ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Formwork

Hello there! Have you ever seen a big building being built? I'm sure you must have! But did you know that before we start building a building, we actually create a temporary structure that helps us build the real one? This structure is called Formwork.

Formwork is like a big puzzle made of different pieces that can be put together to make a shape that's similar to the shape of the building we want to build. We use this shape as a mold into which we pour liquid concrete, and it will eventually become the walls and floors of the building!

To make Formwork, we use different materials like wood, plastic, or steel. We cut the wood into different lengths and shapes, and then we nail and glue them together to create the Formwork that we need. We have to make sure that the pieces fit perfectly together so that the concrete doesn't leak out!

Once we have the Formwork ready, we put a layer of oil or wax to prevent the concrete from sticking to it. Then we pour liquid concrete into the Formwork until it's full. We have to wait patiently for the concrete to dry and harden.

After the concrete has dried and hardened, we remove the Formwork, and voila! We see that it has taken the shape of the building's walls or floors. We can finally move on to the next part of the building process.

So, in simple words, Formwork is a temporary structure that helps us shape and mold the concrete that becomes a building's walls and floors. It's like a puzzle that we put together before pouring concrete into it. It's an essential part of building construction that helps us create the beautiful buildings we see around us!