A hand-held tool such as a trowel cannot be summed up in a nutshell. In everyday life, this term is called tools for work in various directions. And our article will consider a tool that is designed to conduct construction works with mortars and concretes.

The name itself speaks for itself: it is in order to smooth the surface that this construction device... Of course, there are quite a large number of tools that qualify with this term, but, as a rule, they perform completely different tasks and are not even constructional at all. But let's return to our device and see what tasks and how it copes. Anyone who has ever encountered the installation of a floor screed knows that laying mortar or concrete ultimately implies a perfectly flat surface.

But after the mortar has set, we can observe some irregularities, and they are caused by a large amount of water that was contained in the solution. In order to avoid such incidents, there is a trowel, with its help we not only additionally smooth fresh concrete or mortar, but also force excess moisture come to the surface of the screed... Then, using our tool, we can remove this moisture. Of course, this is entirely the merit of the instrument itself, thought out to the smallest detail.

In fact, the device this instrument quite simple, usually a pen, similar in all respects to a pen. It can also be solid, according to the principle of a half-grater device. In both cases, the convenience of a particular option depends on the skill of the builder himself. Handle with spot welding is mounted on a metal plate, which acts as a working smoothing surface.

This is how a hand-held concrete trowel usually works. , it is advisable to use it when working on small square meters surface. But there is also a tool for use in large areas, the so-called production model. Her device is significantly different from the device hand model, such a tool is based on the design of a conventional mop. First of all, it is a work surface that reaches a width of one meter, and a telescopic handle that can reach ten meters.

When pouring concrete on a large square, the use of a tool of this configuration is simply necessary, and here are some performance characteristics that help the master to carry out the assigned tasks.

1. Wide working surface, due to which, when working with concretes and mortars, it is possible to immediately process a significant surface area. As a result, we get better alignment and a minimum of unevenness.
2. Handle length: the telescopic design of the working handle in some cases can be up to 12 meters, which makes it possible to handle large volumes of poured concrete in rooms with a large area. In production, this significantly speeds up the process of pouring concrete into the floor surface.
3. Scraper function: this tool is usually equipped with additional element, a blade that is installed on the work surface. The use of such an element helps to remove protruding water from the surface in those places that you cannot get into after pouring the concrete. But with the help of this device, this task becomes quite solvable.
4. The material from which the trowel is made: as a rule, it is stainless steel, which does not lend itself to corrosion, therefore, its service life is quite long. Also, very often the working surface can be made of aluminum, which greatly lightens the weight of the tool and also prolongs the service life.

When choosing a tool for your own needs, be sure to consider these characteristics. In some cases, it can be made independently from scrap materials, most often, wood is used for these purposes.

It should be noted another very promising model of this tool: the metal trowel has firmly occupied a niche in finishing works. Today, most professional painters use such a hand tool to apply putty to walls and then level them. Of course, there are spatulas for these purposes, but due to the fact that the working area of ​​the trowel is metal and, as a rule, smooth, such a tool is almost no different from a spatula during work.

In some cases, it shows itself even better than a spatula, for example, when working with applying putty to the ceiling, such a spatula greatly facilitates the process and reduces material consumption. The principle of applying the putty with our ironing tool is quite simple: apply the mixture to the work surface along its entire length and then evenly stretch it over the ceiling surface, while smoothing the material.

Usually, after carrying out such work, it remains to apply a thin finishing layer. finishing material and the ceiling is ready for commissioning. Of course, in order to perform such work, a certain qualification is required, which comes with experience. Very often painters joke about newbies: "In order for the surface to be smooth, you need a spherical trowel!" If you ever have to hear such an expression, you should know that there is no such tool in construction, it is used in medicine, this is just a harmless joke.

Continuing the theme of finishing, it is worth noting a tool that painters call a spatula-trowel in professional slang. The structure of such a spatula is usually a handle, made according to the principle of a trowel, and a working surface 20 centimeters wide and 30-50 centimeters long. By outward appearance it is, perhaps, the same, only with a metal work surface. It was widely used in plasterboard finishing, namely during the sealing of plasterboard joints. Let's take a step-by-step look at the whole process and the rules for working with such a grater.

Concreting the base is a rather laborious process. The quality of the final result is measured not only by the strength of the coating, but also by the flatness of the surface. To ensure this, apply different tools... At the initial stage, the mixture is leveled with a rule. But after it there may be ridges. Therefore, at the final stage of leveling, a concrete trowel is used. This is a simple, but extremely necessary tool for a builder. It is quite possible to do it yourself. Before starting work, you need to delve into this issue.

General characteristics of the process

The process of pouring concrete foundations is not the same for various premises... If you need to create a floor in a large production hall, hand tools will be practically useless. In this case, use equipment with various attachments (rollers, discs, "skis", etc.).

In a small room, it is easier to level the level with other tools. First, wooden beacons are laid on the surface of the base. They will serve as guidelines for the rule. Concrete is laid between the lighthouses. It is guided by the rule, distributing the mixture in an even layer along the level of the guides. This is the initial stage of filling.

Further, a more accurate smoothing of the mixture is carried out. You will need a concrete trowel here. This is a special manual fixture, which can be used both in the process of removing the mixture by the rule, and after arranging the entire base.

Varieties

The presented tool can be manual or have an electric or gasoline drive. For a small room, the first variety is ideal. When leveling large areas, it is better to use mechanized devices. The most commonly used aluminum or magnesium concrete trowel. Its length is over 1 meter. For convenience, the profile is attached to a long handle. Because of this, the tool is somewhat reminiscent of a mop.

There is a division into channel and scraper trowels. The first type is intended for leveling concrete that has not yet hardened, which is still plastic. In this case, a "cement milk" is formed on the surface. It is a mixture of cement, water and sand in small quantities. The scraper type of floats is suitable for already hardened mortar. Such tools help to remove cement laitance from concrete.

The trowels also vary in size. For a small premises will do small-sized inventory with a width of 13 cm and a length of 28-68 cm. The step of increasing the size is 10 cm. The corners of the working plane should be rounded so as not to leave scratches.

Device and features

The hand-held concrete trowel has a number of features in its application. It is moved along the solidifying mixture back and forth, as well as from side to side. To preserve the original concrete layer, it is necessary to move the tool in directions perpendicular to each other. Otherwise, depressions and bumps will appear. The trowel must not be immersed in concrete. It only glides on the surface.

During movement, the angle of inclination of its profile surface changes. Pushing the trowel away from you will raise the far edge and vice versa. The gearbox is responsible for this movement. The plasticity of the mixture also affects the angle of rise. It can reach almost 60 degrees. The tool handle can be from 3 to 12 m in length. The working planes must have deflection stabilizers. Coverage ranges from 1 to 5 meters. The gearbox is in the form of a cable. It connects the blade and the handle.

DIY tool

In the conditions of private construction or repair, a homemade tool is quite applicable. A do-it-yourself concrete trowel is quite simple. If you do not intend to use it more than 1-2 times, you should not spend money on the purchase of new equipment.

If you have a little free time, and you also have the ability to handle wood, it will not be difficult to create a trowel with your own hands and level the concrete with it. To do this, you will need to prepare wooden slats, boards, hand tools and fasteners. Usually, all the necessary tools for such work are in the arsenal. home master... If they are not there, tools and materials can always be obtained. For the convenience of work, it is better to give preference to soft wood species. Most often, such a tool is made from such materials.

Work surface manufacturing technique

When wondering how to make a do-it-yourself concrete float, you should consider the tips experienced builders... When preparing softwood beams, attention must be paid to their processing.

The side of the trowel that will come into contact with the concrete must be perfectly smooth. It is preliminarily sanded. Then the working surface is treated with a special moisture-repellent solution. This will save the tool until the end of the concrete subfloor machining. The smoothness of the slide will be as easy as possible. Standard dimensions the bars for the working surface are selected depending on the area of ​​the room. The width of this product should be about 30 cm, and the length can be from 1 to 2 m.

Handle making

The handle is an integral part of a concrete trowel. The telescopic handle is used in commercial tools. But for homemade varieties, you just have to make a long rail. For infrequent or one-time use, this will be enough. The handle should be sized according to the length of the room. Typically this trowel element is 3 to 5 m. option will do even to work on smoothing the solution along the upper cut of beacons or between brickwork.

With a triangular spacer made of wooden slats the handle is rigidly attached to working area... If the grip of the working surface is large, it is difficult to guide the tool with one handle. Therefore, for the convenience of carrying out work, it is better in such cases to make two holders at once.

Scraper trowel

A homemade concrete trowel most often involves leveling concrete that has not yet hardened. Available for sale special attachments, which make a scraper from a channel tool. Although most often they are simply included in the set of commercial ironers.

Scraper work surfaces, most likely, cannot be made by yourself. But you can buy them if necessary. This tool will remove excess from the concrete surface. The blade is made from durable aluminum alloys. This will eliminate bumps and irregularities, fill in the grooves on the surface of the base. This tool helps to finalize the surface leveling.

Expert reviews

Since such products are made from an extrusion alloy, they are very light and maneuverable, unlike homemade ones. At the same time, such tools are characterized by high strength. The whole structure contributes to a smooth change in the angle of inclination of the surface during operation.

According to expert reviews, purchased ironers have only one drawback - they are quite expensive. In addition, it is better to purchase such trowels from good, trusted manufacturers. Cheap products do not justify the money invested in them. Therefore for infrequent use it's better to do homemade construction... Especially if you plan to use it no more than two or three times.

How to use a trowel

A properly made concrete trowel allows you to level quite large areas. Thanks to the wide working surface, large areas are quickly processed. Even a homemade trowel can smooth out bumps and depressions in a quality manner.

Homemade varieties of tools should only be used for rooms no longer than 6 m. otherwise you will have to use purchased varieties. They have a telescopic handle that can reach up to 12 m.

After the first leveling, “laitance” may appear on the concrete surface. It should be removed with a scraper with a special blade. If in the process of surface treatment it is planned to treat it with various grinding machines, this stage is required. Large humps and depressions must be removed before the cement hardens.

Having considered a tool such as a concrete trowel, you can use it correctly during construction or renovation. Under certain conditions, it is more expedient to use homemade varieties... They can be easily done by hand. But for large rooms it is better to use a purchased tool. It usually has a telescopic handle. Also, these trowels have a set of special blades. But for infrequent use, it is recommended to make your own trowel, which will allow you to level the surface almost perfectly.

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Types of concrete floats

To floor surface floors allowed to carry out any finishing work, it should be perfectly flat and meet all the necessary technical requirements.

The trowel is used for leveling by adjusting the smoothing angle.

All this is very often impossible to achieve without additional installation works... In order for the surface of the floor slab to become suitable for further work, it is necessary to make a screed over it and level it correctly.

To do this, you need specially made manually or ready-to-use mixtures that can be bought in hardware stores. But, in order to achieve what you want, these mixtures alone will not be enough - you also need special equipment, trowel.

Trowel device

The scraper trowel is designed to remove excess water after vibration treatment of the surface.

The so-called do-it-yourself leveling trowel happens different types... Such equipment is used to carry out minor floor correction - leveling, by adjusting the smoothing angle. The private trowel is suitable for working in rooms up to seven meters long. This device is made of lightweight and durable aluminum alloy, which is why it is very practical to use.

A conventional trowel has rounded edges, with which you can smoothly change the angle of inclination, and this allows you to leave a minimum amount of roughness on the surface. The equipment has a long handle, which, if necessary, can change its length, remove and add additional sections, which makes it communicative and convenient to use.

Leveling the surface with your own hands is sometimes impossible without first using a special scraper float or, as it is also called, a scraper float. It is she who allows you to remove excess water and concrete milk from the surface. Typically these blade scrapers come with a trowel. And this double equipment allows, ultimately, with correct use achieve the desired result and make the coating as even as possible. In addition, you need to remove excess liquid from the surface, it is very important to clean it of residues and other construction debris.

See also: Using a sander

Smoothing

Alignment scheme.

You can level the concrete different ways, even when the solution has set. But in this case, it will take much more time and effort than with the timely leveling of the not yet solidified solution, when pouring it. It is for these cases that it is recommended to use hand-held compact equipment made of lightweight material especially for working with freshly laid mortar.

This equipment is used only after vibration treatment has been carried out. The control strip will help to remove and level all the bumps on the still plastic surface. And the corrective rail will help not only to correct the deformation, but also to fill the depressions qualitatively. This device, even at the stage of fresh concrete, will provide results that will greatly speed up the process of complete leveling of the surface. special means.

The concrete trowel is an aluminum profile one and a half to two meters long with a handle attached to it, which, if necessary, can be extended to 12 meters. This profile has a tilt angle adjuster relative to the surface. The angle of inclination changes depending on the direction of movement and the plasticity of the mixture.

Smoothing features

Smoothing scheme

The hand float moves along the surface at the required distance. To vibrate the profile, shake the handle of the device with short jerks. The speed of movement of this device and the intensity of vibration depend on the mobility of the mixture and on its composition. When the mixture is highly mobile, adhesion occurs between the trowel and the surface. It increases if finely dispersed silica is added to the concrete, and in this case, too much adhesion can lead to movement of the laid concrete, which is unacceptable, since it can lead to a change set height cover. To prevent this and to achieve the most even surface, smoothing is performed in two directions at right angles to each other.

The trowels can be used for self-leveling with varying degrees of mobility, but in any case, it should be such that the trowel does not sink into the concrete. Despite the small radius of action, they can successfully process a large area. When using plasticizers in a mixture, one must not forget that the mobility of the mixture in this case changes rapidly when their action ceases.

http://youtu.be/HutnKAV5VvA

The concrete trowel can be gasoline or electric motor... The angle of inclination on such models is set by turning the knob, and it is much easier to work with them, since a mechanized machine sets automatic vibration by stepless frequency control. Cleaning and transferring such trowels after work is also quite easy. If necessary, the machine can be rented, which will be much cheaper than buying it.

Page 2

• Reinforcement
• Manufacturing
• Instruments
• Mounting
• Payment
• Repair

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Do I need a concrete trowel when pouring a floor

To go to finishing works it is desirable that the surface of the floors be smooth. Smoothing of concrete is carried out immediately after the pouring of the solution, its distribution over the formwork and careful vibration compaction. In our article we will tell you exactly about the anti-aliasing process, and how to achieve best result.

On photo man does not wash the floor, but smoothes it

First meeting

It must be understood that for large and small areas there are different methods the formation of smooth surfaces.

In the factory, the open surfaces of newly formed products are smoothed using special machines, the equipment is equipped with various attachments in the form of:

• Valikov.
• "Skis" that reciprocate in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the machine.
• Rotating discs used for the final grouting of the surface.

As for the conditions in closed areas, other devices are used for this purpose.

Concrete smoothing agents

Depending on the volume and method of concrete work, as well as on the requirements for the floors, there are several options for smoothing:

• Primary smoothing is carried out directly in the process of laying the mixture into the concrete floor structure.
• Smoothing the surface of the freshly laid mixture.
• Smoothing cement-sand or quick-drying leveling screed, made on a concrete base.

Smoothing out concrete at the same time as laying

Private developers doing work with their own hands in a small area are thinking about how to make a smooth concrete floor in sync with the laying of the mixture. In order not to waste time, so to speak, and the result was good.

In this case, the instructions for installing the floors are as follows:

• Along the longest wall in the room, at a distance of 1000-1200 mm from each other and with a distance of 200-250 mm from the walls, beacons made of wooden slats are arranged ( metal profiles). These structures are fixed in small quantities cement mortar... In parallel, they fulfill their intended purpose, and the role of guides for the rule. Ideally used as a rule flat bar or a board, or a purchased aluminum tool.

Approximately as shown in the figure

• Lead styling concrete mix follows the captures between the beacons. In this case, the supplied concrete is distributed and at the same time smoothed by "ironing" the rule, which is pulled along the guides. The rule needs to be pulled towards yourself, making a vibrating motion from side to side with a small amplitude.
• If everything went right, you can perform the final smoothing of the concrete surface with a trowel (we will tell you about it just below).

Hand tool allowing to smooth hard-to-reach places

Someone smoothes the concrete surface after the completion of laying in full, others right after the rule. But they all use special devices for this purpose.

Concrete trowel

The so-called concrete floats can be branded or do-it-yourself. The main thing for this improvised tool is to have a smooth, or better glossy surface.

Some people try to build a float from scrap materials.

Trowels complete concrete works, causing the formation on the smoothed surface of concrete "cement milk" - a mixture of water, cement and a small amount of sand. Thanks to this, the layer, freed from coarse aggregate (crushed stone, gravel, etc.), after hardening and gaining the grade strength of the concrete, can be sanded, if necessary.

On large areas of industrial floors, factory-made trowels are used. They can be manually operated or powered by an electric or gasoline engine.

Advice! It is possible to achieve the most even surface without violating the specified thickness of the concrete layer by working with the trowel alternately in two directions perpendicular to each other.

During work, make sure that the tool is not immersed in the mixture.

Hand tools are like a large mop with a wide work bar and a very long handle (the length is usually adjustable). The construction is made of aluminum or other extrusion alloy and therefore is quite lightweight and manoeuvrable.

Take care of the horizontal guide, any defect will make the tool unusable

To create super-level floors, various models of smoothing devices are available, aimed at specific tasks:

• Smoothing strips are used to smooth out concrete subject to vibration compaction.
• Control slats, responsible for leveling the bumps formed on the still plastic solution.
• Corrective devices cut off the bumps and fill the grooves on the concrete surface with this mixture, which remained after preliminary grouting.

Such equipment is used for large rooms. For example, for smoothing concrete floors in parking lots

The high price of a trowel with an electric or gas drive in comparison with a manual trowel is compensated by more effective work due to measured vibration. It is noteworthy that mechanized trowels can be rented, saving several thousand rubles.

Output

A clear advantage, of course, belongs to the automatic tool, which allows you to achieve the best result. On the other hand, one hundred percent smoothness is not always required, for example, for a garage room, it is enough to visually create the illusion that the concrete surface is even and smooth.

In general, it's up to you, we only helped to find the answer to the question - how to make concrete smooth. In the video presented by us in this article you will find Additional information on this topic.

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Concrete trowel: types and applications in concrete pouring

Concrete trowelling equipment

The concrete trowel is a tool for smoothing the surface of a freshly poured, monolithic concrete floor in order to obtain an even and smooth subfloor. Smoothing of the concrete surface is carried out only after leveling and careful vibration compaction of the concrete solution.

How to make concrete smooth, and what tools are needed to carry out this type of work, will be discussed in detail in this article.

Concrete Trowelling Tools

The most important technological requirements for concrete surfaces when placing concrete mixture in molds or monolithic structures, is a strict horizontal level of the laid base and a smooth, flawless surface. Achievement of such quality indicators as smooth concrete is ensured by a whole range of special tools.

The most effective devices for performing this type of work are concrete trowels, presented in various modifications:

• channel;
• scraper;
• trowels.

Channel trowel for correcting the surface of freshly poured concrete

Channel type is used for smoothing and simple surface correction with a smoothing angle coordination up to 30 ° and optimal width adjustable coverage up to 3 m. Bar length (with extension) - up to 6 m.

As a separate option, it can be equipped with an expansion joint former (toothed nozzle) for dividing the surface of the laid mixture into sections (cards). As you can see, the device of expansion joints is performed simultaneously with the smoothing of the mortar, which significantly reduces the labor intensity and cost of work.

Usually, seams are cut on dry material using power tools with expensive diamond discs... In this case, workers' wages and the price of diamond discs are removed from the cost of construction of expansion joints.

Duct devices are made of aluminum alloy or special of stainless steel... The blades have a smooth mirror surface and are highly resistant to corrosion.

Scraper trowel for smoothing concrete mix

The scraper type is intended for collecting cement laitance, filling depressions and removing bumps from the surface of the laid coatings, and also serves to control the horizontal level of the floor. It can be used for work on large areas.

The width of the treated coating is up to 6 m. The maximum length of the handle (rod) is 6 m. The design provides for a smooth increase or decrease in the angle of inclination of the working blade by rotating the handle, which facilitates work during operation.

Advantages:

• wide choose blades;
• low weight due to the blade material (aluminum alloy);
• robust and durable construction;
• thanks to the long handle (up to 6 m), a large area can be used.

Trowels - mechanized concrete floats

For smoothing large areas, use mechanized types devices for freshly laid screed - paddle trowels. Depending on the design of the drive, cars are divided into electric and gasoline.

For the production of work in indoor areas a relatively small area, and especially on sites with a difficult shape, electric single-rotor blade units with a working disc diameter of 600–1200 mm are used.

The set of the electromechanical unit includes the following equipment (see photo):

• electric motor;
• reducer;
• rolling wheels;
• packet switch;
• handle;
• disk.

Electromechanical machine diagram

For the production of work in open areas, machines are used with a gasoline engine.

Depending on the power and design of the gasoline unit, there are two types of gasoline-powered cars:

1. Manual machines controlled by the handle. Ideal for surface treatment on narrow and small areas floor.

Manual car on a gasoline drive

1. Self-propelled trowel two-rotor installations equipped with hydraulics for autonomous operation.

Two-rotor petrol unit

Use of hand-held concrete floats

For small areas of the treated surface, small-sized hand floats are used. The corners of the blades are rounded, and the tool handle is attached to the working plane.

Concrete smoothing equipment

The volume of coats to be processed determines the size of the work area. Materials for manufacturing are light alloys of aluminum. Working surface(blades) are specular.

Hand trowels are equipped with a cable reducer, with the help of which, when moving "forward and backward", you can change the angle of inclination of the blade. The angle of inclination of the blade depends on the mobility of the mixture and can reach 60 °.

Instruments of this type are equipped with telescopic bar(handle) with a maximum length of 12 m. Maximum effect when smoothing the concrete mix, it is achieved by moving the unit over the concrete surface in directions perpendicular to each other - back and forth, left and right.

Hints: When performing smoothing work on concrete, it is not recommended to immerse the blade in the material to be processed.

Making a concrete float at a construction site

A factory tool is usually used for smoothing coatings on large objects, but for individual construction and disposable small volumes, you can make a do-it-yourself ironer.

To complete the work, you will need the following tools and materials:

• dry edged board width 100-130 mm;
• timber measuring 50x50 mm;
• moisture resistant impregnation for wood;
• medium grit abrasive paper;
• screws;
• plane;
• screwdriver;
• hacksaw.

DIY making

DIY instructions (see video in this article):

• Cut the board to the desired size and process it with a plane.
• We cover the finished workpiece for the working part with a moisture-resistant impregnation and set it aside to dry.
• We make a handle from a bar of 50x50 mm. The optimal handle length is from 3 to 6 m.
• We make two braces to firmly attach the handle to the base of the blade.
• Using screws and a screwdriver, we connect the handle to the blade and strengthen this connection with struts (spacers). The trowel is ready.

Hints: Instead of attaching the handle with spacers, you can choose a pre-fabricated, factory-made swivel mount.

Concrete Trowel Application

The technology of smoothing fresh concrete mix consists of three stages:

1. The first stage is carried out using a trowel disc with a diameter of 600-1220 mm. When rotating, the smoothing disc removes all primary roughness and unevenness of the concrete surface.

1. Then, smoothing blades with rounded edges are attached to the rotor. The angle of inclination of the rotating blades can be adjusted from 0 ° to 30 °. First, the blades are set in a horizontal position. Then, as the concrete mixture dries, the angle of inclination is increased.

Round-edged trowel blades

1. When finishing trowelling the concrete surface, the finishing blades are attached to the trowel rotor. rectangular and set the maximum angle of inclination of the rotating blades of the trowel unit.

Blades for finishing concrete surface

With all the simplicity of the trowel operation, you still need to follow some rules:

1. Before starting concrete work on smoothing concrete, for electromechanical drives, it is necessary to check electrical cable and connecting the ground to the trowel. For gasoline cars- check for fuel or oil leaks and open the fuel supply valve.
2. Install the disc or blades, adjust the desired angle of inclination.
3. After completion of work: clean all parts of the unit, check the lubrication.

A clear advantage, when processing concrete surfaces, for an automated tool that makes it possible to achieve the best performance. However, in individual construction, a perfect surface is not always required. For example, in the garage, when carrying out concrete work, you can perfectly cope with a homemade tool.

However, it's up to you which tool to use and on which objects. The purpose of this article was the actual question - how to make concrete smooth. For more details on this topic, watch the video in this article.

When building flat concrete structures (concrete floors, blind areas and other concrete-cement sites), it is impossible to achieve a perfectly flat surface without straightening and smoothing operations.

The so-called "trowel" acts as a tool for smoothing concrete, which you can make on your own.

Concrete trowel

The concrete trowel is used at the final stage of construction concrete structure... In the process of smoothing the surface, the cement "milk" is squeezed out and leveled over the surface from the concrete, small depressions are filled, small "waves" and bumps are leveled, and the level differences of the plane are corrected.

The result of this operation is the release of the surface layer of concrete from the coarse filler and surface hardening - ironing.

Tool types

In general, a concrete trowel is a finished meter long aluminum alloy metal strip to which one or two long handles are attached.

Structurally, the tool resembles a large mop for cleaning surfaces. There are two types of trowels: classic and scraper. Classic trowels are used to smoothen a still plastic surface, which makes it possible to effectively level the surface.

Scraper trowels smooth out already setting material and effectively remove excess water.

Tool features

The main factor that determines the size of the float element and the length of the handle is the surface area to be treated. Prefabricated tools are used primarily in large facilities.

DIY concrete slicker, as a rule, it is used in the construction of low-rise private buildings, and after the completion of concrete work, it is disposed of or thrown away. At the same time, the scraper float, due to the complexity of manufacturing at home, is purchased in the factory version.

How to make a tool on your own from scrap materials?

To assemble the tool, you will need the following materials and tools:

• Wooden beam with a section of 100x100 mm, preferably 130-130 mm (the wider, the better up to a width of 400 mm), 700-1000 mm long for a working element;
• Wooden beam with a section of 50x50 mm or 40x40 mm, 4-6 meters long for a handle (one or two pieces);
• Wooden bar 25x25 or 35x35 1-1.5 meters long for reinforcing struts;
• Self-tapping screws for wood;
• Water-repellent impregnation;
• Medium grit sandpaper;
• Plane;
• Screwdriver;
• Hacksaw for wood.

A non-planed bar for the working element and the handle is processed with a plane, after which it is sanded sandpaper... In this case, the corners of the handle and the working element are "filled up" with chamfers of about 10x10 mm and, if possible, are also rounded off with sandpaper.

One end of the trowel handle is cut at a 60 degree angle and attached to the top of the work piece with a self-tapping screw. Perfect option- fix the handle with a hinge. However, this will require certain engineering and locksmith knowledge, turning work and practical experience.

If, according to the working conditions, the length of the working tool is taken more than 1 meter, it is advisable to attach two handles with spacers to it and perform the smoothing operation with two workers.

A typical example - a concrete slab is poured between brick sides or into the side formwork. In this case, the working element of the trowel must have a certain length and be supported by both ends on a brick side or on opposite walls of the formwork.

The permissible length of the handle is limited by the stiffness timber and its weight. As practice shows, the maximum length of the wooden handle of a "home-made" trowel is 5-6 meters.

Exceeding these dimensions leads to a significant weighting of the structure and a deterioration in the quality of work due to a decrease in the bending strength under the action of the handle's own weight.

For the transition to finishing work, the surface of the floors is desirable for it to be smooth. Smoothing of concrete is carried out immediately after pouring the solution, distributing it over the formwork and careful vibration compaction. In this article we will tell you exactly about the anti-aliasing process, and how to achieve the best result.

In the photo, a person does not wash the floor, but is engaged in smoothing it

First meeting

It must be understood that for large and small areas, there are different methods of forming smooth surfaces.

In the factory, the open surfaces of newly formed products are smoothed using special machines, the equipment is equipped with various attachments in the form of:

• Valikov.
• "Skis" that reciprocate in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the machine.
• Rotating discs used for the final grouting of the surface.

As for the conditions in closed areas, other devices are used for this purpose.

Concrete smoothing agents

Depending on the volume and method of concrete work, as well as on the requirements for the floors, there are several options for smoothing:

• Primary smoothing is carried out directly in the process of laying the mixture into the concrete floor structure.
• Smoothing the surface of the freshly laid mixture.
• Smoothing cement-sand or quick-drying leveling screed, made on a concrete base.

Smoothing out concrete at the same time as laying

Private developers doing work with their own hands in a small area are thinking about how to make a smooth concrete floor in sync with the laying of the mixture. In order not to waste time, so to speak, and the result was good.

In this case, the instructions for installing the floors are as follows:

• Along the longest wall in the room, at a distance of 1000-1200 mm from each other and with a distance of 200-250 mm from the walls, beacons are arranged from wooden slats (metal profiles). These structures are fixed with small amounts of cement mortar. In parallel, they fulfill their intended purpose, and the role of guides for the rule. As a rule, use a perfectly flat bar or board, or a purchased aluminum tool.

Approximately as shown in the figure

• Conduct the laying of the concrete mix along the grips between the beacons. In this case, the supplied concrete is distributed and at the same time smoothed by "ironing" the rule, which is pulled along the guides. The rule needs to be pulled towards yourself, making a vibrating motion from side to side with a small amplitude.
• If everything went right, you can perform the final smoothing of the concrete surface with a trowel (we will tell you about it just below).

Hand tool for smoothing hard-to-reach areas

Someone smoothes the concrete surface after the completion of laying in full, others right after the rule. But they all use special devices for this purpose.

Concrete trowel

The so-called concrete floats can be branded or do-it-yourself. The main thing for this improvised tool is to have a smooth, or better glossy surface.

Some people try to build a float from scrap materials.

The trowels finish the concrete work, causing the formation of “cement milk” on the smoothed surface of the concrete - a mixture of water, cement and a small amount of sand. Thanks to this, the layer, freed from coarse aggregate (crushed stone, gravel, etc.), after hardening and gaining the grade strength of the concrete, can be sanded, if necessary.

On large areas of industrial floors, factory-made trowels are used. They can be manually operated or powered by an electric or gasoline engine.

Advice!
It is possible to achieve the most even surface without violating the specified thickness of the concrete layer by working with the trowel alternately in two directions perpendicular to each other.
During work, make sure that the tool is not immersed in the mixture.

Hand tools are like a large mop with a wide work bar and a very long handle (the length is usually adjustable). The construction is made of aluminum or other extrusion alloy and therefore is quite lightweight and manoeuvrable.

Take care of the horizontal guide, any defect will make the tool unusable

To create super-level floors, various models of smoothing devices are available, aimed at specific tasks:

• Smoothing strips, are used to smooth out concrete subject to vibration compaction.
• Control Reiki responsible for leveling the bumps formed on the still plastic mortar.
• Corrective devices they cut off the mounds and fill with this mixture the recesses on the concrete surface, which remained after preliminary grouting.

Such equipment is used for large rooms. For example, for smoothing concrete floors in parking lots

The high price of a trowel with an electric or petrol drive in comparison with a manual trowel is compensated for by more efficient work due to measured vibration. It is noteworthy that mechanized trowels can be rented, saving several thousand rubles.

Output

A clear advantage, of course, belongs to the automatic tool, which allows you to achieve the best result. On the other hand, one hundred percent smoothness is not always required, for example, for a garage room, it is enough to visually create the illusion that the concrete surface is even and smooth.

In general, it's up to you, we only helped to find the answer to the question - how to make concrete smooth. In the video presented by us in this article, you will find additional information on this topic.

it step by step guide on how to pour and level concrete. This requires several tools that you can buy or make yourself. Generally speaking, there are many finishes you can pour on your concrete slab or foundation. But the easiest is to use a large formwork made of 2x4 planks.

Be sure to make sure you finish pouring your concrete slab or foundation as soon as possible. Otherwise, the concrete may dry out. And you will not have time to smooth its surface. Finishing a large concrete base is quite complex project... To do this, it makes sense to bring in a few friends to help you and use several methods to get the job done right.

What is required to fill the concrete area and level it

For finishing concrete slabs, you need the following:

Materials (edit)

• concrete;
• formwork boards;
• 2 × 2 boards for fixing forms.

Instruments

• protective gloves;
• protective glasses;
• roulette;
• mop brush for leveling concrete slabs.

Advice

• put on overalls and shoes before work so as not to get dirty in the concrete;
• clean your tools thoroughly after finishing work.

Time

• from several hours to daylight hours, depending on the flooded area.

How to pour concrete

In order to fill the slab of the required level, it is necessary to create a basic formwork. Formwork is usually made from planks. But you must make sure that the structure made is strong and can withstand the weight of the concrete.

When constructing the formwork, you must make sure that it is on the same level. It is important to do it at the same level from all sides. As with most things, you should use zip ties (long straight pieces of wood or metal) to keep concrete surfaces flat.

If your yard is large, a concrete machine can pour concrete directly into the formwork. However, it happens that the truck cannot reach a certain place. And you have to use a 4 ”hose. If so, make sure you pour the concrete as evenly as possible over the entire surface. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to align it.

Remember that in fact, pouring concrete into the formwork with a hose is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. Moreover, the person who is engaged in this operation must have experience of such work. Otherwise, it may get injured during the pouring process.

When pouring the concrete slab, the hose will be very heavy. So you can use the help of friends.

Remember to wear rubber boots and protective gloves, otherwise the concrete can irritate your skin.

Smart Tip: make sure you pour the concrete as evenly as possible so that it is easier to finish the concrete slabs. Usually, if the concrete has correct recipe mixture, you will notice that it tends to flatten out on its own. However, you still need to level the surface.

How to level concrete

You can make a simple concrete leveling tool from a long stick and wooden board... Tip: the board should be 1.2 - 1.5 m wide. But it should not be very heavy. In hot weather, you must hurry. Otherwise, the concrete may dry out and you may not be able to finish the job.

Smart Tip: to level the concrete, you can use a flat-bottomed shovel or a homemade tool. Just lay it down on the concrete, holding it at an angle of 15º from the surface, and begin to pull gently towards you.

Continue pulling the concrete until you have a smooth, beautiful surface. As you can see in the photo, you should definitely wear rubber boots. This will allow you to move to any point on the concrete surface.

Smart Tip: for final finishing you can use a spatula or large brush all over the surface. Just don't push too hard. Otherwise, you risk damaging the concrete.

So, if you follow the tips outlined above, then you will probably be able to do an excellent job with the intended business. But in any case, the help of friends will never be superfluous.