Steel Formwork vs Wooden Formwork

A construction project is only complete with formwork, whether made of steel, wood, or aluminium because it’s the core component responsible for delivering the desired concrete shape using a temporary mould. After being set in the mould for a long time, the concrete develops the desired strength to keep its form. A formwork is used in concrete construction as a “mould” into which concrete is poured. Formwork types differ in terms of materials and elements to be built.

In terms of materials, the steel formwork for concrete is made of steel, while the wood formwork is made of wood. Steel formwork for concrete is typically built to the modulus size. As a result, the concrete surface remains relatively smooth and beautiful after it has been demolished. Moreover, the steel formwork can be installed before or after the reinforcement. The steel formwork is installed before the steel bars, making it convenient and straightforward to place and install. In addition, it can visually monitor the concrete pouring process, reducing the risk of pores and honeycomb structures. The steel formworks can always be reused after they have been dismantled, whereas wooden formwork is often non-reusable which requires it to be discarded.

Timber Formwork

Advantages of Timber Formwork

Timber formwork is hugely adaptable.
Timber has high thermal resilience, which prevents concrete from deteriorating in colder climates.
Timber formwork is also simple to dismantle.
This formwork construction does not necessitate the use of skilled labour.
It is simple to replace damaged formwork with new formwork.

Disadvantages of Timber Formwork

Formwork made of wood.
It cannot be used for an extended period and only has 4 to 6 reuse facilities.
If the timber is dry, it will absorb moisture from wet concrete, potentially weakening the concrete member.
Damp concrete and wood with a high moisture content (more than 20% moisture content) will shrink and cup.

Steel Formwork

Steel formwork is the most common type of material used in the construction. Although steel formwork is considerably more expensive, it can be reused more frequently than the timber formwork. Steel framing is also extremely strong and safe for large-scale construction projects.

Advantages of steel formwork

Strong and able to support heavy loads.
Simpler to install with systematic installation.
Consistent size and surface.
Have a long life cycle where it can be reused indefinitely.
Highly customisable, cater to different building structures.

Disadvantages of steel formwork

Expensive.
Loses a lot of heat.
Has a very smooth surface, which complicates the finishing process.

As we can see, both steel and timber formwork has its own advantages and disadvantages. All in all, a steel formwork for concrete is still the better and more cost-effective choice in the long term. Steel is extremely strong and durable, does not absorb moisture, provides a clean concrete finish, and is the ideal long-term solution. After all, as long as it’s been properly maintained, it can be reused as many times as the structural integrity of the formwork can hold. Consider switching to steel for concrete formwork for these and other reasons. Steel is incredibly versatile and can be used for virtually any structural application that involves concrete. Meanwhile, check out our RBM steel formwork system.