Working with Concrete [Paperback]

Rick Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Pros By Pros | Publication Date: May 15, 2003

- Over 1.2 million copies sold in Taunton's For Pros/By Pros series

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press; 1ST edition (May 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561586145
• ISBN-13: 978-1561586141
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Design > House Plans
  • #81 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Design > Design & Construction
  • #85 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Repair

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could be more, January 14, 2007

By 

John W. Taylor "John Taylor" (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working with Concrete (Paperback)

This is the better book on pouring concrete forms that Taunton Press offers.
When I bought the book I was a complete novice. Now after 1 1/2 years and several large projects I am starting to learn what is missing. The book does not talk about the design of the forms. For example concrete exerts 150lb/sqft for ever foot of height. At the bottom of a 2ft wall the pressure is 300lbs but at the bottom of a 8ft wall the pressure is 1200lb/sqft. The plywood, 2x4 bracing, and ties need to be set for the height of a wall.
You can lessen the number of ties in a wall by using stronger ties but then you have to make sure the grid spacing of the 2x4's will support the plywood.
The pressure on the plywood can also lessened if the pour is slowed down or done in two stages but if it is a small job that will take less than a hour to do the forms will get the full pressure.
With the first form sys I rented there was nothing telling me how much pressure the forms would take. Trying to save some money I set everything up with ties on a 4'x 2' grid pattern this is O.K for say a 3ft wall but (lucky for me the guy that was going to pump the concrete told me)not strong enough for a 7ft wall.
There are many different types of form sys if the one that is shown in the book is not available in your area you will need to do more research.
If you are using a small inline pumper truck you need to order the concrete with small rock.
Bracing the wall is also very important you are dealing with tons of weight so make sure the bracing holding the wall vertical/straight is done well.

Forms are also called Falsework.

With rebar in the form it is just about impossible to spray the form release on without getting it on the re-bar. It is better to spray the form boards before setting them up or ...
Make sure you strip the forms 1 - 2 days after the pour then you don't need form release. Any spilt concrete be easy to break up.

Added Dec. 10 2007

Rent a concrete vibrator and hit the sides of the forms with a hammer to get rid of the air. Don't over vibrate the concrete or you will make big air bubbles.

For form stripping buy a 5ft wrecking bar with a 90 degree end not a crow bar with a hook. The 5ft bar cut the stripping time in half.

Hitachi makes a rebar bender/cutter I have rented several times it is great tool.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for forms and site preparation, June 5, 2007

By 

builder (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Working with Concrete (Paperback)

Minimal coverage of additives, finishing, and concrete mix variations. Good coverage
of form building and setting. Not as complete as the title implies; really another formwork book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Taunton Press good(usually), this book bad. Only for NE builders., September 28, 2009

By 

Horse (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Working with Concrete (Paperback)

I frequently buy Taunton Press books. I usually enjoy their "By Pros, for Pros Series".

That said, I hated this book. The first problem was that I saw duplicate material within 3 minutes.

I own "Additions" by Taunton press, and yup, duplicate material.

This book is "OK" for all you weekend builders, or people with absolutely no experience.

However, any builder would be disappointed, this is an overview of what anyone with any common sense already knows, with no pro tips.

Another problem is that pretty much all the examples show North East or "Cold Location" foundations. They all contain basements, with very minimal coverage of driveway or slab foundation forming.

I don't recall seeing anything about setting "Beater Boards" even though you can get an article about it on [...] (same company, their magazine).

This book would be good for someone who wants to MANAGE FOUNDATION POURS, but not to actually do the work. Maybe a homeowner, who wants it done right?

I would also like to mention there is a NEW VERSION WHICH IS YELLOW, AND LOOKS LIKE RECYCLED CONTENT. I almost bought it, hoping for new content, but all "preview content" seems to show it's just a new cover, and no new material.

ALL IN ALL, NOT VERY GOOD, BUT I LIKE THE COMPANY. Maybe try another product from them?

They need to extensively update setting beater boards, setting, bracing, foundation pours. NOT JUST WITH TWO STORY FORMS FOR BASEMENT WALLS. You should show how to form and pour a continuous slab footing such as is used by IDK THE WHOLE WEST COAST, AND THE SOUTH?

Oh, there is a small amount on building with block too.

Really, they should split it into 3-4 good books, instead of 1 crappy sparse book, which is a good maybe paper weight. Also, quit recycling content. My $15 dollars should get me a real book, not magazine articles thrown together. Especially when I read them in the magazine, and another book first... kinda old content maybe....