturdy and long-lasting strip foundation is an essential first step. The formwork, which serves as a mold for the concrete, is one of the essential parts in building this foundation. Making your own formwork can save you money and give you a sense of pride if you’re planning a do-it-yourself project. This post will walk you through the process of selecting the best formwork option and provide detailed installation and assembly instructions.

First, it’s critical to comprehend the various kinds of

Step	Description
1. Choose Materials	Select sturdy plywood or wooden boards for the formwork, ensuring they are straight and free of defects.
2. Measure and Cut	Measure the length and height needed for the formwork. Cut the materials to the required size.
3. Assemble Panels	Assemble the cut pieces into panels using nails or screws, ensuring they are tightly secured.
4. Position Formwork	Place the formwork panels in the trench

Requirements for formwork

The formwork that is being built needs to be dependable and fit the functions that have been assigned to it. It is crucial to include operational features like:

1. Durability and resistance to intense loads. At the stage of pouring the solution, the walls of the formwork will be subjected to additional pressure, so they should be made as strong as possible.
2. Absence of cracks. Any holes and gaps will become a place for the concrete mixture to leak out. At such points, voids will appear that reduce the suitability of the foundation for operation. If the gaps are small, they will increase in size as the pressure increases.
3. Compliance with the geometric shape and dimensions of the foundation. Make sure that the height of the formwork is higher than the estimated depth of the foundation.

You should consider the features of the soil layers, the material being used, and the foundation’s properties when selecting an appropriate design.

The following formwork types are developed for strip foundations in modern construction:

1. Removable. It is distinguished by the presence of several components that can be dismantled after pouring concrete.
2. Non-removable. The elements of such formwork are a stationary part of the strip foundation and perform a number of additional functions. Including: waterproofing and thermal insulation, decorative role and protection.

For a strip foundation with concrete casting in a trench, the formwork scheme may be used if the soil is sufficiently strong and viscous. The cost of materials for arranging form-building structures is decreased by this technology.

Materials for making formwork

Finding a material that is appropriate and satisfies all requirements is crucial for formwork that is error-free. Builders make use of:

1. Wood (board or plywood blanks).
2. Metal.
3. Plastic sheets.

To achieve better performance properties, the listed materials can also be combined.

High-tech panel structures with a long service life, ease of use, and quick assembly and disassembly are made possible by the use of plastic formwork.

Foam concrete, foam plastic, and expanded polystyrene products are designed to organize permanent elements. Because it gives the basement walls a smooth or textured surface, metal is used when it’s necessary to strengthen the foundation and lower the cost of finishing work.

The most readily available material is still wood. Simultaneously, it blends benefits like dependability, beauty, and naturalness.

Metal

Despite being more costly, metal blanks are thought to be the most adaptable. You will need to prepare several sheet materials that are 1-2 mm thick in order to assemble the structure. Monolithic and strip foundations can be arranged more efficiently with the use of metal forms. The sheets are made more rigid by the direct welding of reinforcing elements to them.

The material’s main benefit is its ease of processing; the sheets are pliable and can be shaped into any shape. The price is one of the drawbacks.

Reinforced concrete

Similar to the previous material, reinforced concrete is thought to be fairly costly. Concrete slabs with reinforcing elements are used in its manufacturing. It is possible to use less cement in these structures without sacrificing strength or other qualities.

One of the drawbacks is that installing the slabs requires specialized equipment due to their heavy weight.

Using prefabricated slabs for formwork requires the use of specific spacers. This raises the project’s cost as well.

Polystyrene foam

Practicality and excellent quality define the material. Formwork is assembled using separate sections. Since each element has a straightforward design, installing it is not too difficult. Polystyrene foam also takes on the ideal shape and is easily processed.

Choosing a geometric shape can be challenging, especially when choosing angles and roundings. Another drawback is the material’s high cost.

Available materials

Formwork for setting up a strip foundation can be created using unconventional methods like:

1. Slate sheets.
2. Profile sheets.
3. Other suitable materials.

Its affordability is a major benefit of this kind of solution. Nevertheless, there are drawbacks to using homemade materials. Among them are:

1. Complexity of self-assembly.
2. High probability of leakage of poured cement.
3. Poor load-bearing capacity.
4. Need to use special supports and wedges.

Wood

Wood is an option to think about if you’re wondering how to construct formwork for a strip foundation correctly. Its affordability and relative availability define it. In addition, wood can be quickly fixed without the need for complicated machinery and is simple to process.

This material’s formwork is very simple to assemble, which makes it a great option for inexperienced builders.

For a strip foundation, making your own formwork is an easy way to save costs and guarantee a strong foundation for your building. This guide will help you confidently create a strong and dependable foundation by guiding you through the process of selecting the best formwork option and offering simple installation and assembly instructions.

Construction of a strip foundation

You must become familiar with the layout of a high-quality strip foundation in order to comprehend how to create one.

1. Monolithic. Constructed on the construction site.
2. Prefabricated. Created on the basis of reinforced concrete blocks, which are manufactured at the factory and assembled using special equipment. The prefabricated version is built from pillows and concrete blocks.

Technology

There are various stages to the entire technological process:

1. Preparation of tools and materials.
2. Making trenches for the tape.
3. Cutting plywood.
4. Developing a foundation scheme and performing some calculations.
5. Connecting the panels. The boards must be sawn into identical pieces and attached with nails or screws. Any deviations from the specified geometry must be excluded.
6. Fastening the panels. The connection method is determined by the type of foundation. A removable option can be screwed from the outside, a non-removable one – by any convenient method.
7. Installation of spacers. Wooden blocks or pieces of plastic pipe are used as them.

Utilizing specialized equipment is advised in order to expedite the excavation process. The technology itself is still easily comprehensible, allowing you to perform the task by hand.

Installing the formwork with your own hands

You can start the installation process after doing the necessary calculations and getting all the supplies and equipment ready. The corners of the trench should have bars fixed in place before erecting a wooden structure. They have to stay outside after the installation process.

Wooden shields are fastened using screws or nails. The amount of solution should be calculated at the time of fixing the wooden formwork, and spacers are used to strengthen the structure as needed. They are placed 70–80 centimeters apart from one another.

Preliminary stage of work

Survey events are the first step in any formwork installation project. They enable you to identify the kind of soil that will be used for the project. Even engineering surveys can be used to find the location of groundwater and the depth at which the Earth freezes, information that is necessary to know before beginning construction.

Such actions are typically trusted to a specialist. To prevent issues and detours during construction, you should also plan a project for future building.

If the foundation was built earlier and the concrete was poured without paying attention to the technology, the house’s walls will eventually develop cracks, and the structure will start to deteriorate.

Determining the room’s dimensions and wall thickness is crucial during the preparatory phase. These variables dictate how the future foundation will be configured.

A large, robust building with thick walls will require a foundation that is as substantial and long-lasting as possible (with good reinforcement).

You should decide on the material that will be used to build the formwork even in the preparatory phase. Reinforcing panels are required if the type is removable. They might be made of wood. It is advised to use polystyrene foam blocks when working with permanent structures.

After completing all the necessary preparations, you can start the major task, which is building the formwork.

Site marking

Mark the areas on the chosen territory where the major components of the future foundation will be positioned.

Prior to marking the base’s walls and inserting the pegs in their corners, you should clear the area of any trash and extra vegetation. Between them is a rope that will serve as a marker for the foundation’s edges. The inner and outer lines must be positioned parallel to one another in order to comprehend how to set the rope correctly.

Once the ropes are in position, you can begin trenching. Because you need to allow room for the future formwork, it is made somewhat wider than the contour that has been drawn.

Ways to save money during construction

It is worthwhile to follow the foundation pouring procedure step-by-step in order to conserve materials. In order to accomplish this, you must construct one formwork section and utilize it for the remaining tape. You can pause between stages for three to four days if the outside temperature is above zero and the relative humidity is average. This is when the concrete will solidify in the end.

Before the subsequent pouring cycle, the cement layer is removed to ensure good adhesion between each component of the foundation.

Installation of wooden formwork on stable soil

Such a structure must be fastened to stable ground using an edged board that is 10–15 cm wide and 3–4 cm thick. Another option is to use a sheet of 0.5–1.5 cm thick plywood.

The guide boards, which are fastened with pegs, are first installed in the pit. To correctly connect the panels, use a plumb line or building level. Within the formwork, they are secured with wooden sloping surfaces.

It is best to leave an ideal gap outside when installing the internal structure. This will stop the joints from developing cracks. Spacers are positioned all the way around the perimeter to keep the tape at the same width.

In stable soil, formwork installation can be done in another way. It only allows for the above-ground portion of the foundation to be fixed.

Wooden formwork on unstable soil

In order to facilitate the installation of the shields more comfortably, you must create a small slope when excavating the wall-to-formwork recess if you must fix the formwork on unstable soil. After completing this, you can use the same technology as in the prior instance to continue the installation. There won’t be any additional braces beyond the number listed below.

Installation of a permanent structure for the foundation of the house

Expanded polystyrene stamping blocks are used to create permanent formwork, and they are fastened around the base’s perimeter. A reinforced frame needs to be inserted into the inner portion of the formwork in order to manufacture the structure. Concrete mixture needs to be poured into it.

High expense and the requirement for intricate calculations to match base width to expanded polystyrene block size are the drawbacks of this type of formwork structure.

Rules for an uneven area

After selecting the type of formwork and getting the required supplies and equipment ready, it’s important to think about the aspects of properly fastening the structure on uneven ground or in shallow soil. You should follow these guidelines in order to avoid making mistakes:

1. Before installing the formwork, it is necessary to prepare the area by removing debris and unevenness.
2. Next, you need to inspect the surface of the formwork and make sure that it is free of unevenness and defects.

There should be no chips, cracks, or dirt throughout the entire inner side. If the board is gone, smooth-surfaced plywood can be used in its place.

Use a building level to position the structure around the perimeter. Fasteners are fastened as firmly as possible to prevent the foundation from deforming.

Checking to make sure all the regulations have been followed is the last step after finishing the installation process. A plumb line, a corner, and a level are used for this.

Although creating formwork for a strip foundation on your own can seem difficult, it is a manageable task if you have the necessary skills and equipment. For your building project, you can guarantee a solid and long-lasting foundation by being aware of your options and choosing the one that best meets your requirements.

Precise measurements and meticulous planning are required for the process. You can gather the required supplies and start the installation with a well-defined plan. For the formwork to maintain its shape and support the concrete while it cures, proper assembly is essential. Every stage, from laying the foundation to fastening the sides, is essential to the foundation’s overall stability.

Recall that persistence and focus on details are essential. Acquiring

Video on the topic

No-brainer installation of formwork

SUPER – convenient assembly FORMWORK for a strip foundation { Easy to install at any height }

How to properly strengthen the formwork?

Installation of the formwork of the Armopoyas of the foundation for the screw spax

DIY wooden formwork. How to make formwork for a foundation

✅so that the formwork does not give way🔥

Simple tips for FAST and EASY installation of wooden formwork. Part 1 – driving in the stakes.

Plywood foundation formwork. Installation and fastening.