Shuttering work is a very important aspect of construction business. It is a critical procedure in the construction and reinforcement of concrete when constructing buildings, bridges, and roadways. Shuttering is performed in order to hold freshly poured concrete until it settles and gains enough strength to support itself. This article is a guide on shuttering work in construction, its significance, materials, types, and the best practices to undertake in order to have a successful and efficient process.

What is Shuttering in Construction?

Shuttering or formwork is the temporary structure to mold and hold concrete in place until it settles and hardens. It is normally applied in building of walls, slabs, columns, beams among other structural parts. Formwork supports the concrete and makes sure that the final structure possesses the right shape and size.

Shuttering is a key aspect of overall quality and safety of a construction project. Formwork may be done poorly which may cause defects in the concrete causing structural weakness or expensive repairs.

The Importance of Shuttering in Construction

Shuttering has a number of significant functions in the building process:

  1. Shape and Support: Shutters also serve the main purpose of shaping and supporting the concrete, until the concrete has gained enough strength to support itself.
  2. Safety: Correctly built and designed shuttering guarantees safety of the workers as the shuttering provides the concrete with a firm support during the pouring and curing process.
  3. Cost Efficiency: The appropriate materials and methods to be used in shuttering can save a lot of labor costs and make an entire project more efficient.
  4. Durability: Shuttering that is well built can be used more than once, thus saving money and material.
  5. Smooth Finish: A well-designed formwork will provide the concrete surface with the intended finish thus avoiding the necessity of carrying out a lot of repairs after construction.

Materials Used for Shuttering

Selection of shuttering material is based on the nature of project, requirements of the structure and budget. The popular shuttering materials include:

  1. Timber: The most widely used material in shuttering has been wood because it is easy to use, readily available and cheap. It can be used on smaller projects and is normally applied on wall and slab formwork.
  2. Steel: Steel shuttering is strong, reusable and can withstand greater pressure. It is suitable to big projects such as bridges or tall buildings. Steel formwork is smooth and easily modified to other shapes and sizes.
  3. Aluminum: Aluminum is light and can be manipulated easily and this is one of the reasons why it is applicable in projects that need speed and efficiency. Aluminum shuttering is long lasting and gives a high finish.
  4. Plastic: Plastic formwork is readily transportable, reusable and waterproof. It works best with small to medium sized projects especially in places where timber or metal cannot be used.
  5. Plywood: Plywood is usually used along with other materials in shuttering. It is tough, bendy and can be molded into all sorts of shapes. It is applied mainly on wall and slab formworks.

Types of Shuttering in Construction

Depending on the type of work and the formwork needed, shuttering work in construction can be classified into a number of types. The significant kinds of shuttering are:

  1. Wall Formwork: This formwork is applied in the shaping of walls of a building. It may be constructed out of timber, steel, or aluminum, depending on project size. Props or braces are normally used to support wall formwork.
  2. Slab Formwork: Slab formwork can be applied to construct flat surfaces of floors or ceilings. Generally, it is held up by a structure of beams and props and is supposed to hold the weight of the newly laid concrete.
  3. Column Formwork: Columns are upright structural elements of a structure and are cast using such formwork. Depending on the design requirements, column formwork may be timber, plywood or steel.
  4. Beam Formwork: The load bearing beams of the building are constructed by beam formwork. Beam formwork is usually constructed out of timber or steel and is propped or bracketed.
  5. Circular Formwork: Formwork in the form of a circle is used to make a curved surface, e.g. round columns, arches or tunnels. It is normally fabricated out of flexible materials such as timber or plastic and can be tailor-made to suit the exact curvature needed.
  6. Jump Formwork: A jumping formwork is a climbing formwork used in high rise buildings. It is built to move up and down as the building advances and therefore tall buildings are constructed fast and accurately.

Best Practices for Shuttering Work

The best practices in design, material selection, and implementation are necessary to guarantee the successfulness of shuttering work in the construction industry. These are some of the main tips that should be remembered:

  1. Proper Design: The shuttering design must be dependent on the project requirement. The formwork should have the capacity to hold the weight of the concrete as well as any other weight that may be added to it including workers and equipment.
  2. Use the Right Materials: The shuttering design must be dependent on the project requirement. The formwork should have the capacity to hold the weight of the concrete as well as any other weight that may be added to it including workers and equipment.
  3. Quality Control: Shuttering should be done with a regular check to make sure that formwork is done as per design specification. Any problems, like poor alignment, structural deficiencies, etc. must be corrected as soon as possible to prevent flaws in the end concrete structure.
  4. Ensure Adequate Support: The shuttering should be well supported such that it will not move or collapse due to the weight of the concrete. Prop it up, brace it or otherwise stabilize it.
  5. Waterproofing: In certain projects, waterproofing of the formwork is a mandatory requirement especially in projects where the foundation or structures are exposed to moisture so as to make sure that no water enters the concrete. This is so as to reinforce the structure to be stronger and durable.
  6. Use of Release Agents: It is advisable to apply release agent on form work to make the removal of the shuttering easy after concrete has stiffened. This avoids the bonding of concrete to the formwork so that the removal process is easier and quicker.
  7. Reusability: The advantage of shuttering is that it can be used several times and thus save on costs and wastage. Nevertheless, to ensure that the formwork lasts the longest, it has to be well taken care of and checked after every use.

Challenges in Shuttering Work

Although it is essential, shuttering work may pose a number of problems during construction. Among the typical problems there are:

  1. Material Degradation: The shuttering materials, especially timber, may wear out with time because of weathering, wetness, and wear. This has the potential of interfering with the strength of formwork.
  2. Time Constraints: Shuttering work is time-bound and delay in the setting up of the formwork may result in slowing down the whole construction. The execution and planning must be effective to avoid delays.
  3. Alignment and Shifting: Improper formwork positioning or movement may cause concrete defects that weaken the structure, or create the necessity of costly repairs. Such problems should be avoided by making sure that the formwork is properly aligned and supported.
  4. Safety Risks: Work in shuttering is heavy and height work and this may be a source of safety hazards to the employee. They ought to possess adequate safety precautions that involve fall protection, protective gear and training.

Conclusion

Shuttering work is a very important aspect of construction process whereby concrete is well shaped and supported until it acquires sufficient strength to support itself. Shuttering work is successful only when it is properly designed, material selection and also executed. Best practices and the resolution of the common challenges in the field allow construction projects to be executed in an efficient, safe, and high-quality manner. Regardless of whether you are building a small house or a large infrastructure, it is important to know the basics of shuttering in order to get the best results in construction.