How the cost-per-pour maths works
Contractors buy on sheet price; site managers pay on cost per pour. The two can point in opposite directions — and the formula is simple: cost per pour = sheet price ÷ realistic pours. Put your own quoted prices against the pours each panel actually delivers:
| Panel grade | Realistic pours | Relative cost per pour |
|---|---|---|
| Premium HD film-faced | 20–40+ | Lowest |
| Mid-grade film-faced | 12–20 | Higher |
| Low-cost panel | Under 10 | Highest |
A panel that lasts several times longer works out far cheaper per pour, even at a higher sheet price — so the cheapest sheet is often the most expensive formwork. We quote current rates against your volume on request.
What decides how many pours you get
- Film weight (gsm) — a 120–220 gsm phenolic film resists abrasion and alkali far longer than a thin film.
- Glue line — a true phenolic (WBP) bond keeps the panel intact through repeated wet cycles.
- Core quality — a dense, gap-free hardwood core holds nails and stays flat.
- Edge sealing — water enters at the cut edge; a sealed edge is the single biggest life-extender.
- Site handling — release agent, gentle stripping, cleaning and dry storage routinely double a panel's life.
How to get more pours from every panel
- Re-seal any cut edges before first use.
- Apply a proper release agent every pour.
- Strip with care — no crowbars against the face.
- Clean off concrete laitance before it sets.
- Stack flat and dry between pours.
Specify the right panel once and the savings compound across a project. See our film-faced shuttering plywood for film weights and thicknesses.