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Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.

What you’d do

  • Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
  • Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
  • Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
  • Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
  • Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
  • Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
  • Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
  • Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.

Skills that matter

  • Monitoring
  • Coordination
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Speaking
  • Time Management
  • Active Listening

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Cement Finisher
  • Cement Mason
  • Concrete Finisher
  • Finisher
  • Concrete Mason
  • Mason

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