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Castor oil, or petroleum jelly thinned with kerosene, also are good release agents. Concrete forms, even if they are ground, smoothed and polished, require a release agent to prevent sticking and enable easy stripping. Light colored petroleum oils or oil emulsions or various types have been used successfully.

The forms or “molding” that holds the concrete in place until it dries should be left alone for at least two days to ensure that the concrete is completely dry. If the forms are removed too soon, the concrete can begin to sag, crack and collapse, especially if conditions like temperature affected its strength.

Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn't drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.

The 1x4 boards that you used to create the form are certainly useable. While they probably aren't going be used for finish work, they will do just fine for any structural work. The exposure to the wet concrete will not harm them at all.

• Step
• 1. Plan the patio’s dimensions as well as the diagonal so the slab is square. For example, for a 10X10 patio, all...
• Step
• 2. Place a stake in one corner and use the sledgehammer to pound it into the ground.
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• 3. Hook the top of one tape measure to the stake and pull it to the next corner the length of that side.

• Wood is a particularly good building material because it breathes, is durable and has good insulating qualities. The ideal choices are naturally decay-resistant wood such as cedar, redwood or a good grade of exterior plywood.

• Plywood is the best material for building concrete forms because it retains its shape and integrity following prolonged exposure to wet concrete. Cut OSB panels tend to swell on exposure to water. Plyform panels are the best choice since they're specially engineered for concrete forming.

• Insulating concrete form or insulated concrete form (ICF) is a system of formwork for reinforced concrete usually made with a rigid thermal insulation that stays in place as a permanent interior and exterior substrate for walls, floors, and roofs.

It is employed mainly for concrete casting that does not exceed 6 inches of height. The wooden form types consist of wooden boards. These are either nailed or screwed together to the desired mold or formwork shape. Special leveling devices are used to properly level or slope the form based on the requirement.

Straight lumber with no knotholes makes the best wooden concrete forms. Concrete is a strong and versatile building material. With the advent of ready mix cement, handy homeowners can do a lot of their own concrete construction.

Commercial oils can be quite effective with wide-ranging wood forms. These sophisticated, oil-based solutions can penetrate the wood to the desired level leaving the surface only marginally greasy. All you need is a hand-pump sprayer filled with oil. Most oil types work well to prevent concrete from joining with the wood.

Molding concrete is made easy for do-it-yourselfers with wood forms that create the perfect shape. Instead of setting the concrete in place, you can cast the concrete in a convenient location like a patio or garage. You don't even have to worry about troweling the top smooth. The form does most of the work for you.