Before Work Commences

The job officially begins when you, the client, contact us.  Any decent concreter knows that only an onsite inspection can really provide enough evidence and information for future work on that site and they will try to meet and discuss with the client what exactly it is they want, the various options available and maybe even do a quick measure up to find out the amount of volume involved.

A rough quote may be provided on site but normally the concreter will return to the office (or home) and calculate a more accurate quote or quotes.  We say quotes, plural, because normally there will be a number of options that vary the final price, mainly the thickness of slab desired and any different elements to its finishing.

Once the client agrees to the work involved and the price, another quick inspection may take place to conduct a proper measure up and to better understand the lay of the land.

Preparation Work

Concrete Arrives

When the concreter next arrives, it will mostly be with some other workers, ready to do the excavation stage.  This is normally the most noisiest of the days as it will involve machines used to dig and excavate the area where the cement will go.  Where machines can’t be use, trenches and channels will be dug via hand using shovels.  Rock breaking equipment may also be required where there is rocks and other hard materials.

Once the area is dug out, the template and form work of the future slab or pad must be prepared.  This involves setting up side barriers and putting any steel frame work that will support the slab in the centre.  We then pray for good weather.

The above can mostly occur on the same day for the average sixed slab, larger jobs and bad weather may cause the earthwork stage to blow out over numerous days however if all goes to plan, the next time you will see your concrete contractor is when the concrete truck is ready to pull up.  They will arrange for the slurry from the truck to be poured into the mould before using tools to spread it to every corner, ensuring that each edge has sufficiently been filled and has complete contact.

More tools will be used to ensure the that the future slab is even and level as needed, and slowly it is worked and refined until a smooth, flat, even surface it obtained.  The concreter will than work at finishing the slab to the surface required which may take some time.  Water seepage and settling may mean that it needs to be reworked consistently through the day for best results but eventually the desired affect will be achieved and the most important thing will be keeping people off.

The concreter will return once more to ensure that the formwork is removed and can even cut away excess edges if required.