FAQ

Fillers are no problem with the Westcon Strip-Ease System. They can simply be cut from plywood. No need to inventory and carry a wide assortment of filler forms, just cut what you need on site. The last step in erection and the first step in stripping is at the filler point. When fillers are used, tie and bar spacing must not exceed the spacing of regular panels.

Yes, we have many users with 2’x9’ or 2’x10’ panels for taller finished basements. Above that, additional panels can be added to the standard 2’x8’ forms, using a 2x4 waler to overlap the panels  at the connection point. 12 ft is the maximum height for a single pour according to local building code, over that must be done on a subsequent day.

The toe plate is nailed or fastened with Tapcons to the footing as the first step. The single toe plate aligns the complete wall. Form panels are nailed to the top plate to position them during erection. The outside wall forms are braced to maintain the desired dimensions, while the inside forms are held in correct position with the pressure of the fluid concrete while pouring. The pressure pushes the panels against the locking bars, and is taken up by the form ties. The bars distribute the pressure over the face of the form panels.

Yes, Westcon Strip-Ease Form system is open source. You can easily route the tie slots with our diagrams in ¾ inch plywood. We supply all the hardware for corners, that you can assemble them yourself. For those who desire, we also offer complete form panels ready to go, which can be shipped directly.

With proper handling, cleaning and oiling, the plywood forms are good for at least 100 pours. There are forms in the field which have been used for over 100 pours and are still giving a good looking wall. Fatigue of the plywood can be delayed considerably if you avoid undue stress due to excessively fast pouring. As with all your equipment, if the forms are given reasonable care and used intelligently you will get more pours at a lower cost.

A complete set of forms for the average size residential basement including all the form panels, corner pieces, and locking bars, can be carried with a 1 ton full size pick up truck, combined with an 18ft to 24 ft open trailer. This avoids the considerable expense associated with a boom truck.

With the Westcon Strip-Ease System, there is no need to carry spare hardware inventory to replace lost items, a necessary headache with other form systems. In fact, the only hardware items are the corner hinges, and they are permanently attached to the corner form panels, and cannot be lost.

The standard 2’x8’ form panels weigh 31 lbs, and can be easily carried by one person.

The pressure created by the concrete in any form is dependent upon the temperature, the amount of drop and vibrating methods. The details of recommended pouring rates for various tie spacing and temperatures is contained in our Westcon Strip-Ease tie load chart.

Extremely fast stripping and positive ¼ inch break-back are among the main advantages of the Westcon Strip-Ease System. In one simple operation, the tie is broken back ¼ inch in the concrete, and the tie and locking bar are removed from the form. This is done with a savings of 2/3 the labour over other systems. Form panels are then removed, leaving a true, smooth wall. There are no projecting ends to cut, twist or hammer back into the wall.

Absolutely! In fact the versatility of the Westcon Strip-Ease Form System is one of its primary advantages. Because we offer ANY length Strip-Ease tie as a special order, the Westcon System is used for commercial buildings, equipment bases, tapered walls, architectural finishes, agricultural buildings, sign bases, and more. It is easily adaptable to a wide variety of forming jobs, quickly and cost effectively.