In brief
Rough construction stages: foundation, formwork-rebar-concrete, walls and roof, with quality control points and the role of shear walls.
Rough construction is the stage in which the load-bearing skeleton and shell of the building are formed. The safety and life of the building depend heavily on workmanship and supervision during this phase. This article is for general information only and does not replace legal, technical or financial advice.
011. Foundation
Designed according to the ground survey, the foundation transfers the building load to the ground. Excavation, blinding concrete, waterproofing, reinforcement and concrete pouring are the main operations at this stage. Errors made in the foundation are the hardest to correct later.
022. Formwork, rebar and concrete
Columns, beams and slabs are formed with formwork, reinforcement and concrete. The main points to check are:
- Formwork dimensions, plumb and strength
- Rebar diameter, spacing and concrete cover
- Concrete class and placing and vibration quality during the pour
- Taking of concrete samples and laboratory results
- Curing the concrete for a sufficient period
033. The role of shear walls
Shear walls are structural walls that give the building stiffness against lateral earthquake forces; their position and quantity are set by the structural design. It must be built to the design and under supervision.
044. Masonry walls
Infill walls are built with materials chosen with insulation and acoustic performance in mind. The connection of the wall to columns and beams, its straightness and opening details should be checked.
055. Roof structure and enclosure
A reinforced concrete, or steel or timber, roof structure is erected, followed by waterproofing and covering. Closing the building against rain at this stage allows the later fine works to proceed properly.
06Site safety and organisation
Rough construction demands close attention to occupational safety. Safety in scaffolding, excavation and work at height is achieved through an orderly site organisation and a competent crew. An orderly site is also a precondition for quality control.
Recording concrete sample results, reinforcement checks and stage photographs creates an important document for any future assessment. Well-kept site records also increase transparency.
The quality of rough construction affects every later stage: an uneven structure requires extra corrections and material in finishing works. It is therefore advisable not to move on before each stage is complete, to apply checklists and, where appropriate, to use independent inspection. In this way both safety and workmanship quality can be monitored at every step.
To learn about planning your rough construction and our quality-control approach, you are welcome to speak with the Falcon team for a site visit and preliminary assessment.
