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When working on a concrete project, whether a slab patio, walkway, driveway or another project, it's important to have the right tools for the job. Pouring concrete can be sensitive work, and the success of your project depends on having the right tools to pour smooth, and level wet concrete.
Whether you're a contractor or a DIYer, you'll need everything from texture rollers and tools to edgers and groovers.
To create a supportive, strong foundation or slab, concrete must be leveled. You'll need several leveling tools throughout the project to get the job done.
A concrete trowel is a flat surface that levels the concrete after it's poured and set. Concrete trowels can be manual or electric. Most troweling is done manually, but large jobs may require an electric trowel machine.
Troweling is a skilled trade that requires a lot of practice. While troweling, you'll fill voids, level the surface of the concrete, and smooth out any bumps. This helps make your finished concrete more attractive and durable by creating an even surface.
A concrete screed is a tool you use to level your freshly poured concrete. Some DIYers use a simple 2x4 for this part of the project, but it's better to use a screed. Whereas a 2x4 may be warped or not perfectly straight, a commercially-made screed is guaranteed to be properly straight and level, to make leveling your concrete that much easier.
Aluminum screeds tend to be the most effective, although screeds can be made from aluminum, wood, or other materials. For sure, if you're a professional contractor or a DIYer taking on a big project, you'll want a real screed to get the job done.
A bull float is a tool that you'll use directly after screeding. Bull floats usually have a long handle, so you can use the tool while standing up. The bull float helps to spread and flatten the concrete.
The bull float is the first tool you'll use when finishing newly poured concrete. Bull floats can be made from aluminum, wood, or other materials. Bull floats come in different formats, including floats with rounded edges and floats with sharp corners at 90-degree angles. If you regularly work with concrete, you may want a range of bull floats to choose from.
A darby is similar to a bull float, but a darby is a smaller tool. You'll often see darbies referred to in tutorials about plaster finishing because darbies are hand-held devices that usually cover a smaller area than a bull float. If you're finishing a small project, use a darby instead of a bull float to flatten the concrete, eliminate air pockets, and level the surface. This should be done before the bleeding water begins to appear.
Once the concrete has been leveled, it needs to be smoothed. These tools help create a professional finish that looks great and stands the test of time.
A hand float is a tool that you can use to smooth the concrete after it's been leveled with a darby or a bull float. During the bull float process, some concrete can get pushed to the outer edges or the middle of the slab, depending on your process.
Using a hand float, you can bring all the concrete to one level plane. If the concrete is poured around pipes or other obstructions, use the hand float to smooth the concrete around these obstructions.
After using the hand float, the finishing trowel helps you achieve a smoother finish. You'll use this concrete finishing tool when your hand print leaves an indentation no deeper than 1/8 of an inch when you press into the concrete.
Once concrete has been poured and begun to cure, it can still crack. Fortunately, there are tools to help combat this problem. Using groovers and edgers, you can make your concrete stronger, more durable, and less likely to crack.
A groover is a tool that creates grooves on the surface of concrete. The groover helps control where cracks form in the concrete. Cracks develop deep in the grooves, leaving the rest of the slab free of cracks for years. Groovers can also create attractive grooves that can be used to give your concrete a decorative aesthetic.
Make smooth, professional edges and corners with a concrete edger. Different edgers can create different patterns, from rounded edges to sharp corners. If you're a concrete contractor, or if you frequently take on concrete projects, you'll want several different edgers on hand to create the types of edges that will look best with each new project.
Once the concrete has been leveled and smoothed, it's time to use a concrete finishing tool. If you're a contractor, work with your client to discuss their expectations for the finished product. This will help you decide what aesthetic to aim for and which tools to use.
Once your concrete is completely level, a polisher smooths the surface of the concrete even further. Polishers give your concrete project a professional finish to make your concrete smooth and attractive.
When your concrete has set, a grinder uses a diamond abrasive to make your concrete as smooth as glass. Grinders can also remove high spots on your concrete floor.
Concrete brushes and brooms create small, slightly noticeable grooves in your concrete. Concrete brooms can help create a textured surface that makes your concrete less slippery.
Do you want to give your concrete an attractive pattern? Concrete stamps can make your concrete resemble stone, wood, and other materials.
At Discount Contractor Supply, we sell a range of concrete troweling, finishing, leveling, and crack-prevention tools to help with your concrete projects. Whether you're a professional contractor or a DIYer, we can help! Contact us to buy supplies for your upcoming concrete project.
