self build waterproof basement formwork membrane concrete kickers
 

No Kickers

Kickers leak and are Very Difficult to Repair

There are several simple alternatives

First, an explanation of problems with kickers.

This image is taken from the web site of a company that sell the hydrophylic tape you see on the top ....

Of a kicker still with laitance on the top,
With holes at the bottom
and clearly soaking up water like a sponge.

You won't have much success waterproofing concrete with kickers.

If a hydrophylic strip worked it should be under the kicker as well.

But hydrophylic strips often fail because the problem is voids in the concrete itself. 		self build basement

kicker and tape


How might the workforce above have produced such poor concrete in their kicker?

This image is taken from the Grace Adprufe System BBA Certificate 06/4319.

The concrete is being segregated (bleeding) by the poker held still and obviously any concrete in the kicker is sinking into the slab.

kicker So the concreting gang will tend to leave the kicker empty or fill it later when the slab is setting.

With what is anyone's guess. I would say the same concrete set aside until it is stiff and setting itself and out of time is the most usual.

If you pokered 100mm high good, fresh concrete in a kicker hours after the slab was formed. Everyone would be splattered from head to toe and the kicker almost empty.

You cannot form a waterproof kicker, so kickers are banned if you want a waterproof structure.


You might think that if you get a guarantee with your waterproof concrete

For instance at an extra £80 or so a m³ from Cementaid for Caltite

Or an extra £1200 plus £40 or so a m³ from Pudlo (typical for self builders)

that they will come and repair your kickers for you.



Don't be silly. They aren't that daft. 		cementaid caltite

cementaid caltite

Kickerless Formwork.

All these ways to avoid kickers are acceptable.

kickerless props kickerless timber formwork formwork kickerless timber formwork bracing
 
These timber props are fixed to the slab and made of 4x2 that is eventually reused in the building, making it very cheap. A different way to fix the formwork in the correct position.

The uncropped photo and another of the same basement 3 weeks later is toward the end of this page. 		Another detail. And another. Note the L shape upright made with two 4x2s screwed together. Very straight and strong.


form bolted down fastform kickerless kicker from ROM
 
Doka from Mabey bolted down. FastForm. Also bolted down. Kickerles kickers are available to buy as well.

Others are available.


If kickers have any structural benefit at all it is preventing grout loss. But expanding foam is even better. prevent grout loss


Here is the photo I cropped to use above. I took this when I delivered the FRP threaded rods and nuts.

They have spaced the formwork with measured pieces of wood. These came out as they put in the threaded rods with thin nuts to control the width instead.

basement 3 weeks

3 weeks later I collected the steel waler plates they hired. This is the completed kickerless concrete.

basement 3 weeks later



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