Homes built using an insulating concrete form (ICF) system literally have the insulation built into the walls as part of the structure. This system creates walls that have a high thermal resistance, with R-values typically above R-17. Even though ICF homes are constructed using concrete, they look just like traditional stick-built homes.

The surface of cast-in-place concrete may be modified to create an aesthetically pleasing color and/or texture, or to simulate tile, stone or brick. This specially finished concrete is referred to as “architectural concrete,” and it is usually permanently exposed to view. Architectural Concrete Forming is the primary method of creating architectural concrete. Form liners are typically used and are fastened to the inside of the forms, providing the desired design or texture to the concrete. Architectural concrete forming may be used for structural or non-structural building components. When using this process, special attention should be given to the uniformity of the mix, additives such as color or aggregates, placement, and finishing.

Slip Forming, used to construct a variety of concrete elements and structures, is the technique of moving formwork to allow for the simultaneous extrusion and finishing of concrete.  It is a continuous process which can provide significant time savings in a variety of construction projects.  As concrete is placed, the formwork may be moved either vertically or horizontally.  It can be moved vertically to form chimneys, walls, tanks, silos, and multi-story buildings, and usually provides uniform cross-sections from the bottom of the structure to the top.  The formwork can also be moved horizontally to produce even layers of concrete for highways, driveways, curb and gutter combinations, and median barriers.

Structural Cast-In-Place Concrete Forming is used to contain and support structural concrete in the shapes of beams, slabs, walls, columns, and floors when the concrete is poured on-site in a permanent location. Wood is the traditional forming material, and while it is still used in common practice, modern pre-fabricated metal or plastic systems offer some advantages in terms of construction speed and formwork life-cycle costs.

The majority of Concrete Forming is assembled in the field and allows for cast-in-place concrete to be shaped into slabs, beams, columns, floors and walls used as structural members.  Just about any material can be used to create a form, but traditional wood forming and modern pre-fabricated panel systems are the most common types of formwork for cast-in-place concrete.  The design of a forming system must consider the basic geometry of the concrete to be formed, the weight of the concrete during placement, the lateral loads (wind forces) and the methods for attachment for additional concrete pours and/or future material attachments. In more complex concrete projects, shoring or falsework is sometimes required as support or scaffolding for the formwork to ensure that the formwork can support the loads and stress being applied by the concrete.

One of the most important advantages of concrete is its workable, viscous state that allows it to be formed into literally any solid shape. Concrete Forming refers to the temporary or permanent support structures used to contain concrete as it is poured and while it hardens. Formwork can be made of many different materials, and it can be removed after the concrete is set or remain in place permanently. One may utilize formwork that moves either vertically or horizontally (slip form paving) to allow extrusion and finishing of the concrete. Form liners and architectural form details can also be added to the basic structural formwork to create designs and patterns in the concrete for use as a decorative finish surface.