Shuttering and scaffolding — price, types and what to check
The temporary moulds and platforms behind every slab.
Formwork is the mould that shapes concrete; scaffolding is the platform workers stand on. Most home builders hire both, with labour, from a shuttering contractor rather than buying them.
The basics
- Film-faced plywood gives smooth concrete; steel plates can be reused hundreds of times.
- Slabs sit on adjustable steel props spaced roughly 0.9–1.2 m apart.
- Usually priced per sq ft of slab area including labour, or rented by the day.
Shuttering and scaffolding types and price ranges in India
| Type | Specification | Best used for | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slab shuttering, labour and material | Plates, props, beams | Slabs and beams | ₹30–60 |
| Film-faced shuttering ply | 12–18 mm | Smooth slab and beam soffits | ₹45–80 |
| Steel shuttering plate (rental) | 600×900 mm | Repeated slab work | ₹3–6 |
| Adjustable steel prop (rental) | 2–3.5 m | Slab support | ₹2–5 |
| Scaffolding (cup-lock / pipe) | Rental | External plaster and paint | ₹3–6 |
| Shuttering oil / release agent | Mould release | Clean demoulding | ₹80–150 |
| Concrete mixer and needle vibrator | Rental | Site concreting | ₹800–2,500 |
Quality checks before you accept delivery
- Props must be vertical, on base plates or planks, with no bent tubes.
- Plates clean, oiled and tightly joined — gaps leak slurry and cause honeycombing.
- Check slab level from a fixed benchmark before steel is laid.
- Ply faces should be intact — torn film leaves a rough slab underside.
- Every prop needs its locking pin and a firm base.
- Measure slab depth and beam sizes at several points before the pour.
Pro tips
- IS 456 minimums with OPC: column sides 16–24 hours, slab props 7 days for spans up to 4.5 m and 14 days beyond, beam props 14–21 days.
- Keep one worker under the slab during the pour to watch for sagging props.
- Use a needle vibrator on every pour — hand tamping leaves voids.
- Tie scaffolding to the structure every few metres and add toe boards.
- Seal joints between plates with tape or foam so slurry can't leak.
- Keep a camber on long spans if your engineer specifies it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Removing props early to rush the next floor — the most common cause of sagging slabs.
- Pouring on dirty or unoiled plates, leaving rough, honeycombed concrete.
- Resting props directly on loose soil.
- Stacking bricks or cement bags on a slab less than a week old.
- Reusing warped ply on visible surfaces.
Where you can save
- Hiring a shuttering contractor per sq ft usually beats owning plates and props.
- Plan floor cycles so props move straight to the next slab instead of going back to the yard.
How much you need
Shuttering is priced per sq ft of slab area, including beams.
Brands to know
Local shuttering contractors; film-faced ply from Century, Greenply