FAQS

Should I put a board behind when putting a nail in?

When ever pounding a nail into plywood, you always put a board behind the wood in order to minimize chipping.



Do forms have to be filled up to the top when placing concrete?

No, #4 finish nails are driven into the inside of the form at the desired grade, with about 3/4" sticking out, usually about 4' apart. A chalk line is then snapped inside the forms at the desired grade. Conrete is then floated off up to the chalk line.



What size do wall ties come in?

4" is the shortest, 144" is the longest.



Can I do a tapered or battered wall with my Advance forms?

Yes. You will need to order special length ties to produce a tapered or battered wall.



Can forms do circles or radius work?

Yes, there are different techniques depending on wall thickness and radius. Contact us for additional information and how to properly accomplish this type of pour.



How do forms handle cold weather?

1 1/8" plywood is a good insulator. Placement of concrete is possible at 0 degrees. Exposed concrete on top must be covered with insulated blankets, and inside corner must be insulated.



How are forms transported?

Flatbed truck or trailer, or boom truck with form cages.



How often are forms braced?

Approximately every 8' to 10', using the Advance turnbuckle braces.



What is used to straighten the top of the wall?

On forms with top bar 16" or 20" down, a top waler is installed every 4' to 6'.
On forms with top bar 8" down, a wells-allen bracket on top bar works the best.
In all cases, brackets are installed on the outside of the forms.



Do forms require a waler on every bar?

No, the backing bars act as walers to keep forms straight horizontally.



Is it necessary to nail 2x4's to secure bottom of forms when setting up?

No, the forms are set right on the footing. The face of forms are set on the building (chalk) line. The slots in the locking lever will allow the forms to "float" up or down every 2' and remain plumb. The weight of the forms keeps them in position.



Can forms be laid on their side?

Yes, for curb height walls, form clips may be used top and bottom. Forms can also be laid horizontally on top of other forms with the use of off-set clips or snap-i-ties and wedges with form clips on top. Additional, Advance offers stacking clips for 1-1/8" to 1-1/8" if you are laying down a form or 1-1/8" to 1-5/8" if you are adding dimensional lumber on top of your form.



Do forms have to be oiled before concrete placement?

Yes, we recommend the forms be oiled before each pour. We offer form releases specifically designed to work with our forms and the specifications of your jobs.



Do forms require cleaning after each use?

Not generally. After forms are stripped you scrape off any loose concrete above pour line and knock concrete out of the holes by tapping the back of steel bars.



How many uses can I expect?

You should get around 200 pours depending on care and how they're handled, oiled, cleaned, transported, etc.



How much do forms weigh?

Between 4.5 to 5.1 lbs. per sq. ft. depending on bar configuration.



What are the forms made of?

Advance forms are made with 1-1/8" 120 / 120 HDO (High Density Overlay) plywood. 120/120 plywood is comprised of 2 sheets of HDO and 1 sheet of MDO to add to the life of the panels.



Can my Advance forms be gang formed?

No, this is a hand set system.



Why choose Advance concrete form over other systems?

Advance forms are chosen for reduced labor costs, easy of use, low iniatial investment, dependable product and reliability.



Can I vibrate Advance Concrete forms?

Vibrating should be kept to a minimum as bowing between bars may occur during excessive vibrating.



What is the recommended rate of pour?

It depends on the wall thickness and height of the pour. Typically for a wall 8" thick and 8' high the recommended rate of pour is 4' per hour at an air temperature of 65 degrees.



What height and width is available?

Form sizes are in 1" increments from 4" to 24" wide . Heights vary between 2' and 10'.



Can I do commercial work with the Advance concrete forming system?

Yes, Advance forms largest growth of use has been in light commercial and industrial work. Engineers have found the system to handle most jobs.



Do my footings need to be perfectly level to use the Advance Concrete forming system?

Advance forms are very forgiving so your footings do not need to be perfectly level. The system is designed to take imperfections in the footing.



Does temperature restrict the use of the Advance concrete forming system?

Temperature is not a limiting factor in using Advance forms. Advance forms are actually an insulator so they do well in hot and cold temperature.



At what interval do I need to brace my wall?

Each individual job needs to be calculated separately, but the general rule of thumb is every four to eight feet.



How high can I stack my forms?

Advance recommends pouring up to 24' using our 6 bar system for experienced users. For walls over 8' you will need to determine the load pressure of your pour to determine if you need to to double tie and how many bars to double tie.



What is double tieing and when would you use it?

Double tieing refers to using two ties instead of one per lever area. This is used when your concrete pressure exceeds the strength of one tie.



How easy is it to convert from another concrete forming system to the Advance system?

Converting to Advance is extremely easy due to using 4x4 and 1x1 corners from a learning curve stand point. Advance is also very friendly to be able to connect directly with your existing system.



What type of chemical form release should I use?

You want to use a chemically reactive release agent that works well with high density overlaid (HDO) plywood, not a barrier release agent.



What is the cost per square foot of using this forming system?

Advance forms are sold on a piece price not a per square foot price because all the hardware is already attached.



How many pours will my forms last for?

Repeat Advance customers report getting 200+ pours on their forms, many customers state getting well in excess of that number.



What is the working load and the maximum load of an Advance concrete forming tie?

Advance's tie capacity is 3,000 pounds with a 1.5 safety factor and a maximum working load of 4,500 pounds.



In what application would I use a cone tie?

A cone tie is used when the job or specs call for a thermally broken wall and/or a wall that calls for a 1" break back of the tie.



What is HDO plywood?

It is 11 plys of douglas fir veneer bonded together to be 1-1/8" thick. Our plywood has a High Density Overlay called "120/120" for the weight of the paper on each side. Each side is comprised of one sheet of 60 pound MDO paper and two sheets of 30 pound each HDO paper.



What can I do about walls over 8' in height?

12' and 16' walls can be done easily by stacking our 6 bar system. 10' and 12' walls can be done with our 4 bar and 5 bar system by using a separate pice of hardware called a stacking plate of with special 2x2 stacking forms. 9' and 10' forms are also available on special order.



Do I need to maintain a large inventory of fillers to make up odd dimensioned walls?

No. Most users keep even inch fillers between 6" and 20" and a few small odd sizes which combine to make any dimensions.



Are we able to form bays, offsets, pilaster, etc.?

Yes. The components of the forming system, corners and fillers, make complex dimensions easy to handle.



What is the break-back distance of the ties in the wall?

Standard ties break-back in the wall 1/4"



Will "Advance Panels" shift on the footings when I start pouring; and how do I allow for uneven footings?

At the start of the pour, each panel touches the footing and will ANCHOR ITSELF to the footing as the pour continues. Rough or uneven footing (up to 1/2") create no problems because of the slotted pivot arm of the locking lever. "Advance Panels" will never float out of alignment.



Is there much loose hardware to carry around, resulting in lost pieces?

Because each Advance form is a complete unit by itself with hardware attached, the number of loose hardware pieces is minimized. Other than bracing accessories all hardware is attached.



What is the main advantage of the Advance forming system?

It is fast and efffcient, therefore, reducing your labor costs.



Just how fast is the Advance forming system?

A four man crew should be able to complete one foundation per day. By this we mean, strip yesterday's wall, set up and pour a new wall, and set and pour a footing for the next day.



How will I recover my investment in the Advance forming system?

1) The Advance forming system initial cost is much less than other comparable forming systems which do the same types of jobs, that is, residentail, agricultural, light commercial and industrial. 2) There is less labor time involved in setting, bracing, stripping, maintaining, storing and transporting our panels. 3) The cost per pour is the real determining factor when comparing value. Less labor hours are required per foundation using the Advance forming system as compared to other comparable forming systems. This also reduces other overhead costs, such as insurance and employment taxes. 4) Foundation walls are completed quicker (quick in and quick out). Time lost because of bad weather is reduced to a minimum. The Advance forming system can be used in a wide range of termperatures. Wood is not hot to the touch in hot temperatures and is an insulator in colder termperatures.



Why would my forms not last as long as the average customers?

As with many items of equipment the longevity depends upon the care you give the forming system. Excessive "rate of pour", improper application of form release or not using a chemically reactive release agent, will shorten the life of the plywood. The method of transportation and storage you use will also impact the life of your forms.



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