Porch and step forming system and method

Abstract

A system for forming a concrete porch and steps comprises a reusable metal corner porch form and a plurality of reusable metal straight porch forms, which may have different lengths. Parallel planar abutments of the straight forms are shaped and sized to abut one of the first and second planar abutments of the corner porch form. Each form has fastener-receiving holes through which fasteners are inserted to fasten and immobilize the forms during the concrete pouring and setting. The system includes a plurality of step-forming stringers each having a horizontal member and a pair of spaced-apart polygonal risers affixed to the horizontal member wherein each riser has a plurality of fastener-receiving holes for fastening the stringers during the concrete pouring and setting.

1 . A porch forming system for pouring a concrete porch, the system comprising:
 a reusable metal corner porch form having a pair of adjacent internal, substantially smooth concrete-forming surfaces that adjoin to define a corner, wherein the corner porch form comprises a first planar abutment and a second planar abutment that is angled relative to the first planar abutment and wherein the corner porch form comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes through which fasteners are inserted to fasten and immobilize the corner porch form during concrete pouring and setting; and   a plurality of reusable metal straight porch forms, each straight porch form comprising an internal, substantially smooth concrete-forming surface and a pair of parallel planar abutments, wherein the parallel planar abutments are shaped and sized to abut one of the first and second planar abutments of the corner porch form, and wherein each straight porch form comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes through which fasteners are inserted to fasten and immobilize the straight porch form during the concrete pouring and setting.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first planar abutment and the second planar abutment are orthogonal. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of straight porch forms are of different lengths. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each straight form comprises a first vertical portion, an angled portion, a second vertical portion and an L-shaped lip attached to the second vertical portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the angled portion is angled at 30-35 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each straight form has a thickness of 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the first vertical portion has a height greater than that of the second vertical portion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the porch forms are made of aluminum. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a release agent coated on the internal concrete-forming surface. 
     
     
         10 . A system for forming a concrete porch and steps, the system comprising:
 a reusable metal corner porch form having a pair of adjacent internal, substantially smooth concrete-forming surfaces that adjoin to define a corner, wherein the corner porch form comprises a first planar abutment and a second planar abutment that is angled relative to the first planar abutment and wherein the corner porch form comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes through which fasteners are inserted to fasten and immobilize the corner porch form during concrete pouring and setting;   a plurality of reusable metal straight porch forms, each straight porch form comprising an internal, substantially smooth concrete-forming surface and a pair of parallel planar abutments, wherein the parallel planar abutments are shaped and sized to abut one of the first and second planar abutments of the corner porch form, and wherein each straight porch form comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes through which fasteners are inserted to fasten and immobilize the straight porch form during the concrete pouring and setting;   a plurality of step-forming stringers each having a horizontal member and a pair of spaced-apart polygonal risers affixed to the horizontal member wherein each riser has a plurality of fastener-receiving holes for fastening the stringers during the concrete pouring and setting.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each stringer comprises a lower vertical portion, an angled portion, an upper vertical portion and an L-shaped lip attached to the upper vertical portion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the lower vertical portion has a height greater than that of the upper vertical portion. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the angled portion is angled at 30-35 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the stringer has a thickness of 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a concrete porch, the method comprising:
 fastening a reusable metal corner porch form by attaching fasteners via a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes; and   fastening a plurality of reusable metal straight porch forms via a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes, wherein the meal corner porch form and the plurality of straight porch forms abut to define an assembled formwork;   pouring concrete into a space within the assembled formwork; and   after the concrete has set, disassembling the formwork by removing the fasteners from the corner porch form and the straight porch forms.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  comprising assembling a plurality of differently sized straight porch forms. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising coating an internal concrete-forming surface of the porch forms with a release agent. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a concrete porch and steps, the method comprising:
 fastening a reusable metal corner porch form by attaching fasteners via a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes; and   fastening a plurality of reusable metal straight porch forms via a plurality of spaced-apart fastener-receiving holes, wherein the meal corner porch form and the plurality of straight porch forms abut to define an assembled formwork;   fastening a plurality of step-forming stringers each having a horizontal member and a pair of spaced-apart polygonal risers affixed to the horizontal member wherein each riser has a plurality of fastener-receiving holes.   pouring concrete; and   after the concrete has set, removing the fasteners from the corner porch form, the straight porch forms and the risers of the step-forming stringers.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  comprising assembling a plurality of differently sized straight porch forms. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising coating an internal concrete-forming surface of the porch forms with a release agent.