those of you in site utilities, or concrete work, please take the time to answer these questions. if you would, quote this post, and answer behind each question. thanks in advance. in south dakota, our typical drop inlets/catch basins (2' x 3') inside, (3' x 4') outside or (3' x 4') inside, and (4' x 5') outside. my travels around the united states, i've seen tens of thousands of these. #1. do you cast the inlets in place? #2. do you buy your inlets precast from an outside vendor? #3. do you precast at your own shop site and haul to site and install? #4. those of you that cast in place, how much would you estimate your forming costs are? DO NOT include the cost of the concrete, or rebar. PLEASE INCLUDE your labor, plywood, screws, nails, dump fees for used/damaged form plywood, etc. i'm just asking for an off the top of your head number here, please waste no time looking up this for me! #5. after stripping the inlets, do you attempt to save any of the plywood, etc, or just throw away and start with new forming material. #6 if you try to save it, what percentage roughly are you able to reuse? thank you so very much for your time helping me with this!
boy, i'd really appreciate the help with this. am working on a new product concept, and need the feedback.
Answers in bold below. Hope this helps.
thank you VERY much, truly appreciated!!
No problem, I enjoy discussing job site topics. There are more members who are also in the business. I remember seeing TD25C has some metal forms and pours structures out in the field.
You have a good memory CM . My metal forms are for round structures . They are 4' inside diameter . Made out of 14 gauge sheet steel that bolt together at the seems . Pretty easy & cost effective to set up . The drawback is took 3 pours to complete the man hole . I actually poured the lids & base sections at the concrete plant . Plant did not offer any precast products so there was no conflict . Plant manager let us set up the forms beside the batch plant . We then loaded them on lowboy & rolled them to the job and set them off . Next called truck to pour the inverts " channels" in the bottom . Then set the base in the hole & tie in pipe .In the third picture can see the precast lid setting off to the side . Set forms on top of base unit and finish pouring wall to desired height . Always liked messing around with precast , most of the time on common items it's more cost effective to just pick up the phone & order it from the precast supplier . But once in awhile on odd items I will set up forms on site & call a truck to fill it . Then set it in the hole . This was a weir that we poured on site in a parking lot using plywood & "gates " tie system . http://www.heavytruckforums.com/showthread.php?263-Some-Holmes-750-action&p=1862&viewfull=1#post1862
There are several plants in PA that cast all manner of inlets because PennDot has specs that have to be met for them. I can't recall the last time I saw one cast in place but I'm sure it happens. the only problem would be that it would have to be designed by an engineer and stamped. For private work, I'm not much help other than the precast are pretty economical and those are usually the types that get spec'd.