What Do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.

Other tasks include:

• 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.

We asked Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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57% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process. They spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.

A typical day for a Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher will also include:

• Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
• 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.
• Mix cement, sand, and water to produce concrete, grout, or slurry, using hoe, trowel, tamper, scraper, or concrete-mixing machine.

We asked some Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	38% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	30% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	52% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	42% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers also install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete or pattern or stamp the surface to provide a decorative finish. They may also cut out damaged areas, drill holes for reinforcing rods, and position reinforcing rods to repair concrete, using power saw and drill.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Push roller over surface to embed chips in surface. They might also Build wooden molds, and clamp molds around area to be repaired, using hand tools.

In addition, they Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Operate power vibrator to compact concrete.

To some Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers, it is also their responsibility to Sprinkle colored marble or stone chips, powdered steel, or coloring powder over surface to produce prescribed finish.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/brickmasons-blockmasons-and-stonemasons.htm

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