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Concrete Learning

The document describes the concrete finishing process. There are two main types of screeding used: hand screeding using a screeding tool, and mechanical screeding using a vibrating screed beam. Hand screeding can finish surfaces up to 30 feet wide but is less efficient on wider surfaces. Mechanical screeding allows for stronger, lower slump concrete and provides a better, faster finish compared to hand screeding. It incorporates vibration to further compact and strengthen the concrete surface.

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24 views2 pages

Concrete Learning

The document describes the concrete finishing process. There are two main types of screeding used: hand screeding using a screeding tool, and mechanical screeding using a vibrating screed beam. Hand screeding can finish surfaces up to 30 feet wide but is less efficient on wider surfaces. Mechanical screeding allows for stronger, lower slump concrete and provides a better, faster finish compared to hand screeding. It incorporates vibration to further compact and strengthen the concrete surface.

Uploaded by

safrancoool
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CONCRETE LEARNING  

OBJECTIVE:  Upon   completing this   section,   you  should   be  able   to   describe the
finishing   process  for  the  final  concrete surface. The finishing process provides the final concrete surface.
There  are  many  ways  to  finish  concrete surfaces,   depending   on   the   effect   required. Sometimes you
only need to correct surface defects, fill  bolt  holes,  or  clean  the  surface.  Unformed surfaces  may  require
only  screeding  to  proper  contour and  elevation,  or  a  broomed,  floated,  or  trowelled finish may be
specified. SCREEDING The  top  surface  of  a  floor  slab,  sidewalk,  or pavement  is  rarely  placed  at  the
exact  specified elevation. Screeding   brings   the   surface   to   the required  elevation  by  striking  off  the
excess  concrete. Two types of screeds are used in concrete finishing operations: the  hand  screed  and  the
mechanical screed. Hand  Screed Hand screeding requires a tool called a screed. This is actually a templet
(usually a 2-by-4) having a straight  lower  edge  to  produce  a  flat  surface  (or  a curved  lower  edge  to
produce  a  curved  surface). Move the screed back and forth across the concrete using a sawing motion, as
shown in figure 7-44. With each  sawing  motion,  move  the  screed  forward  an  inch or so along the forms.
This forces the concrete built up against the screed face into the low spots. If the screed  tends  to  tear  the
surface,  as  it  may  on air-entrained  concrete  due  to  its  sticky  nature,  either reduce  the  rate  of  forward
movement  or  cover  the lower edge of the screed with metal. This stops the tearing action in most cases. You
can  hand-screed  surfaces  up  to  30-feet  wide, but   the   efficiency   of   this   method   diminishes   on
surfaces  more  than  10-feet  wide.  Three  workers (excluding   a   vibrator   operator)   can   screed
approximately 200 square feet of concrete per hour. Two of the workers work the screed while the third pulls
excess  concrete  from  the  front  of  the  screed, You  must  screed  the  surface  a  second  time  to  remove
the  surge  of  excess  concrete  caused  by  the  first screeding. Figure  7-44.-Screeding  operation. 7-24

Mechanical Screed The  mechanical  screed  is  being  used  more  and more  in  construction  for  striking  off
concrete  slabs  on highways, bridge decks, and deck slabs. This screed incorporates  the  use  of  vibration  and
permits  the  use of   stronger,   and   more   economical,   low-slump concrete. It can strike off this relatively
dry material smoothly  and  quickly. The  advantages  of  using  a vibrating  screed  are  greater  density  and
stronger concrete.  Vibrating  screeds  give  abetter  finish,  reduce maintenance, and save considerable time
due to the speed at which they operate. Vibrating screeds are also much less fatiguing to operate than hand
screeds. A  mechanical  screed  (figure  7-45)  usually consists of a beam (or beams) and a gasoline engine, or
an  electric  motor  and  a  vibrating  mechanism mounted in the center of the beam. Most mechanical screeds
are quite heavy and usually equipped with wheels  to  help  move  them  around.  You  may occasionally
encounter   lightweight   screeds   not equipped with wheels. These are easily lifted by two crewmembers  and
set  back  for  the  second  pass  if required. The speed at which the screed is pulled is directly related  to  the
slump  of  the  concrete—the  less  the slump,  the  slower  the  speed;  the  more  the  slump,  the faster the
speed. On the finishing pass of the screed, there should be no transverse (crosswise) movement of  the  beam;
the  screed  is  merely  drawn  directly forward riding on the forms or rails. For a mechanical screed, a method
is provided to quickly start or stop the  vibration.  This  is  important  to  prevent  over vibration when the
screed might be standing still. Concrete is usually placed 15 to 20 feet ahead of the screed and shoveled as
close as possible to its final resting place. The screed is then put into operation and pulled along by two
crewmembers, one at each end  of  the  screed.  It  is  important  that  sufficient concrete  is  kept  in  front  of
the  screed.  Should  the concrete be below the level of the screed beam, voids or bare spots will appear on the
concrete surface as the screed passes over the slab. Should this occur, a shovelful  or  so  of  concrete  is
thrown  on  the  bare  spot, and the screed is lifted up and earned back past this spot for a second pass. In rare
cases, the screed crew will   work   out   the   void   or   bare   spot   with   a hand-operated bull float, rather
than make a second pass with the screed. The vibration speed will need to be adjusted for particular  mixes
and  different  beam  lengths. Generally, the stiffer the mix and the longer the beam, the greater the vibration
speed required. The speed at which the screed is moved also affects the resulting finish of the slab. After a few
minutes of operation, a satisfactory   vibration   pulling   speed   can   be established.  After  the  vibrating
screed  has  passed over the slab, the surface is then ready for broom or burlap finishing. Where  possible,  it  is
advisable  to  lay  out  or engineer  the  concrete  slab  specifically  for  use  of  a vibrating screed. Forms should
be laid out in lanes of equal widths, so that the same- length screed can be used on all lanes or slabs. It should
also be planned, if possible,  that  any  vertical  columns  will  be  next  to  the forms,  so  that  the  screed  can
easily  be  lifted  or maneuvered  around  the  column. There are four important advantages of using a vibrating
finishing screed. First, it allows the use of low-slump   concrete,   resulting   in   stronger   slabs. Second,  it
reduces  and  sometimes  eliminates  the necessity of hand tamping and bull floating. Third, it increases the
density of the concrete, resulting in a superior wearing surface. And fourth, in the case of floor  slabs,
troweling  can  begin  sooner  since  drier mixes can be used, which set up more quickly. 7-25

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