| Concrete is an incredibly useful and flexible building | | | | others select from the catalogs of formline |
| material without which modern architecture and | | | | providers. Since the end-result of using formliners |
| construction would not be possible. Composed of | | | | - the surface of the concrete - is highly visible, |
| cement, sand and coarser aggregates, concrete | | | | the design, selection, placement, alignment and |
| can easily be poured into forms and molds to | | | | removal of formliners are essential. Working with |
| create any number of shapes, yet quickly | | | | formliners is as much an art as it is a craft. |
| hardens to become a durable stone-like material. | | | | Where do formliners come from? From |
| It is used in buildings, foundations, bridges, | | | | companies that specialize in them. A good |
| footings, roads and in many other applications. Not | | | | formliner vendor must cater to a variety of |
| everyone, however, is fond of the bare texture | | | | different interests: Architects who design patterns |
| of standard molds. This is where concrete form | | | | or have a certain look in mind will demand |
| liners come in. | | | | absolute attention to all details. Engineers will |
| What form liners do is create a pattern on the | | | | expect the ability to read and interpret complex |
| concrete. These patterns can be used to create | | | | construction plans and generate shop drawings |
| surface treatments and textures that are more | | | | from them. And contractors expect the formliner |
| pleasing to the eye than the imprint of the | | | | specialists to work with them in handling difficult |
| random wooden boards generally used in concrete | | | | parts of projects and creating custom panels and |
| molds and forming structures. While some feel | | | | special rustications (strips used in joints) when |
| that the basic design and shape of a concrete | | | | needed. |
| structure speaks for itself and the rough random | | | | Why are formliners so important? Because they |
| surface generated by standard wooden molds is | | | | add a whole other dimension to working with |
| part of its beauty, others view formliners as an | | | | concrete, one of the most flexible and useful |
| essential component of the design. As such, a | | | | building materials available. Lacking the materials |
| formliner becomes as much part of the design as | | | | and manufacturing methods to create formliners, |
| does the choice of siding material and color, or | | | | the pioneers of modern architecture initially |
| the selection of paint or wallpaper. | | | | celebrated the stark surfaces of bare concrete, |
| Depending on the intended application, there are | | | | which often displeased the public. Today, |
| single-use plastic formliners, multi-use elastomeric | | | | architects can give concrete any look and texture |
| formliners, and urethane formliners that can last | | | | they and their clients want, thus greatly increasing |
| for dozens or hundreds of uses. Picking the right | | | | its visual appeal and its ability to be used in |
| form liner therefore is an important part of the | | | | conjunction with other construction materials. |
| architectural design of a structure. Some | | | | From wood grain to brick to block to rock and |
| architects, engineers and contractors design their | | | | many more, there is no look or pattern that |
| own formliners with special patterns whereas | | | | cannot be created with concrete form liners. |