Concrete waits for nobody, and every contractor worth their salt admits to it. Since time is of the essence, it's also essential to have all the Concreting Tools required on hand. Nobody wants to pour concrete and then find out one tool is missing.
Even with all the fancy tools available, some basics are essential for every project. So, here are the Concreting Tools every contractor needs to have in his toolbox!
Basic Tools
Concrete Screeds
You can't leave concrete lumpy and weird once you've poured it. You need something to even it out and lay it flat. This is where screeds come in. They're long, straight pieces of board that come in multiple sizes, depending on the project.
Concrete Vibrators
After the concrete has been poured, a concrete vibrator is used to compact and settle it till it dries uniformly and smoothly. Most contractors use one of the following four types of concrete vibrators on the job site:
- An internal vibrator that uses a vibrating probe to settle wet concrete.
- A form vibrator to vibrate the concrete form.
- A screed vibrator is used during screeding to vibrate the concrete and not let it settle and harden.
- A table vibrator to vibrate the concrete as it is poured into a mould.
These vibrators can be hired for various tasks depending on your specific concreting job.
A Wheelbarrow
No matter how many hi-tech tools you have in your back pocket, there's nothing like a wheelbarrow. They're a vital part of any construction site, and not having one around will make life highly inconvenient to everybody on-site.
You can use them for several jobs, such as transportation on-site, hauling away scrap and debris, etc. Don't underestimate the importance of a wheelbarrow!
A Portable Concrete Mixer
This is the perfect tool that can help in decreasing one's time and energy. Instead of mixing a tiny amount of concrete to fill in the gaps, a portable concrete mixer enables you to do a tedious job faster.
You get a portable cement mixer when you have a small pour that doesn't require a massive batch of concrete. As mentioned earlier, it reduces the amount of mixing you have to do by hand, gives you a smooth pour, and reduces the effort and time it takes to complete the task.
Rubber Boots and Gloves
Concrete isn't just dangerous because you can get stuck in it, but because of the various chemicals in the mixture. The different chemicals can greatly irritate and possibly damage the skin if exposed.
Tools like rubber gloves and shoes aren't always mentioned as necessary. But, if you want to prevent concrete from sticking to you, hurting your skin, and reducing your productivity - you must get a pair of gloves and rubber boots.
A Concrete Saw
When you're on a construction site, there comes a time that you need to cut the concrete you've just poured. Whether it's to create control joints or simply make a few changes, you'll need a good concrete saw.
While you're at it, get yourself a few standard wood saws and some chop saws too!
Endnotes
When it comes to the basics, everybody overlooks Concreting Tools. There are multiple smaller tools every construction site needs that aren't present because they're ignored. But, with this handy list, you won't have to worry about not having a tool on hand. Your concrete will be safe.
