Frequently Asked Questions
Products
Does HDPE require painting and cleaning?
HDPE Formwork does not require painting and concrete residue is easily removed using a pressure cleaner above 3000psi and turbo head or even just a cloth once it has dried (never clean with abrasives or power tools as this can damage the plastic face).
Does HDPE Formwork rust, corrode or degrade in full sunlight?
HDPE Formwork does not rust, corrode or degrade in full sunlight for more than fifty years and is easily stored outside with no maintenance.
Does HDPE bend out of shape?
HDPE Formwork will just spring back if it is bent out of shape during use, moving around or removal as it has a memory after manufacture.
Is HDPE Formwork portable?
HDPE Formwork is very light compared with its steel counterpart and while it is still best to position the outer forms with a machine once they are all bolted together (mainly because they have to be lifted over the 1500mm high inner) most forms, even when fully assembled can be lifted and carried by two workmen.
Can we separate the formwork from concrete after pouring?
HDPE Formwork is very easy to separate from the concrete after pouring compared to steel and rarely needs more than a rubber mallet or pinch bar to separate it. The only exception is if the concrete is still hot from not
being completely cured, as this causes the HDPE to expand and be a bit tighter than when it is cold. But even then with a few taps once the key panel has been removed, the inner comes off the surface and is easily lifted out. Many Concreters simply loosen the bolts on the outer from, tap it away from the concrete and lift it out whole with a machine.
What happens if HDPE Formwork gets damaged?
HDPE Formwork is in the main, very easily repaired as we can simply use the extrusion welders to fill and redrill any damaged bolt holes, fill and grind back any gouges, separations or cracks in the forms
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
HDPE Formwork should never be cleaned using abrasives or tools as that wrecks the formwork surface and will
compromise the finish on the concrete surface.
HDPE Formwork should never have heavy tools used to separate it from the concrete to avoid damage to the
forms.
The concrete that is poured/pumped into the HDPE Formwork must have a medium level of retarder in the
mix to prevent heat bulging and possible protrusions on the internals of the concrete structure as the heat of the curing concrete makes the HDPE sheet more malleable and the weight of the concrete above the base of the forms can cause internal bulging.