Concrete101: Pouring and Finishing
The Pour
Before you can finish a slab, it needs to be poured into the forms. This part of the process can tend to be very stressful and fast paced when using a concrete delivery service. Delivery drivers want to get in and out as fast as they can, so they pour their load out quickly. As a homeowner doing DIY concrete, it's in your best interest to slow them down.
While time is of the essence as concrete hardens by the second, it is easy to get ahead of yourself. Home owners should never pour more than they can handle. To put this into perspective, it takes three professional concrete workers about four hours to pour and finish a 12x12 area of concrete. My advice to homeowners is this: a 12x12 section is the most you should do in one day with the help of five or more people.
The Equipment
Not only does concrete work require vast amounts of physical labor, it also requires quite a few tools. Unless you already own some of the basic concrete tools, you're going to be spending a small fortune on tools. Tool rental companies can help bring the costs down to a more manageable level.
Pouring tools are pretty basic. A concrete wide blade hoe or come along is used to push and pull concrete into the correct position as it is poured from the truck. Everyone who is working in the concrete needs one of these tools. You'll also need a pair of rubber concrete boots to walk into the slab as it is being poured and positioned.
Finishing tools are a bit more elaborate and costly. Besides the basic finishing trowel, you'll also need a bull float. A bull float is used to smooth out the slab after it has been push/pulled flat with the come along and after it has hardened a bit. Using these tools requires skill and patience as they need to be applied in the right fashion at the right time.
The final part of the process depends upon your slab, whether it is broom finished or smooth finished. Smooth finished slabs are more difficult to achieve and really require some expensive tools. A gas powered finisher is required for a nice smooth finish like on a house slab. A broom finish has a rough surface and is used on driveways and sidewalks. This requires the use of a concrete broom which attaches to the handle of a bull float.
Published by Eric Brennan - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Since 2005 Eric has written 2000+ articles and counting on everything home improvement, green and travel. He has written for such companies as DIY network, Huffington Post, DeWalt, AT&T, Tide, Small Home Des... View profile
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- How to Construct a Concrete Slab Foundation for a Shed
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