Finishing the Concrete in the Garage

Finishing the Concrete in the Garage

Earlier they had built the form at the end of the garage and at the side door. Preparing to Pour the Concrete Garage Floor >

Today the cement truck poured the concrete. This post is a continuation of Pouring the Concrete Floor in the Garage >

They started working right away to smooth the finish.

Pneumatic Walk Behind Screed - Pouring the Concrete Floor in the Garage - Project Small House
Pneumatic Walk Behind Screed

This is a Pneumatic Walk Behind Screed. It is “designed to provide a consistent, even surface without any guide or supporting tube.” It vibrates to level the cement. It takes off any high spots and fills any low spots. The gravel that had been visible started to disappear below the surface.

Pneumatic Walk Behind Screed - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Pneumatic Walk Behind Screed

This went really fast. He moved the screed back and forth slowly as it vibrated to create a level flat surface.

Bull Float - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Bull Float

This is a bull float.  They screwed on enough handles to reach in across the cement. They pushed it out tilted like in this picture, then pulled it back with it tilted the other way, so that the leading edge was always slightly up. This leveled out the marks left by the screed and filled any small holes. It just took a couple of passes.

Cream, the gravel-free concrete, started to come to the surface.

This all forced the larger aggregate down, leaving the “cream,” a slurry of cement and sand, to fill the surface.

They waited a little while. They cleaned up and the cement truck left. They moved their truck in so they could set up some lights.

They moved their truck in so they could set up some lights - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
They moved their truck in so they could set up some lights

This is a Power Trowel.

Power Trowel - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Power Trowel

The Power Trowel is a machine with a combination blade to level and finish the cement in one step.

Finishing the surface - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Finishing the surface

Next they used hand floats to go over the surface.

The things on his feet are actually knee pads. They let him slide that slide around on the concrete.

Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Hand floats and knee pads

They swept the surface with wide strokes. Again, just a couple of passes.

Finishing off the top of the post - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Finishing off the top of the post

They rounded the concrete sticking out of the top of the post.

We went home while they cleaned up.

By the time we got back, they were done and gone.

Fiber in the cement - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Fiber in the cement

Here is the top of the post. See the fuzzy fibers?

Grooves in the concrete - Finishing the Concrete in the Garage - Project Small House
Grooves in the concrete

They had grooved the concrete. This is for if it cracks.

The groove creates a weakened spot for the crack to form where it won’t be seen.

Next: Running the Gas Lines >