Like a lot of hard working tools, after absorbing the pressures of the elements, they need some TLC to perform at their best. No matter how good the quality of your formwork panels, degradation over time can happen which will affect safety and performance consistency. The good news? There are a few straightforward maintenance habits that can keep your systems in top shape and extend their lifespan. At Gael Form, we have seen firsthand what these habits consist of, handling, cleaning and storage. Although all of our FrameLite, TPS and DMP formwork systems have been designed with durability in mind, the acceptance of what happens on-site playing a crucial role in longevity must be acknowledged. You must treat panel maintenance as part of the build and not just an afterthought.

So one of the most important, but thankfully also one of the most basic habits to pick up, is cleaning your panels immediately after use. If you leave the concrete residue to dry, it damages the plywood surface of your formwork along with also becoming significantly more difficult to remove. To avoid these issues appearing, power wash your panels with the right pressure to clean them effectively but also not risking weakening their structure. As part of Gael Form’s refurbishment service, we specialise in this practice to improve long term performance.

Another point in panel maintenance that is not to be overlooked is storage. When formwork is exposed to the rain can cause water damage and even warping, it is also important to not have them in direct ground contact. You can ensure your panels retain their integrity between uses by being particular about how they are stored. Keeping them covered without trapping moisture underneath and stacking them on dry pallets is the most optimal approach. 

The way in which you handle your formwork systems is something that also must be considered when it comes to extending their lifespan. When moving panels it should be done carefully and with the right equipment, although this may seem obvious at first, overtime there can be a build up of bangs and falls. Gael Form’s formwork is built for robustness, but when a panel collides against steel for example, there is the risk of hairline cracks developing that obviously can affect performance.

Over the course of time and multiple projects, panels should be rotated regularly to ensure even wear across your formwork stock. It is vital that you track usage and monitor for things such as deep scratches and corroded frames to hopefully catch potential issues early. This is another area where Gael Form’s refurbishment services comes into play. If the panels are showing signs of wear and tear but are still structurally sound, we can treat them through reboarding, repainting etc. 

In the end, formwork is an investment and similarly to how we spoke about tools earlier, it pays to look after it. With the right maintenance habits you can significantly extend the life of your formwork systems, saving you money and saving you stress. By making these habits routine across your work, pour after pour, you can take full advantage of all these benefits. To learn more, contact us here: info@gaelform.com