Hey everyone! I recently hired a contractor to create a concrete base for my shed. When I asked them about removing the formwork, they said it's meant to stay there. I'm totally new to working with concrete, so I wanted to check if this is a common practice. I'm really concerned that the wooden parts inside the formwork will rot eventually, especially since I was just looking for a solid concrete foundation without dealing with potential wood decay.
2 Answers
It sounds odd for the formwork to be left in place. From my 35 years as an architect, I can say I've never specified that wood formwork should remain. If it’s pressure-treated wood, it might last a bit, but it can definitely look bad and could cause issues down the line. I'd suggest checking your contract for specifics on what was agreed about the installation—maybe the contractor misinterpreted it.
Honestly, the surface looks decent, but it does seem like a shortcut on their part. If it’s bothering you, I’d consider just having the formwork removed entirely. Better to have a clean slate than worry about rot later on.
I looked at your pictures and it does seem like they didn't follow standard practices. With the clay soil visible, it’s possible they skipped some important groundwork too, which could affect how stable the concrete will be. Definitely worth getting a second opinion.