Your dream to become a successful concreter is achievable. It all starts with you desiring to be a professional concreter who will deliver the best concrete services. However, we are here to help you in bringing your dreams to reality. We would be giving the details on the essential tools that you will need as a would-be concreter. Luckily for you, we will not only list them for you; we will explain the uses of each tool. Therefore, below here are the tools needed: Click here to read more about Essential Tools for Concreter Work.
- Mixers: You will need a mixer. A mixer is a tool used to ensure that your concrete is thoroughly mixed for maximum strength and durability. A concrete mixer (often conversationally called a cement mixer) is a device that consistently adds up cement, aggregate such as sand or gravel, and water to form concrete. Therefore, a typical concrete mixer uses a revolving drum to mix the components. More importantly, t you need to know two main types of concrete mixers: batch mixers and continuous mixers. The first type of mixer produces concrete one batch at a time, while the second type produces concrete at a constant rate. However, there are three main types of drum mixer: non-tilting drum, reversing drum, and tilting drum.
- Wheelbarrows: This tool is a small cart with a single wheel at the front and two supporting legs, and two handles at the rear. It is used typically for carrying loads in building work or gardening. However, You might be wondering why you need to get a wheelbarrow. It is used on-site to transport small batches of mixed concrete from one place to another. For instance, you might need a small quantity of concrete to fill up space in a formwork and then use a wheelbarrow.
- Rubber boots: Don’t forget that concrete is stiff stuff; therefore, wearing a work boot will prevent your skin from getting contaminated. Concrete is the mixture of sand or gravel, cement, water and other substances that might be harmful to the skin. Therefore, it is expedient for you to get a well-covered rubber boot that will prevent your skin from rashes.
- Gloves: Also, you must get hand gloves. Concrete mixes contain potentially caustic admixtures that can cause severe burns from extended contact with bare skin. The work of a hand glove is to prevent overexposure of chemicals to your skin. Have you ever been to a site, and you see concreters putting on hand gloves? Yes, they are trying to prevent their skin. Therefore, you will need it.
- Safety glasses: Safety glasses will protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. Today, most concreters use a safety glass made with polycarbonate lenses that provide 99 per cent protection from harmful UV-A and UV-B rays. Concreters use this unique safety glass because it is an essential tool in preventing eye illness and disease caused by long-term exposure to the sun. Not only that, but safety glass also contains some particles that can be mixed in the air during the making of concrete. Therefore, it is a must for you to get a covered safety glass to prevent your eyes.
- Compactors: Compactors are ideal machines for a range of DIY or residential construction projects, such as driveways or patios. Also, they are often used to compact the soil in preparation for concrete pouring, footings and trenches. One of the protuberant assistants is their ability to increase the load-bearing capacity of a surface. Therefore, if the concrete slab site is to be prepped with a sub-base of any type, then a compactor is needed to settle the stone into position. If you have a concreter around you, you can ask him for more explanations.
- Level: You will need to level the concrete on the surface when doing flooring. However, once the concrete has been poured, the first tool to use is a magnesium float, a tool used for levelling the surface of the wet concrete. Afloat leaves a better finish than a two by four, usually used by non-professionals for this task. As a would-be concreter, you need to get this tool.
- Tape measures: There’s no concrete in Sydney and beyond without a tape measure. It is an essential tool that a professional concreter must-have. Tape measures are helpful for testing placement and mapping. More importantly, concrete forms and slab depth need the exact measurement, so using a tape measure is the only way to achieve that.
- Moisture retarders: Moisture retarders are also known as vapour retarders. It is used to prevent water vapour from intruding on a finished concrete slab. Moisture retarders are generally placed directly below-grade slabs. Water vapour might interfere with a finished concrete slab; therefore, concreters use moisture retarders to prevent the slab.
- Saws: A saw is a tool that consists of a tough blade, wire or chain with a hard toothed edge. You might be wondering why you need a saw. You can use a saw if a problem arises under the slab and a portion of the concrete has to be removed after it has set and dried. You may be needing a reciprocating saw, circular saw or grinder. Therefore, ensure that you note this down. You’ll need a saw.
Therefore, we were hoping you could take note of these essential tools. There’s no how you won’t need them. To assure you that you are getting the best here, you can walk up to a concreter around you to confirm all you’ve learnt here. However, other tools that are necessary include:
- Rakes and come-along rakes
- Tampers
- Vibrators
- Screeds
- Bull floats
- Kneeling boards
- Trowels
- Float blades and troweling blades
- Edger
- Brooms
- Polishers
- Grinders
- Dust collection systems
- Thermo-hygrometer
- Hammer drills or rotary drills and lots more.
Let me chip in this; trowels are tools used to smoothen concrete surfaces before being dry. Some hand-trowels are commonly used for smaller slabs, and power trowels are suitable and preferred by concreters for large slabs.
Finally, we’ve contributed to your success. With the above-listed materials, your dream of becoming a concreter is achievable.