Concrete Finishers

Nature of work

Concrete finishers place, finish, cut, and repair concrete floors, driveways, sidewalks, curbs, bridge decks, and other concrete structures. They work for construction companies, cement and concrete contractors, and manufacturers of precast concrete products, or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Concrete finishers:

• Check formwork, granular base and steel reinforcement materials and direct placement of concrete into forms or onto surfaces according to grade.
• Fill hollows and remove high spots to smooth freshly poured concrete.
• Use power vibrator to compact concrete.
• Level top surface of concrete according to grade and depth specifications using straightedge or float.
• Apply desired finish to concrete surfaces using hand and power tools.
• Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete.
• Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete.
• Waterproof, damp-proof and restore concrete surfaces.
• Repair, resurface and replace worn or damaged sections of floors, walls, roads, and other concrete structures.

Sample job titles

• cement finisher
• cement mason
• concrete finisher
• concrete floor finisher
• concrete mason
• concrete polisher
• concrete smoother-finisher
• highway and street cement mason

Skills

• Strength and stamina
• Spatial perception and hand-eye coordination
• Agility and coordination
• Ability to work as a team

Job requirements

• High school or equivalent (usually).
• Over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college, or industry courses in cement finishing.
• Trade Qualifier option, 5,400 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for concrete finishers is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for concrete finishers.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Other considerations

• Concrete finishers work on a variety of surfaces like concrete floors, walls, sidewalks, stairs, driveways, curbs and gutters, and overlays. They also work on many types of structures like buildings, dams, bridges, and tunnels.
• Concrete finishers work in both indoor and outdoor conditions. Outdoor work is weather-dependent and there may be less work available in the winter. Overtime is often required when the weather demands it. Travel may be required to get to construction sites.
• Jobs in the construction industry are affected by seasonal changes and economic conditions. Work may be on a project basis. Workers should be prepared for periods of unemployment.
• Risks include working on uneven footing and from general construction site hazards. The work involves bending, stooping, and kneeling and may involve heavy lifting.
• Much concrete placing and finishing are now done using machines. Hand troweling is still necessary for small jobs and to finish hard-to-reach spots in corners, edges, stairs, and around obstacles like pipes.
• Specialization is this trade is common. Concrete finishers may specialize in working with specific materials like coloured concrete, exposed aggregates, and various epoxies. They may specialize in specific techniques like diamond-polishing concrete, power trowelling, and finishing curbs and gutters.
• Experienced concrete finishers may move into supervisory, management, training roles, or become contract estimators.
• Concrete finishers work with a variety of tradespeople like heavy equipment operators, ironworkers, carpenters, plumbers, and electricians.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

Contacts