NMT
March 26, 2025
82
The rational choice of construction templates
In the construction industry, the choice of formwork plays a key role in project quality, cost and progress. Aluminum formwork and wood formwork, as two commonly used formwork, have their own merits. An in-depth understanding of their advantages and disadvantages will help construction companies make informed decisions.
First, aluminum template: the right hand of modern construction
(1) Advantages
Excellent durability: Aluminum templates constructed from high-strength aluminum alloy offer 200-300+ turnovers under normal use. In contrast, the turnover times of wooden template is only 5 – 8 times. This means that the use of aluminum formwork can significantly reduce the frequency of formwork replacement, reducing long-term costs. In large-scale projects like Vanke’s, long-term aluminum formwork use significantly cuts formwork procurement costs.
High precision and quality: Aluminum formwork is manufactured through advanced processing technology, with high dimensional precision and tight splicing. Aluminum formwork creates smooth, even concrete surfaces, achieving clear water effects and reducing plastering—saving materials and time. In Shenzhen’s landmark office building, aluminum formwork keeps concrete flatness errors minimal, cutting post-construction repairs.
Efficient construction speed: Aluminum formwork is reasonably designed, easy and quick to install and dismantle. Its standardized modular design enables rapid assembly and high installation efficiency by skilled workers in general. In high-rise residential projects, aluminum formwork cuts 1-2 days per floor’s construction cycle, accelerating overall timelines.
Good environmental performance: aluminum alloy materials can be recycled, the recycling rate is up to 90% or more. This is in line with the current development concept of green building and reduces the generation of construction waste. In today’s increasingly stringent environmental requirements, the environmental advantages of aluminum templates are more and more prominent.
(2) Disadvantages
Higher upfront cost: Aluminum templates have significant initial purchase costs, with system sets being relatively expensive. For some small construction enterprises or capital-strapped projects, there may be financial pressure. However, long-term large-scale projects see cost savings from high reuse cycles, offsetting upfront investments.
Strict design and processing requirements: aluminum templates need to be accurately designed and customized processed according to project drawings. If there is a mistake in the design process, the modification cost is high and may affect the construction progress. This requires the design team to have a high level of professionalism and rich experience.
While aluminum alloy is lightweight, single aluminum formwork pieces weigh more than wooden counterparts. High-rise/ultra-high-rise construction requires stronger vertical transport, raising equipment costs and construction challenges.
Second, wood template: traditional and flexible representatives
(1) Advantages
Cost advantage is obvious: wood template is relatively inexpensive, one-time purchase cost is low, for small projects or short-term projects, can effectively reduce the financial pressure. Some small township construction projects, due to limited funds, wood template becomes the economic choice.
Flexibility and adaptability: wood template processing is convenient, according to the actual needs of the construction site for cutting, splicing, to adapt to a variety of complex building shapes. In some shaped building or local irregular structure construction, wood template can easily deal with. For example, some cultural and artistic venues with unique design, wooden templates can better meet the modeling needs.
Light weight, easy to operate: wooden formwork is light weight, installation and dismantling without large mechanical equipment, manual operation. This reduces the construction of the dependence on equipment, reduces the cost of equipment rental, in some of the lack of large-scale equipment on the construction site advantages are obvious.
(2) Disadvantages
Wooden formwork has limited durability due to its tendency to absorb moisture, warp, and crack easily. These issues directly compromise the quality of concrete molding by causing deformities and structural weaknesses. After repeated use, the template surface flatness and dimensional accuracy is difficult to ensure, affecting the quality of the project.
Insufficient stability of construction quality: due to the characteristics of wood material, wooden formwork is prone to contraction, expansion and other problems under different climatic conditions, affecting the quality of concrete pouring. In areas with high humidity, wood templates are prone to mold and rot after moisture, reducing service life.
Environmental protection is not good: wood belongs to the natural resources, a large number of wooden formwork will consume forest resources. And the waste wood template is difficult to recycle, easy to cause environmental pollution.
Third, the summary and choice of recommendations
Aluminum formwork and wood formwork have their own advantages and disadvantages. Aluminum formwork is suitable for large-scale, standardized projects with high requirements for quality and progress, such as high-rise residential and large-scale commercial buildings, etc. Wooden formwork is more suitable for small-scale, short-term and complex shape projects. Construction enterprises should choose the most suitable formwork according to the comprehensive consideration of project characteristics, budget, duration and other factors to maximize the benefits of the project. Under the development trend of pursuing efficient and environmentally friendly construction industry, the application prospect of aluminum templates will be broader, while wood templates will also continue to play its unique advantages in specific areas.
In the construction industry, the choice of formwork plays a key role in project quality, cost and progress. Aluminum formwork and wood formwork, as two commonly used formwork, have their own merits. An in-depth understanding of their advantages and disadvantages will help construction companies make informed decisions.
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Guangdong Chuanqiangshu New Material Technology Co.
No.9, Lane 1, Heng Jiang Nan San Yuan, Shatou Street, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China
Contact Number: +86 13060955918；+86 18927593669
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +8618927598228
