Rule number one, when building anything you should always get a permit and have inspection along the way, this assures you that the work is being done the correct way and will last for many years. Danny Ramirez
L. A. COUNTY BUILDING CODE The purpose of the Building Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard thepublic’s safety and welfare by regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, use, occupancy, location and maintenance of all dwellings, other structures, certain equipment and grading.
Forms for Concrete Footings: Always oil or coat your forms before pouring concrete into them to make it easier to
strip the forms from the hardened concrete. You can buy prepared coatings for forms that are also surface treatments
for the concrete. They help cure, harden or seal concrete and make it easy to remove the forms. Use a light coat of
petroleum oil on footing forms. Do not over-oil the forms; a light coating that sinks into the wood leaving the surface
feeling slightly oily is just right. You don’t want forms dripping with oil. Do not allow oil to get on the surfaces of
construction joints or on reinforcing bars.
Concrete Pressures: The required plywood thickness, as well as size and spacing of framing, depends on the
maximum concrete pressure. The first step in form design is to determine the maximum concrete pressure on your
job. This is based on such things as pour rate, job temperature, concrete slump, cement type, concrete density,
method of vibration, and height of form.
Form Construction: Forms should be examined very carefully before pouring. Because of concrete pressures,
carefully inspect for defects and or weaknesses. The braces should be monitored constantly while concrete is being
poured because the pressure within the forms increases greatly as the concrete is being poured. You do not want a
form to blow out at this stage of the game.
Forms should be tight to prevent leakage of cement through the joints of the formwork. Forms that are not tight will
lose mortar, which may result in honeycombing and or sand streaking.
Danny Ramirez 