Videos
SureVoid® Products Animations (Compilation)
This is a compilation of the animations below including SureTops™, SureRound PierVoid®, SlabVoid® System, and WallVoid® System. It shows how all of the products work together to completely isolate the concrete structure from the underlying expansive soil.
SureTops™
SureTops™ are the easy, economical answer to accurately form the tops of poured-in-place concrete piers. Available in precut 24″ lengths of virtually any diameter, these lightweight pier top forms are shipped flat for compact storage and easy handling. Installation is simple. However, the use of a SureCage™ for larger diameters assists the installer and improves efficiency.
SureTops™ ensure that each drilled pier top is formed correctly to the proper diameter. Eliminating mushroomed pier tops limits concrete waste and prevents damage caused by expansive soil uplift.
Please view the SureTops™ and SureCage™ presentation videos below for more information.
SureRound PierVoid® and DropPanel PierVoid®
SureRound PierVoid® is a carton form designed to totally surround the upper portion of a concrete drilled pier. The use of these forms ensures the creation of a proper void space under pier caps, pilasters, and structural slabs where expansive soils are present.
SureRound PierVoid® is available in round, square and rectangular shapes, each having a curved, radial, vertically-supported edge adjacent to the drilled pier that conforms to the pier diameter. The hole cutouts are sealed to prevent liquid concrete from flowing into the interior of the carton form in exposed pier areas. Square or rectangular shapes can be used to support stand-alone pier caps or in conjunction with SlabVoid® carton forms, which create a temporary support for the placement of structural slabs over expansive soils.
Please view the SureRound PierVoid® and DropPanel PierVoid® presentation videos below for more information.
SlabVoid® System
SlabVoid® is a corrugated paper carton form that helps eliminate severe damage to a structural concrete slab by creating a space between the slab and underlying expansive soils.
The SlabVoid® material provides a temporary platform for the placement of liquid concrete. It is designed to support the working load of the concrete construction process and then deteriorate with the absorption of moisture inherent in the ground. As the concrete sets, the SlabVoid® pulls moisture in from its surroundings and becomes non-structural, effectively creating space into which soil can expand without causing damage to the concrete structure above.
WallVoid® System
WallVoid® is a corrugated paper carton form that helps eliminate severe damage to structural concrete grade beams and walls by creating a space between them and underlying expansive soils.
WallVoid® provides temporary support for the placement of liquid concrete until the concrete sets and can support itself. It is used primarily in panel-forming applications, having a panel flange along the bottom edge on which the concrete form rests, which holds the material down and prevents it from floating up into the wall during concrete placement. It is ideal for vertical concrete structures that span across drilled piers, pads, or intermittent footings.
The WallVoid® material, lying under the structural concrete construction, absorbs ground moisture and loses strength after the concrete has set, creating space into which soil can expand without causing damage.
Please view the WallVoid® presentation video below for more information.
SureLedge®
SureLedge® is a unique, lightweight, and easy-to-install carton form product that is attached to conventional formwork to block out areas of concrete where brick or stone is to be placed. It lowers the outside elevation of the concrete wall for the first course of brick or stone placement on what is referred to as a “brick ledge” or “brick shelf”.
SureLedge® can be designed for horizontal positioning at the top of a concrete wall, or set between form ties for oversized areas. It is available in a variety of configurations that accommodate various methods of attachment, all of which can be installed in much less time than conventional methods.
SureSite™
SureSite™ is an animation depicting the construction of a residential subdivision. It highlights the carton form materials that are used to prevent the damage to homes caused by expansive soils.
Rainstorms permeate the soil with water, which makes the ground swell and apply uplift pressures to the foundations. Carton forms provide space into which the soil can expand without damaging the structures above.
Backfill Retainer™
BackFill Retainer™ is an economical option for any backfill retention requirement. Similar in function to our SureRetainer® product, it is placed vertically along the exposed faces of carton forms under concrete grade beams and slab perimeters after the formwork is removed. Positioned several inches above and below the carton forms, this product prevents backfill soils from crushing the carton forms during compaction or from moving laterally over time and displacing the void space that has been created.
BackFill Retainer™ is made from a very strong, lightweight copolymer polypropylene plastic (CPPP) that is impervious to water and chemicals in the soil. It is impact resistant and provides a continuous retainer without grouting. It is available in full sheets or bundled in strips that are precut to the proper width, depending on the height of the carton form it is protecting. Its rigidity and easy installation make it preferred over precast concrete blocks, fiberboard, lumber, and other materials.
Please view the BackFill Retainer™ Comparisons video below for more information. You can also view the SureRetainer® presentation video above to see our alternative premier soil retainer product.
Backfill Retainer™ Comparison
This video demonstrates the many advantages of our BackFill Retainer™ over a number of the typical materials that are used for backfill retention in the field, including precast concrete blocks, foam, and various backerboard products.
Please view the BackFill Retainer™ presentation video above for more information. You can also view the SureRetainer® presentation video above to see our alternative premier soil retainer product.
DropPanel PierVoid®
DropPanel PierVoid® is similar to SureRound PierVoid®, but they are pre-manufactured carton forms that create thickened areas of concrete (called “drop panels”) at the underside of structural slabs, while providing a void space to allow for soil expansion. Concrete drop panels are positioned over piers and provide transitional load support for the structure.
DropPanel PierVoid® has a curved, radial, vertically-supported edge adjacent to the drilled pier that conforms to the pier diameter. The hole cutouts are sealed to prevent liquid concrete from flowing into the interior of the carton form in exposed pier areas.
Please view the other SureRound PierVoid® videos for more information.
Monolithic In Ground Forming System™
Monolithic In-Ground Forming System™ is a combination of products that, when used together, form a proper grade beam together with a concrete structural slab. The system incorporates carton forms under both slab and beam to prevent damage caused by expansive soils.
BackFill Retainer™ is used along the sides of the grade beam to contain the concrete and prevent a flared top. It also prevents backfill soil from moving laterally under the beam and displacing the void space that has been created.
Please view the BackFill Retainer™ presentation videos below for more information.
PlumbingVoid® Pipe Isolation Systems
PlumbingVoid® Pipe Isolation Systems eliminate costly damage to buildings caused by plumbing pipes under concrete slabs that are broken by expansive soils. They secure and suspend lateral plumbing pipes throughout the construction process and provide a void space underneath to allow for soil expansion. Sidewall panels prevent backfill soils from shifting laterally into pipes and causing breakage.
StormVoid® Waterproof Carton Forms
StormVoid® is a carton form product that supports liquid concrete under beams, walls, and slabs. It is ideal for use in wet soil conditions during periods of inclement weather. The exterior cover is a moisture-resistant corrugated paper sheet that wraps around the entire supporting network, which is comprised of fluted, polypropylene plastic components.
StormVoid® uniformly supports imposed concrete loads while creating a permanent void space under commercial or residential structures that are built on expansive soils. It can be confidently used to create the specified void space when unexpected weather would otherwise prevent the installation of traditional corrugated paper carton forms.
StormVoid® Photos
This is a collection of photos of StormVoid® as it is used in the field.
Please view the StormVoid® Waterproof Carton Forms presentation video above for more detailed information.
StormVoid® Testing
This series of photos shows some of the StormVoid® compression testing we have done on our Emerson equipment, as well as concentrated live load as it would endure in the field. The waterproof interior supports are designed to withstand the normal working load of concrete, rebar, workmen, and equipment, but they flex, bend, and ultimately collapse when additional uplift pressure is applied as underlying soil expands.
Please view the StormVoid® Waterproof Carton Forms presentation video above for more detailed information.
SureCage™
SureCage™ is a specially designed tool, fabricated out of rebar, that is used to shape, place, and release SureTops™ at the upper portion of commercial concrete drilled piers. The result is a properly formed pier top that prevents expansive soils from exerting pressure on the pier itself and causing damage to the concrete structure above.
Please view the other SureTops™ videos for more detailed information.
SureCover™ Board
SureCover™ Board is a protective cover sheet placed over the top of carton forms to protect them from the punctures that can be caused by rebar chairs, workmen, and equipment. It creates a stable work platform, distributes the working load, and prevents softening of the interior supports that can occur with heavy foot traffic.
SureCover™ Board also spans small gaps between carton form pieces and prevents concrete silt from getting in between. The spanning feature makes installation easier, since you do not need to cut pieces so tight when filling in odd-sized areas.
SureRetainer®
SureRetainer® is a backfill retention product that is placed along the exposed faces of carton forms under concrete grade beams and slab perimeters after the formwork is removed. This product prevents backfill soils from crushing the carton forms during compaction or from moving laterally over time and displacing the void space that has been created.
SureRetainer® is a lightweight HDPE plastic that is impact-resistant and impervious to water and chemicals in the soil. It nests for compact shipping and handling, and provides easy, continuous retainer installation with its overlapping, self-sealing capability. It is a superior alternative, proven to outperform precast concrete blocks, fiberboard, lumber, and other materials.
Please view the BackFill Retainer™ presentation videos below for more information on cost-effective alternatives.
SureRound PierVoid®
SureRound PierVoid® is a carton form designed to totally surround the upper portion of a concrete drilled pier. The use of these forms ensures the creation of a proper void space under pier caps, pilasters, and structural slabs where expansive soils are present.
SureRound PierVoid® is available in round, square and rectangular shapes, each having a curved, radial, vertically-supported edge adjacent to the drilled pier that conforms to the pier diameter. The hole cutouts are sealed to prevent liquid concrete from flowing into the interior of the carton form in exposed pier areas. Square or rectangular shapes can be used to support stand-alone pier caps or in conjunction with SlabVoid® carton forms, which create a temporary support for the placement of structural slabs over expansive soils.
Please view the SureRound PierVoid® animation video and the DropPanel PierVoid® presentation videos above for more information.
SureTops™
SureTops™ are the easy, economical answer to accurately form the tops of poured-in-place concrete piers. Available in precut 24″ lengths of virtually any diameter, these lightweight pier top forms are shipped flat for compact storage and easy handling. Installation is simple. However, the use of a SureCage™ for larger diameters assists the installer and improves efficiency.
SureTops™ ensure that each drilled pier top is formed correctly to the proper diameter. Eliminating mushroomed pier tops limits concrete waste and prevents damage caused by expansive soil uplift.
Please view the SureTops™ animation video and the SureCage™ presentation video above for more information.
TrapVoid®
TrapVoid® is a carton form that is similar to our TrenchVoid® and WallVoid® products (please see videos below). However, its trapezoidal shape allows concrete to flow down along its sides to form a V-shaped concrete retainer on both sides of a grade beam at the base. Some engineers specify its use in order to prevent backfill soil from displacing the void space that has been created, but this method of forming a backfill retainer is not consistent with our recommendations. We have determined that it does not always provide a continuous retainer. In addition, we do not suggest that any part of the concrete be in contact with uplifting soils, since uplift pressures are immediately applied to the structure as the soil expands.
TrapVoid® is a product that is provided to supply the requirements of some in the design community, but a much better alternative is the use of a full carton form, rectangular in shape, combined with a properly designed soil retainer, such as SureRetainer® or BackFill Retainer™.
Please view the SureRetainer® and BackFill Retainer™ presentation videos for more information.
TrenchVoid®
TrenchVoid® is a rectangular, corrugated paper carton form that creates a full-width void space under trenched concrete grade beams or formed walls to allow for soil expansion underneath. It is designed by project to temporarily support the weight of concrete for the wall or beam elevations as indicated on the construction plans, as well as other working loads that are applied throughout the construction process.
TrenchVoid® absorbs moisture from the concrete and soil and begins to deteriorate in strength as the concrete sets and becomes self-supporting across piers, pads, intermittent footings, or other concrete structures. This process effectively creates a void space that heaving soils can expand into without causing damage to the concrete structure above.
TrenchVoid® is available in assembled, factory-glued, and ready to install pieces with vertically-supported, sealed ends that prevent liquid concrete from flowing into the interior.
WallVoid®
WallVoid® is a corrugated paper carton form that helps eliminate severe damage to structural concrete grade beams and walls by creating a space between them and underlying expansive soils.
WallVoid® provides temporary support for the placement of liquid concrete until the concrete sets and can support itself. It is used primarily in panel-forming applications, having a panel flange along the bottom edge on which the concrete form rests, which holds the material down and prevents it from floating up into the wall during concrete placement. It is ideal for vertical concrete structures that span across drilled piers, pads, or intermittent footings.
The WallVoid® material, lying under the structural concrete construction, absorbs ground moisture and loses strength after the concrete has set, creating space into which soil can expand without causing damage.
Please view the WallVoid® System animation video above for more information.