Steel vs. Wood Formwork: What Works Best?

Construction methods have improved drastically over the last few decades, allowing us to build better buildings and structures in less time and at lower costs. For a fast-growing society such as ours, this is a necessity. However, not every solution and technique need to be underscored by cutting-edge technology. Sometimes the best solution is also the simple one – such as the solution offered by the use of formwork in construction.

Formwork is basically a mould that is used to pour concrete into, allowing it to set in a certain shape or form. This makes the construction of columns, curves, and even large blocks used for building possible. What’s more, this is done on site, which saves time and a significant amount of money related to the transport of building materials.

Now, formwork comes in a variety of materials, the most popular being wood and steel. So, which one is better?

The short answer would be that both have their place within the construction industry. However, they have very different attributes, which make them more or less suitable for specific applications.

Typically, steel formwork is more expensive than its wimber counterpart. If you’re planning a once-off project, this might be an important factor to consider. However, this cost is negated by the fact that the steel products can be used over and over again, without additional cost, more so than the wooden counterparts.

While wood is generally easy to work with and lightweight, steel formwork often delivers more precise results. So, when accuracy is essential, steel is the way to go. This is because steel boasts a smoother surface, which is easier to remove and leaves a neater and more precise concrete surface.

Steel formwork, when properly installed, is also less likely to leak wet concrete, and offers more protection against environmental conditions that the construction might be exposed to. Typically, this means better drying of the concrete, which again delivers a higher quality end result.

For more information about quality steel formwork, and to request a quote, get in touch with the team at Disc-O-Scaff. Situated in Elandsfontein in Gauteng, we’re a leading supplier of formwork and scaffolding to both large and small construction companies throughout Southern Africa. We engineer and manufacture all our products in-house, and go to great lengths to ensure we meet and exceed industry standards. This way, you know you always get the best quality products from us.