RedEdge

RedEdge is a high-performance Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) specifically designed for use in concrete formwork as edgeboards.

Painted red for easy identification and added moisture protection, Big River RedEdge features a square edge for clean concrete finishes. It’s lightweight & straight, offering superior performance compared to traditional alternatives. Ideal for both small and large-scale construction projects, RedEdge is available in standard 6.0m lengths with a 36mm thickness and a range of 74mm-300mm depths to suit your application.

Purpose-designed formwork LVL edgeboards like Big River’s RedEdge are made specifically to form the perimeter edge of a concrete slab or footing, setting both the slab thickness and the finished edge line. They’re used the same way a formworker would traditionally use sawn timber lengths (on edge, held by stakes/pegs at centres and braced), but they’re engineered to do the job better and last longer.

Why engineered RedEdge LVL wins over plain timber for better concrete formwork edging:

• Straightness and stiffness under load. RedEdge LVL has a high, consistent modulus of elasticity, so an edgeboard stays dead straight and resists bowing when wet concrete pushes against it between stakes. Plain hardwood or pine springs, bows and twists under pour pressure, which puts waves in the slab edge. Straighter boards also mean fewer stakes and braces and a quicker job.
• A true screed rail = easier finishing. This is the core “ease of finishing” benefit. The concreter screeds and floats off the top of the edgeboard, so a straight, rigid edge gives a flat, level slab with far less floating and trowelling to correct high and low spots. A wavy timber edge produces a wavy screed and more rework which will slow you down over the job.
• Clean, crisp edges (arris). A smooth, often sealed or coated RedEdge LVL face leaves a sharp, consistent slab edge with minimal grinding, patching or filling afterwards. Rough sawn timber leaves grain imprints and ragged edges.
• Low moisture absorption and dimensional stability. Sealed RedEdge LVL with the distinctive ‘red edge’ doesn’t soak up bleed water from the mix, so it won’t swell, distort or draw moisture out of the edge of the slab (which can cause edge cracking or staining). Plain timber absorbs water, swells and moves during the pour impacting your final concrete finish.
• Dimensional accuracy = compliance. Manufactured to tight tolerances and consistent depth, the boards set an accurate, repeatable slab thickness — important for meeting the engineer’s specified slab depth and cover. Variable timber sizing can leave slabs under- or over-thickness.
• Reusability and lower cost-per-pour. This is where the economics work in your favour. Our coated RedEdge LVL edgeboard can be stripped cleanly and reused across many pours without splitting, swelling or degrading, whereas plain timber often lasts one or two uses before it’s warped, split or concrete-fouled. The higher purchase price is spread over many jobs.
• Faster set-out and less waste. Long, uniform, straight lengths set out quickly, need less packing and shimming to straighten, and don’t require culling knotty or bowed boards. Lighter and more consistent to handle than dense hardwood.