How Much Does Formwork Cost? [2024]

Formwork can be a necessary home improvement, but how much does formwork cost and who can supply formwork? Factors affecting cost of formwork in construction will vary depending on the application.

1. What is formwork?
2. Why is formwork necessary in a residential setting?
3. How much does formwork cost?
4. Aluminium formwork cost
5. Choosing a formwork expert

 What is formwork?

What is formwork? Formwork is basically cement cast in a form, which can take many shapes and be used for a variety of applications. Formwork can be made in frames with a special material used to hold the form in place. It can also be made of timber beams and plywood.

Detailed charts are available that outline the thickness of concrete and the load bearing capacity of formwork. Charts have details for formwork from 100mm thick to 1000mm thick and also include the span of formwork, which can be from 0.9 metres to 2.4 metres. Larger spans are available, but these are usually for bigger jobs than residential jobs.

Formwork can also be a form built around an area such as a house slab, driveway or patio. The form is usually made of timber or plywood and holds cement in place until the cement hardens and the formwork is removed.

Formwork has many applications. If you've seen concrete in any specific form, it's probably been made using formwork. Sometimes it even takes on an artistic look and can be straight, curved or angled. Of course, this type of formwork will cost more than the cost of formwork in construction, but if you want a spectacular display, it may be worth it. In general, though, formwork is a necessary part of the construction process.

 Find out more: What is formwork?

Why is formwork necessary in a residential setting?

Formwork is usually done on house slabs, driveways, patios and other surfaces that require concrete in a form, but sometimes formwork is needed for other applications in a residential setting, such as concrete columns and other vertical applications.

Formwork can also be used to create walls for a home. It may be used for a feature wall or can possibly be used on all the walls of a house. Concrete can create interesting looking walls that may look like concrete blocks have been stacked together. This is part of the formwork and can create striking effects.

Formwork can also be used to create concrete beams or even a second storey concrete floor. Both beams and floors require plywood and a support structure that is able to hold the weight of the concrete. This type of formwork can be relatively expensive because of the amount of support needed and other factors affecting cost of formwork.

Depending on the job, formwork can be inexpensive or expensive. On horizontal surfaces, it is relatively inexpensive because only plywood and stakes for support are needed. Thin plywood can also be bent into a shape for a driveway or patio. Formwork cost estimation for stairs may be higher, because more work is involved.

When formwork is needed for walls, columns, beams or a second storey floor, the cost of formwork in construction can be higher. This is because the formwork needs to be to exact specifications and more work is involved in making vertical formwork or the support structure for beams and floors.

How much does formwork cost?

Concreters get varying pay depending on their skill level. Some typical per hour pay rates in Australia are:

• $20.00 for a labourer
• $24.00 for a construction labourer
• $33.75 for a concrete foreman
• $35.00 for a concrete contractor

These hourly rates won't tell you how much formwork costs, but in general, easier jobs like making formwork for a slab, driveway or patio will be done by a labourer or construction labourer. One job might take half a day and another job could take up to a week to complete.

Formwork cost estimation will reflect this hourly wage plus the cost of the materials needed to make a slab, driveway or patio and perhaps a commission for the contractor.

More complex jobs require the knowledge of a formwork specialist, such as a formwork estimator, formwork carpenter and formwork concretor. A formwork estimator will provide formwork cost estimation, while a formwork carpenter will construct the formwork needed for a job. They are the first person to go on site and build a structure the concrete can be poured into.

That's when the formwork concretor comes in. Formwork concretors know what to do for every formwork application. They sometimes have to use special equipment to get concrete into wall forms or onto roofs. Factors affecting cost of formwork could include hiring the equipment needed and possibly special vehicles or concrete pumps.

Each formwork job is different and the only way to get quotes for formwork is to describe the job in detail, including the size of the job and its specifications. You'll be given a formwork cost estimation which will help you choose a formwork company, but they will want to inspect the site and learn more before they give an exact quote.

Find out more about how to calculate formwork.

Aluminium formwork cost

Aluminium formwork is an alternative to traditional timber, plywood and steel formwork that can be economical for larger projects and offers long-term savings for permanent installations.

Aluminium's light weight means you might not need to hire lifting equipment and its ease of use means it may be assembled by unskilled labourers with minimal supervision, which could save money.

However, as the initial aluminium formwork cost is higher compared to wood and steel formwork, it's usually not economical for smaller residential jobs.

Choosing a formwork expert

Jobs such as slabs, driveways and patios are fairly easy and can be handled by any concretor. They are accustomed to making formwork on horizontal surfaces and know what to do.

However, the typical concretor doesn't know how to create formwork for a vertical surface or how to create formwork for beams or second storey floors. This is when you need the services of a formwork expert who knows the load tolerances and how to create formwork for any application.

When choosing a formwork expert, you want to know they are experts in their field. They should be:

• Licensed
• Insured
• Able to provide you with references
• Have a well established business

You can't take chances with vertical formwork or a second storey slab or concrete beams. The formwork specialist needs to know how to construct formwork for any thickness of concrete and must know how to make a support structure for beams or a second storey concrete slab. They also must know how long to leave the formwork in place, because taking it down too soon could result in a mishap. The concrete must be fully cured before the formwork is removed. Experts would also know when to remove formwork.

The cost of formwork in construction and even residential projects can be expensive, but it depends on the size of the project and the complexity of the formwork. If you think you need formwork, get a formwork cost estimation from formwork experts in your area and compare their quotes and their expertise. Don't choose a lower quote if the formwork company does not have years of experience behind them and can't provide you with references. It's not worth it when you need formwork that must be made to specification for the project.

*Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.