COLUMNS

• Once the rebar cages for columns or beams are in place, place wooden forms around them so that the concrete inside the forms will be the width, depth and height that you wish your finished columns to measure. You can always reuse the nails used to connect the wooden forms together to reduce the waste of materials and overall cost of the project. The wooden boards can also be reused. Use plumb or level to straighten.
• Be sure to drill the holes needed for the pins before pouring concrete. Be sure to place your pins right after you finish pouring the cement.

• Looking down the rebar cage, make sure the wooden forms are braced while the cement is poured. This is tricky, as the column needs to be stabilized so that it won’t move. It can be hard to make everything level, but it is necessary.
• Make sure to agitate the concrete while it is being poured. You might have to nail extra “legs” to support the wooden forms while the concrete is drying. Use plumb or level to straighten.

• With forms in place, pour columns up to the base of the next beam. Do this once after the floor beam, and repeat after the intermediate beam.