8.9
Finishing Concrete
After consolidating the placed concrete, excess material is removed from the surface and flushed with the formwork's top using a screed.
Subsequently, using a bull float or darby, the high spots on the concrete surface are lowered, low spots are filled, and large aggregates are embedded in the concrete before bleed water rises to the surface.
Once the sheen from the bleed water on the surface disappears upon evaporation, it is ready for final finishing. This begins with edging, which involves rounding off the concrete's edges.
It is followed by jointing, where control, isolation, and construction joints are strategically located in the structure.
Next, a handheld float or power float is used to remove any surface imperfections resulting from edging and jointing, embed the aggregates slightly within the concrete, and remove the excess water, keeping the surface open.
Lastly, the finished surface may be textured by troweling to create a hard and smooth surface, brooming to make it rough and slip-resistant, washing the excess cement paste on the top to create an exposed look, or patterned by inserting divider strips.
Concrete finishing starts immediately after the concrete has been placed and consolidated. The initial step, screeding, involves leveling the concrete surface by removing excess material to flush it with the formwork's top. Following this, bull float or darby are employed to smooth the surface further, effectively lower high spots, fill low areas, and ensure larger aggregate particles are embedded within the concrete. This preparation is critical before the appearance of bleed water, as its presence can lead to scaling and dusting.
Once the surface is free from bleed water, the concrete is ready for its final finishing. This involves edging, which rounds off the slab's edges to prevent chipping; jointing, the creation of control, isolation, and construction joints to manage the concrete's natural movements and prevent unsightly cracking; and floating. The latter smooths out any imperfections left by the previous steps, slightly embeds the aggregate below the surface, and compacts the mortar at the surface for final finishing while allowing excess moisture to escape.
Concrete's final appearance and texture are achieved through various techniques, such as troweling to smooth and harden the surface, and brooming to roughen the surface. Additionally, patterns or exposed aggregate finishes can be applied to create decorative effects.
After consolidating the placed concrete, excess material is removed from the surface and flushed with the formwork's top using a screed.
Subsequently, using a bull float or darby, the high spots on the concrete surface are lowered, low spots are filled, and large aggregates are embedded in the concrete before bleed water rises to the surface.
Once the sheen from the bleed water on the surface disappears upon evaporation, it is ready for final finishing. This begins with edging, which involves rounding off the concrete's edges.
It is followed by jointing, where control, isolation, and construction joints are strategically located in the structure.
Next, a handheld float or power float is used to remove any surface imperfections resulting from edging and jointing, embed the aggregates slightly within the concrete, and remove the excess water, keeping the surface open.
Lastly, the finished surface may be textured by troweling to create a hard and smooth surface, brooming to make it rough and slip-resistant, washing the excess cement paste on the top to create an exposed look, or patterned by inserting divider strips.
- Concrete Finishing - The process of refining the surface of placed and consolidated concrete, involving steps like screeding, floating, and troweling.
- Screeding - The initial step in concrete finishing which levels the surface by removing excess material to align with the top of the formwork.
- Bull Float/Darby - Tools used to smooth the concrete surface, reducing high spots, filling low points, and submerging larger aggregate particles.
- Edging - A finishing process that rounds the edges of the concrete slab to prevent chipping.
- Troweling - A final concrete finishing technique that hardens and smoothes the surface for a refined appearance.
- Define Concrete Finishing – Explain the process and steps involved (e.g., concrete finishing how to).
- Contrast Screeding vs Troweling – Explain their roles and differences during the finishing process (e.g., screeding for leveling and troweling for final smoothing).
- Explore Finishing Techniques – Describe the different methods and their effects on the concrete surface (e.g., troweling and edging)
- Explain The Role of Tools – Discuss how tools like bull floats and darbies contribute to the finishing process.
- Apply Techniques in Context – Discuss when and why certain techniques are used, such as screeding before bleed water appears or brooming for a rougher surface.
- What are the main steps in concrete finishing and why is each one important?
- What are the differences between screeding and troweling in concrete finishing?
- What is the role of tools like bull floats and darbies in the concrete finishing process?
From Chapter 8:
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8.9 : Finishing Concrete
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