Things to Avoid

Please read these suggestions. They will save you a great deal of headaches, time and/or money. They have been added to this website as a result of ACTUAL problems encountered by homebuilders and contractors.

Hopefully, you will benefit from their experiences and learn WHAT NOT TO DO as well as take advantage of suggestions that worked well for others.

We do not endorse any solution in particular, but by passing on some of the experiences of our customers we hope to help others avoid their mistakes.

~ The Amazon Forms Team

Use Reducer

Slow down the powerful force of falling cement with an s curve and a reducer and then use a cloth sleeve at the end. This gives the best flexibility and control over the flow. This combination seems to work best. The pumper's pipes are rigid and the cloth at the end is more easily and quickly guided from hole to hole. Remember the holes in the Grid blocks are only six inches!

USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF HEIGHT ON PUMPER BOOM FOR YOUR SITE

This also helps to decrease the force of the falling cement flowing from the end of the fabric sleeve, making it easier to control the flow and reduces the likelihood of a blowout during your pour.

GLUING THE BLOCKS

Glue must be inserted at least one inch into the forms along the top and bottom edges of the blocks. Glue applied to the outside edge of blocks, and not between the layers does nothing useful. If gluing has been left to others, be certain that more than just the appearance of glue has been applied.

DON'T GLUE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES

The glue will not set AT ALL when at or near freezing. PERIOD.

SUPERVISE CONSTRUCTION

Inspect your helpers' work! Unfortunately not an uncommon source of a multitude of problems and headaches. No suggestion here except the obvious one!

ALL PLANS TO BE ENGINEERED

This cannot be overemphasized! Every aspect of the structural components and their integration must be spec'd out by a qualified engineer. This includes the placement of beams, lintels, amount of concrete used, the cement mixture itself, rebar size, placement, etc.

BRACE BEAMS OVER GARAGE DOORS AND LARGE WINDOWS

Don't be afraid to V-slot or cut out Grid-WALL and increase rebar diameter in garage door and large window spans for increased beam or lentel strength. DOUBLE CHECK WITH ENGINEERS.

DO NOT USE CRUSHED ROCK

ALL pouring problems can be linked to bad flow. Bad flow is either from obstructions (large rebar chairs, etc) mismatched holes, or sharp rock aggregate. USE ONLY 3/8 inch natural (smooth, river) pea gravel and accept no substitutes!. Careful attention should be paid to the pre order consultation with your concrete mixer. Order the concrete that way and contract to send the concrete back if it this requirement has not been met.

Ask whether or not your concrete mixer is experienced with delivering this specific mix!