Installing formwork over a trench
The main purpose of the formwork installation is to shape the poured concrete, which will subsequently form the foundation of the building. If the soil in the equipped trench is solid and its walls do not crumble, in this case it is appropriate to make a formwork directly above the trench itself, since the solid inner soil acts as a natural formwork. It is necessary to equip the formwork to a height that will be equal to the height of the foundation above ground level with a small margin. If the soil is soft and the walls of the trench crumble, in this case it will be advisable to install the formwork both in the trench itself and on top of it.
But in this article we will take a closer look at the first option. So, your trench is dug, the soil in it is solid and the sun will start to rotate around the earth sooner than it will start to crumble? In this case, you can safely proceed with the installation of the formwork above the trench.
You can choose the material for the formwork based on your preferences and budget, but mostly wooden boards and plywood are used, so we use them as an example.
The main thing is that the materials for the formwork meet the following requirements:
- Thickness of at least 2.5 cm
- Absence of bends and deformations
- Absence of cracks and knots that reduce the strength of wood
- One of the sides has a flat surface
- Smooth edges
Stakes are driven into the ground along the entire perimeter, on which shields assembled from planks will be attached with nails or dowels. In order to fix the formwork, it is necessary to make through holes in the shields with a long drill and insert fittings into them, which will be fixed on the outer sides of the formwork using spring clamps or frog clamps.
This will allow you to securely fix the formwork, avoid misalignment of the reinforcement, deformation of the formwork shape, and also allow you to withstand heavy loads. The installation of spring clamps is very simple and does not require special training and knowledge.
It is enough just to put the clamp on the armature and fix it with a special key. To dismantle the formwork, fixed with the help of chiroses, you also do not need special knowledge and extreme sleight of hand. It is enough just to hit the tongue of the chiroza with a simple hammer and then remove it with your hands.
