Often asked: How To Bull Float Concrete?

How long do you wait to bull float concrete?

Darbying or bull floating should be done immediately after “screeding”, or after the concrete has been tamped if tamping was done. This process should be finished before excess moisture or bleedwater appear on the surface.

Do you have to bull float concrete?

A bull float is used to level and smooth freshly poured concrete. Concrete used for visible projects, such as driveways, patios and sidewalks, often requires finishing. A bull float is a tool used for finishing concrete.

How long do you wait to float concrete?

Allow all of the water to disappear before you do anything else. This can take 20 minutes or 4 hours depending on the temperature, humidity and how hard the wind is blowing. After the bleed water is all gone, you can get out your steel finishing trowel and put on the final touches.

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Can you finish concrete without a bull float?

Fresnos are used for troweling slabs that do not require a hard trowel surface. A Fresnos will speed up the troweling process. Fresnos should not be used as bull floats. Troweling can also be accomplished by machine.

What defects can be caused by bull floating too soon?

More often, premature finishing or improper first (bull floating) or second floating results in trapping rising bleed water and air below the top surface of the concrete (Image 2). When this occurs, the resulting weak or soft zone below the surface causes the top surface of the concrete to flake or scale off.

Why does magnesium float on concrete?

Magnesium smooths the surface of fresh concrete and opens the pores for proper evaporation, all without pulling the surface like a wood or resin tool. Most magnesium floats are extruded or cast. Molten magnesium can be cast into any shape desired.

When should I start finishing my concrete?

When all traces of the water are gone and the concrete starts to harden, you can resume finishing activities. Test by pressing your gloved thumb onto the surface near the perimeter. The concrete is ready when pressing hard only leaves a 1/4-in.

When should I brush my concrete?

When it comes to brooming, timing is critical—brush too early and the surface will be weak, brush too late and there won’t be enough texture. It must be done while the slab is still soft, but after the bleed water has dissipated. Depending on the weather, this can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours.

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What do you spray on concrete after pouring it?

DO spray new concrete with water.



Known as “moist curing,” this allows the moisture in the concrete to evaporate slowly. Moist-cured concrete can be up to 50 percent stronger than concrete that was cured without being dampened!

What is the difference between a trowel and a float?

A float has a thicker base than a trowel and is usually made of plastic, sponge, rubber, wood or magnesium – a lightweight pale grey metal. It’s used to even up the surface on plaster or concrete, make it firmer and give whatever texture is required.

How long should concrete set before removing forms?

The forms or “molding” that holds the concrete in place until it dries should be left alone for at least two days to ensure that the concrete is completely dry. If the forms are removed too soon, the concrete can begin to sag, crack and collapse, especially if conditions like temperature affected its strength.

Why do you power float concrete?

A power float is a hand-operated machine used to produce a smooth, dense and level surface finish to insitu concrete beds. Power floating eliminates the time and materials needed to apply a finishing screed and is quicker and less labour-intensive process than hand trowelling.

How do you get a good finish on concrete?

Here are the steps for finishing a concrete slab:

  1. Spread the concrete. Use a square shovel or a come-along tool to push and pull the wet concrete into place.
  2. Screed the concrete.
  3. Float the surface.
  4. Edge the slab.
  5. Groove in joints.
  6. Trowel the surface.
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What does troweling concrete do?

Purpose: Used after floating to produce a smooth, hard, dense slab surface. Putting a long handle on the trowel allows finishers to trowel the concrete without walking out onto the slab.

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