Field Notes
FROM THE YARD
Practical guides on formwork, shoring and scaffolding — written for crews building in Jamaica. Quantities, safety checks, and the costs that are easy to miss.
Specs & Calculations
How Many Steel Props Do You Need for a Concrete Slab?
Short answer: about one prop per square metre. Here is the quick maths for your slab, a worked example, and what changes the number.
Read the guide →Buying GuidesRent vs Buy: When Does It Make Sense to Own Your Own Formwork in Jamaica?
Buy formwork if you use it most of the year. Rent if you do not. Here are the costs owners forget and a quick way to work out your break-even.
Read the guide →SafetyScaffolding Safety in Jamaica: A Practical Checklist Before Anyone Climbs
A quick scaffolding safety check for Jamaican sites — base, structure, platform and ladder checks, plus the heights and inspection rules the law sets.
Read the guide →Cost & WasteWhy Reusing Damaged Formwork Costs More Than Renting Clean Panels
Worn formwork panels look free until the pour. Here is what they cost you in patching and rework, and a quick way to tell when a panel is finished.
Read the guide →