Chinese Concrete Form Construction Techniques

Concrete Form Foundations

• Concrete form foundations and walls are made just the way they sound -- by forming concrete into particular shapes. The ubiquitous concrete slab is an example of concrete form construction, with its boards carefully measured and placed to support the heavy walls of the concrete while it's drying. In China, form construction often moves beyond the foundation and into thick support walls. Two of the highest concrete towers in the world are located in China.

Form Panels

• Form panels give concrete construction its shape. In the United States, traditional lumber and stakes are used to create the panels. In China, bamboo concrete forms are more common. As long as the bamboo is reinforced with enough support to withstand the weight of the concrete, the panels can make reliable, lightweight form tools that can be quickly fitted together to form a barrier for the newest concrete project.

Supports

• Supports are key in China, where concrete walls rise high above foundations and would crumble if they weren't strengthened in some way. For large buildings some supports are obvious. Pillars, columns and buttresses can all be installed along the walls to relieve stress points. However, in many cases hidden supports are included. Long lengths of steel rebar are placed in the concrete, along with metal mesh and other products designed to make the concrete stronger than it would otherwise be, especially after several years of use.

Membranes

• China spans a number of different climates, much like the United States, and concrete must be built in both wet and dry areas. Vapor barriers and moisture membranes are key in both cases. These plastic sheaths, coatings and sheets help prevent water from getting trapped in the concrete or entering from one side of the foundation or the other. They're necessary for quality construction designed to last for years, instead of crumbling due to moisture leaks.