Apparatus and methods for creating openings in materials that solidify

A method of creating an opening in a material that solidifies, comprising:

• inserting at least one rigid retainer plate into at least one retainer plate slot within a rigid board, wherein each retainer plate slot further comprises an opening configured so that each retainer plate is passed entirely through the rigid board and the at least one rigid retainer plate comprises at least one hydrostatic plate and at least one retainer tie and the at least one retainer tie is oriented to run perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the at least one hydrostatic plate;
• coupling a first end of the at least one retainer tie to a first formwork panel;
• coupling a second end of the at least one retainer tie to a second formwork panel;
• pouring the material that solidifies into a space between the first and second formwork panels;
• uncoupling the first formwork panel from the first end of the at least one retainer tie after the material is solidified;
• uncoupling the second formwork panel from the second end of the at least one retainer tie after the material is solidified;
• and
• removing the rigid board from the solidified material.

A method of creating an opening in concrete, comprising:

• inserting at least one rigid retainer plate into at least one retainer plate slot within a rigid board, wherein each retainer plate slot further comprises an opening configured so that each retainer plate is passed entirely through the rigid board and the at least one rigid retainer plate comprises at least one hydrostatic plate and at least one retainer tie and the at least one retainer tie is oriented to run perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the at least one hydrostatic plate;
• retainer tie;
• coupling a first end of the at least one retainer tie to a first formwork panel;
• coupling a second end of the at least one retainer tie to a second formwork panel;
• pouring the concrete into a space between the first and second formwork panels;
• uncoupling the first formwork panel from the first end of the at least one retainer tie after the concrete is hardened;
• uncoupling the second formwork panel from the second end of the at least one retainer tie after the concrete is hardened;
• and
• removing the rigid board from the hardened concrete.