![]() Paths, driveways, entertainment areas, carport floors It can be removed by dragging a garden hose across the surface of the concrete. Do not try to dry up excessive bleed water by using sand or cement as this only weakens the hardened surface. Wait for it to evaporate before final finishing. Bleed Waterīleed water will usually appear on the surface of the concrete after the initial screeding. Again, keep a small amount of workable (plastic) concrete in front of the screed board when screeding the concrete surface. Check that the placed concrete is level with the top edge of the formwork. This will also help to correct any minor unevenness across the surface and remove small potholes and blemishes which may have occurred during earlier screeding. Initial Screedingįollowing compaction of the placed concrete, for most household projects, the initial finish is achieved by screeding the concrete surface a second time to further compact the concrete. There are five simple steps to be undertaken to finish concrete. It will require mechanical compaction using a poker vibrator for the deeper sections of concrete. If intending to construct a floor slab for a house, seek expert advice. The concrete should now be compacted and levelled to the top edge of the formwork.Īlways keep a small amount of concrete in front of the screed board to produce an even surface across the entire job. Continue this motion while travelling along the formwork in the same direction in which the concrete is being placed. First tamp the concrete with the screed board, followed by sliding the screed board back and forth across the surface of the concrete. A screed board can be a straight-edged piece of timber placed horizontally across the formwork. The second step in the compaction process is tamping the placed concrete with a screed board. Use a spade or shovel in poker action to consolidate the concrete to a consistent depth throughout the entire job. Compaction is the first step to ensuring that the hardened concrete will be strong and durable.įor most small household projects, compact by first working the concrete well into the formed area, particularly alongside the formwork, with a spade or shovel as the concrete is progressively placed. You must compact concrete during placement.Ĭompaction is a necessary part of concrete placement and must be done while concrete is in a workable (plastic) state. Never allow the concrete to fall more than 1 to 1.5 metres. If placing concrete directly from a truck or concrete pump, place concrete vertically into the face of concrete already in place. If attempting to place a large area of concrete where the gradient is steep and/or site access is difficult, pumping the concrete may offer the most practical solution in terms of time, energy and convenience. Pre-plan how concrete will be supplied to the site where it is mixed or delivered. Start placing at the lowest point, working upwards to the highest point. Avoid damage or movement of steel reinforcement. Be careful not to damage or move the formwork. Start placing concrete at the furthermost corner of the formwork from where the concrete is mixed or delivered work towards the source of concrete supply, never away from it.Īlways place new concrete into the face of concrete already in place. Sometimes you can see him in Professional Remodeler magazine, too.How should I place concrete? Flat, Even Sites His YouTube channel is updated regularly. David Odell owns Odell Complete Concrete in southern California. Regardless of the direction, use slow, smooth, straight strokes. Aim for straight lines. Push the broom to the wall or to an expansion joint and then pull it straight back. If drainage is the goal, run the broom in the direction of the slope. If traction is the goal, run the broom perpendicular to the slope, if there is one. Smooth out the area with a magnesium trowel and wait.Īfter brooming, you may need to go over edges and joints again. If concrete starts to pile up in front of the bristles as you push or pull, it is too early. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() That's how concrete operates."ĭavid and his crew jumped around the house brooming sections of the slab as they were ready.īefore brooming, some people trowel with a magnesium trowel, others do not. "You have to finish everything as it dries it is all about timing. On the slab in the video, there was fluctuation in the curing time because of different substrates under the slab and different exposure to sunshine. The tricky part is finishing the surface at the right time. A plastic block will not warp over time as a wooden one will. Brooms are also made with polypropylene of various stiffness. How to apply a non-slip broom texture to a concrete slabĭavid uses a horsehair/nylon combination broom with a long extension handle. ![]()
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