Lately, minimalist building concept is getting more famous among house owners. Some of the main characteristics of this modern and minimalist concept are bold structure, simple shapes, as well as strong building appearance. In order to achieve this result, concrete is often used as one of the main materials in construction process. Concrete is often used because it is strong, could be produced in various shapes according to construction’s needs, and the casting process is quite easy. Even though it looks easy, concrete casting process that is not done correctly could result in lower quality concrete. Therefore, make sure to apply the following tips during concrete casting process:
- Decide on the Design, Structure, and Concrete Casting Dimension
The first thing that you have to pay attention to for concrete casting is the preparation step. Before beginning the concrete casting process, make sure that you have already decide on your desired design, concrete structure, as well as concrete casting area dimension. This will help you determine the required amount of concrete and formwork board size, so you could avoid the risk of concrete shortage or abundance.
- Use Good Quality Formwork Board
Beside paying attention to the size of formwork board needed for construction, you should also check the condition of the formwork board. A good formwork board does not necessarily mean new, but it should be of good quality. Pick formwork board that is in a strong condition, free from cracks and damages, and have a clean surface. Using dirty formwork board could result in porous casted concrete.
- Avoid Removing Formwork Board Too Early
After pouring the concrete mix inside its cast, make sure that you let it dry completely first before removing formwork boards. A concrete that is not fully dried could not withstand its own weight, which will result in lower quality concrete construction result. The safest time to remove formwork board is about 30 days after casting process begins.
- Make Sure the Cast is Completely Filled
Do not let concrete mix dry straightaway after pouring the mix into its cast. Before leaving the concrete to dry, make sure that cast is completely filled by knocking on the sides of formwork boards using hammer for a few times, or use concrete vibrator machine if you are performing a bigger scale construction. This step is necessary to avoid any holes which could reduce concrete result’s quality.
- Clean Up Concrete Excess Immediately
In order to achieve a smooth concrete surface, a surface smoothing process should be done after pouring concrete mix into the cast. This process will result in excess concrete mix pouring out of the cast. Make sure to clean up the excess immediately after smoothing concrete mix surface, because if the excess has dried, it would be harder to clean.
The five points mentioned above are some tips that you could follow during concrete casting for a more effective process. Beside the preparation and casting process, another phase that is just as crucial and could affect the end result of concrete construction is product selection. Make sure to use premium quality concrete product, such as Ready Mix Concrete from Merah Putih Beton for a stronger and more durable construction.
