I am new to the forum and looking to get into foundation work. I've been doing a little bit of concrete form work over the years but never had a chance to use these advance forms. I am wondering what a good number of panels would be for a starter set. Thinking about getting the 8' 6 bar system. Maybe getting a set of 8' and a set of 4'. How many forms do you guys typically use. I dont want to buy a bunch extra when I'm just starting out but I also dont want to be short on my second job. 8' seems to be most common but does anyone use the 9'4 panels? Also what sizes would be good to have as fraction filler panels? If anyone has any info that could help or tips and tricks using these panels please let me know.
Advance concrete forms
Mike603
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I am new to the forum and looking to get into foundation work. I've been doing a little bit of concrete form work over the years but never had a chance to use these advance forms. I am wondering what a good number of panels would be for a starter set. Thinking about getting the 8' 6 bar system. Maybe getting a set of 8' and a set of 4'. How many forms do you guys typically use. I dont want to buy a bunch extra when I'm just starting out but I also dont want to be short on my second job. 8' seems to be most common but does anyone use the 9'4 panels? Also what sizes would be good to have as fraction filler panels? If anyone has any info that could help or tips and tricks using these panels please let me know.
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1,680 Posts
You can rent concrete forms delivered to your jobsite and a good form supplier will do a detailed formwork plan showing where each panel goes, where ties go, where they are pinned, etc.
I think you would be nuts to buy a bunch of forms without first trying out several systems and without having enough work to pay for them lined up.
Check out Symons forms, IMO they are a better system.
I think you would be nuts to buy a bunch of forms without first trying out several systems and without having enough work to pay for them lined up.
Check out Symons forms, IMO they are a better system.
I will have to call around but havent come across any place that rents them near me. I also dont have work lined up for foundation walls because I dont want to advertise that I do them without having the tools to get the job done. The forms will eventually pay off whether it takes a couple weeks or a year and would allow me to take on bigger jobs.
I've been doing a lot of research about the different forms and was going back and forth between symons and advance. But advance seems like less loose pieces and atleast as fast to set up and strip. Have you used advance forms and why do you prefer the symons? I only ever formed with plywood and 2x's so all I know about premade forms is the research I've done and seeing a couple pours be done.
I've been doing a lot of research about the different forms and was going back and forth between symons and advance. But advance seems like less loose pieces and atleast as fast to set up and strip. Have you used advance forms and why do you prefer the symons? I only ever formed with plywood and 2x's so all I know about premade forms is the research I've done and seeing a couple pours be done.
Tell you a little story with a point:
I have been doing concrete for a lot of years, and evolved into doing concrete roofs and decks, several underground and earth sheltered home, and so on....and I rented my shoring from Ellis Construction Specialties in OKC....they always gave me engineered plans for the shoring post layout, but what I hated was paying rent...and I had 4 weeks, and then I would get another 4 weeks whether I kept them that long or not. 5 weeks of weekly rental was the same as 2 months....but anyway....and I didn't like wooden shoring with Ellis clamps...
So I started running a search with "Search Tempest" that constantly searched Craigslist and looked for "shores" and "shoring" and Shore posts" and "Ellis Shores" and after just a few months, I had a hit in Houston...guy had 300+ shore posts left from someone he shared his location with...he knew what they were, but he did flatwork, and didn't want to move the posts....he was asking $15 each, and I said, if I take all of them? He said if you are here in the morning before I leave to the job site, $10 each for all.
Needless to say I hauled ass for Houston with cash in hand, and pulling my trailer, and came back with 305 10 foot posts and 35 - 14 footers. 4 Pallet carrying racks...and they were full. The posts sell in OKC for $116 for the short ones. And these were like new. Oh yeah, these are the good steel shores with a screw collar to raise them..last a lifetime if cared for.
The next job I was on, I used all but maybe 3 of the posts, and had I rented, I would have paid nearly 4k for 2 months...plus delivery...as it was, I cleared them on the first job.
So make a plan, and then look and be prepared. The guy I dealt with told me he had several calls, but since I called him first, and told him I was on the road with cash, he held them for me. Deals are out there....but, when the economy is rolling, they are hard to find. But if I were looking for forms like you seek, I would be on search Tempest and set it to check every day, or twice a day, and it will look online and at eBay also. I have seen lots of forms in the past for sale, with trucks and crane trucks to move them...so that tells me that either the economy slows and guys bail, or this is less demand for poured walls, or,....insurance costs drive a lot of smaller guys out.
Most of the residential wall form work here is ICF now...commercial is where you see the poured walls.
I have been doing concrete for a lot of years, and evolved into doing concrete roofs and decks, several underground and earth sheltered home, and so on....and I rented my shoring from Ellis Construction Specialties in OKC....they always gave me engineered plans for the shoring post layout, but what I hated was paying rent...and I had 4 weeks, and then I would get another 4 weeks whether I kept them that long or not. 5 weeks of weekly rental was the same as 2 months....but anyway....and I didn't like wooden shoring with Ellis clamps...
So I started running a search with "Search Tempest" that constantly searched Craigslist and looked for "shores" and "shoring" and Shore posts" and "Ellis Shores" and after just a few months, I had a hit in Houston...guy had 300+ shore posts left from someone he shared his location with...he knew what they were, but he did flatwork, and didn't want to move the posts....he was asking $15 each, and I said, if I take all of them? He said if you are here in the morning before I leave to the job site, $10 each for all.
Needless to say I hauled ass for Houston with cash in hand, and pulling my trailer, and came back with 305 10 foot posts and 35 - 14 footers. 4 Pallet carrying racks...and they were full. The posts sell in OKC for $116 for the short ones. And these were like new. Oh yeah, these are the good steel shores with a screw collar to raise them..last a lifetime if cared for.
The next job I was on, I used all but maybe 3 of the posts, and had I rented, I would have paid nearly 4k for 2 months...plus delivery...as it was, I cleared them on the first job.
So make a plan, and then look and be prepared. The guy I dealt with told me he had several calls, but since I called him first, and told him I was on the road with cash, he held them for me. Deals are out there....but, when the economy is rolling, they are hard to find. But if I were looking for forms like you seek, I would be on search Tempest and set it to check every day, or twice a day, and it will look online and at eBay also. I have seen lots of forms in the past for sale, with trucks and crane trucks to move them...so that tells me that either the economy slows and guys bail, or this is less demand for poured walls, or,....insurance costs drive a lot of smaller guys out.
Most of the residential wall form work here is ICF now...commercial is where you see the poured walls.
Quick look, know where I would be buying. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2507978.m570.l1313&_nkw=concrete+forms&_sacat=0
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1,680 Posts
For sure. We bought a whole big lot of Symons forms off a competitor that was closing up shop. Forms were in great condition and we got them for $0.50 on the dollar.
I'll still say that a guy entering the business would be far better off renting, than buying forms right out of the gate. Just about anyplace in the US you can find a supplier that will design a system, supply and deliver forms to your jobsite. They might be 100 miles away, but they're out there. Just google Symons forms or Advance forms, make a call and they will get you in touch with somebody.
why do you prefer the symons?
Symons panels have a full steel frame which makes them more rigid and stronger. They are very versatile and being steel framed will likely last longer and hold up better. If the faces ever get bad, you can replace the facing also.
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