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Smoothing concrete with a trowel. How to level a concrete floor: the better to level a floor, a step-by-step leveling process. Trowels - mechanized concrete trowels

Fill scheme.

It is a mixture made from cement (a binder) and water (used as a solvent). Sand and various plasticizers are also added to it, which are additional additives. Marking, cost, type, durability, as well as other indicators depend on them. Concrete, like any other material, will not make itself. To do this, there are special laying tools that can be ordered through the building tools store.

  • manual;
  • electromechanical.

Manual


  1. Leveling (rule).
  2. Carts.
  3. Stackers.

Electromechanical

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Tools and materials

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The main component of the concrete mixture used in construction are different types of cement dissolved in water. It also includes sand and additives that provide plasticity. There are three ways to lay liquid concrete, each requiring different tools and materials.

Traditional construction involves laying by compaction, casting or pressure method. Curing cement is often compacted by vibration. Layers from 15 to 30 centimeters are processed. Depending on the complexity of the design, deep vibrators or vibrating rails are used for this.

Hand tool

The selection of tools for concrete work is carried out taking into account the goals set for the builders. Finishing floors or processing structures of complex shape will require the use of hand tools. This category includes rubber cords for sealing concrete joints, carts for transporting materials around the construction site, a set of rules and separators for individual blocks.

electrical appliances

The use of electromechanical devices powered by a network or fuel can significantly reduce the time of work and the cost of their implementation. Concrete laying methods involve the use of:

  • vibrating rails for smoothing the surface of spilled concrete;
  • large vibratory platforms for leveling large areas;
  • concrete mixers for work with liquid cement mix. Their use gives a homogeneous solution with good density, without lumps and foreign inclusions;
  • automatic smoothing machines for stripping the material and polishing its surface. Such devices are connected to the mains and controlled by a special handle;
  • heat generators that dry the laid concrete and accelerate its hardening.

Formwork laying

Placing the concrete mix in the form and its subsequent excavation are the most important and time-consuming operations in the course of concrete work. Their successful implementation will require special tools and technologies. To smooth the mixture laid in the form, you must use manual rule. For the purpose of compaction, vibrating screeds are used, which can be made of steel or aluminum. For ease of transportation, some rails are made telescopic. The choice of tool length and its design depends on the expected scope of work.

Demolding

Removal of the load-bearing elements of the formwork must be carried out carefully, ensuring its safety for further use. This process carried out after the concrete mixture gains maximum strength.

To facilitate the dismantling process, grinders, drills and grinding devices are used. Standard equipment may not be enough, and therefore concrete drills or special diamond-coated discs are added to them.

To remove large-panel formwork from objects such as walls, foundations and solid arrays, you will need the participation of cranes equipped with special lever fasteners. Before reuse, reusable formwork elements will need to be cleaned of mortar streaks and carefully repaired. Similar actions are performed with the tools involved in concrete work.

techno-concrete.ru

Choosing a tool for concrete work

  • Manual
  • Electromechanical

Concrete is a building material that is indispensable in modern construction.


Fill scheme.

It is a mixture made from cement (a binder) and water (used as a solvent). Sand and various plasticizers are also added to it, which are additional additives. Marking, cost, type, durability, as well as other indicators depend on them. Concrete, like any other material, will not make itself. There are special styling tools for this.

Before proceeding with the selection, it is necessary to carry out all the necessary calculations. First, calculate the parameters of the structure under construction. If this is the foundation of a house, then a drawing of the entire building is required. Secondly, it is necessary to calculate the amount of building material. For example, calculate the amount of concrete and its components for pouring the foundation. Only after that you can say with certainty which one is useful to you. This will help you avoid unnecessary expenses.

So, for laying the mixture you will need special equipment, we will divide it into two types.

  • manual;
  • electromechanical.

Let's consider each variety separately.

Manual

Mortar filling scheme: 1 - Rule, 2 - Rake, 3 - Vibrating screed, I-V - Filling sequence.

The choice depends on the purpose of the work. If you decide to do the styling, various equipment will come in handy. Hand tools are designed and used for jobs that require a certain evenness. This may be laying floors or pouring products of complex shape. Manual includes:

  1. Leveling (rule).
  2. Carts.
  3. Stackers.

Consider a leveling tool for styling. These are rules of different sizes. Their cost is different, from 1000 rubles (1200 mm, weight - 3 kg) to 10,000 rubles. Manual ones include a block separator, the average price of which is 7,500 rubles.

Carts are designed for uniform distribution of the mixture over the object of work. For example, in order to distribute the dry mix over a newly poured floor large sizes. In this case, the cart is needed to evenly apply mixtures and prevent mixing with the top coat. The cost depends on the capacity and manufacturer of the model. The average price is 50,000 rubles. But on the market you can find a “used” cart that is no different from a new one, except for the price.

See also: Setting up a foam generator for foam concrete

Installers use rubber cords to fit the seams in the floor. But this can be done manually, but the process will take longer. It is necessary to lay the seams with rubber cords! This will save you from the problems that shrinkage, temperature changes and stress on the plate bring with them. You will not have cracks in the floor.

Electromechanical

Diagram of a pneumatic mixture blower.

This construction equipment helps to reduce energy costs and time during construction. There are many tools that run on mains or fuel.

Vibrorail is a beam with a length of 2 meters, which is equipped with a vibrator. It is aluminum, sliding, metal. The design is simple: two pipes fastened together and a vibrator (three-phase asynchronous electric motor) attached to them. When smoothing the surface after pouring, a vibrating screed is placed to level the mixture. This tool allows you to quickly cope with a large amount of work. The cost is approximately 40,000 rubles. The price depends on the manufacturer, the length of the beams and the vibration power.

A vibrating platform is also often used. Its cost is slightly higher, since it can be used to level roads and large objects.

For filling use a distributor (tractor). This machine allows you not to manually carry buckets with the mixture, but simply load it from the mixer into the basket of the machine or distribute the solution around the perimeter of the surface using a concrete chute. The machine moves on any surfaces (reinforcement, floors) on which the mixture can be laid. Average load capacity 400 kg.

A concrete mixer is an option that you cannot do without. In order to hammer a solution of cement and water, you must purchase this equipment. The solution must be homogeneous and well mixed. Otherwise, lumps will form, which will not allow the mixture to be evenly distributed over the surface.

The smoothing machine is made for stripping and giving evenness to the surface. It is applied after use of vibrolaths on the big areas. The tool works from a network 380V. It is a drive that is started from electrical equipment and controlled by a handle. Refers to trowel grinders. The approximate cost is 100,000 rubles.

For large rooms, heat generators are often used. They dry the wet surface. Thus, they help to quickly move on to grouting the mixture.

If you have ready-made blocks or a flooded dried concrete floor, then for further action you will need grinders, grinders and drills. For this, it will be necessary to buy special nozzles: diamond discs and drills. The disc is designed for cutting and its choice depends on the model of the grinder. For a perforator, choose a drill, it is useful for drilling holes (reinforced concrete). For example, you need to wire to panel house. For a recess in the wall, it is required to cut off a layer of the mixture with a grinder.

There are not many complexities in the tool for work. Anyone interested in it can deal with this equipment.

Page 2
  • Reinforcement
  • Manufacturing
  • Tools
  • Mounting
  • Calculation
  • Repair

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concrete rule and trowel

When concreting and plastering, it is very difficult to achieve a perfectly flat surface, so the craftsmen use the rule when performing these works. Initially, the rule was intended to check the absence of defects on various planes. However, it is also used for other purposes.

What is a rule

The name of the tool comes, most likely, from the term "correctly". This tool allows you to perform construction work correctly and avoid mistakes. What does he represent? The rule has the form of a perfectly even ruler, with the help of which flaws are found on a plane.

Purpose of the rule:

  • leveling the solution along the beacons (guides);
  • checking the accuracy of applying a layer of solution on beacons;
  • leveling surfaces over long distances.

For small concrete work, the usual plastering rule is quite suitable.

The rule could be:

  • wooden;
  • metallic.

How are these two types different? Theoretically, these tools are completely identical - even slats. But the metal rule is more practical. As you know, any mortar is brought to readiness with water, and the tree absorbs moisture. Therefore, the wooden guide, after drying, often loses its shape and becomes arched. And this leads to the fact that the edges of the rule during operation do not adhere tightly to the surface.

A metal tool does not have such a drawback. The shape of its guide remains unchanged. Mostly aluminum is used for their manufacture. Such a tool does not rust, has a light and durable design, long service life. The cross section of the guide can be square, rectangular or trapezoidal.

Criterias of choice

When choosing a rule, you should pay attention to the presence of stiffeners. One of the ribs should be outside. Usually it has the form of a semicircular groove on the outside of the tool. The remaining ribs may be located on the inner surface of the guide. The more stiffeners a rule has, the longer it will last. Such a tool will not bend or break if accidentally dropped. In addition, the rule should have additional nozzles (plugs) along the edges of the guide. These nozzles will protect the inner profile of the tool from the ingress of building solutions during operation.

Application area

In addition to plastering, the rule is used for:

  • styling tiles. When performing this work, it is necessary to carefully observe the vertical and horizontal surfaces;
  • application of elastic soft putties. The rule for plaster in this case is used as a large spatula;
  • ceiling devices. It is with the help of this tool that you can get a perfectly flat ceiling surface;
  • tie-down devices. The rule is a very handy tool for leveling the mortar on the floor surface.

For standard concrete work, the rule should be stronger and more rigid than its plaster version.

The rule can be of different lengths:

  • 1 meter;
  • 1.5 meters;
  • 2 meters;
  • 2.5 meters.

Models of greater length do not make sense to produce, since even the 2.5 m rule is already quite difficult to use alone. Although a professional should have all instrument models in his arsenal: from the shortest to the longest.

Difficulties of choice

Now aluminum rules are sold in almost any hardware store. His purchase is unlikely to cause a big blow to the family budget, since the prices for the rules are quite low. But the problem of choice always remains relevant.

For beginners, it is better to use the 1-1.5-meter rule. It will be difficult for a beginner to work with a longer one. Two people are required to work with a rule 2-3 meters long. Therefore, to repair your home, it is better to purchase short rules that are easy and convenient to work with.

To align vertical and horizontal surfaces with beacons, it is better to use a rule with a level. The advantage of such a tool is that during operation you do not have to constantly juggle the level and the rule, checking the evenness of the surface and the correct installation of the beacons.

DIY tool

Rules longer than three meters are mainly used for leveling concrete surfaces. The rule for concrete has the form of a narrow long rail. It can be used for leveling both horizontal and vertical surfaces. Two operators should perform work with such a hand tool. To level concrete, the rule should be carried out along the beacons with vibrating movements, gradually leveling the surface.

Some try to build a rule for concrete with their own hands from improvised materials. In this case, a handle is screwed to an even long wooden beam with a screw. The edges of the wooden beam should be straight and parallel to each other. This can be achieved using a manual planer, but it is better to use a planer or planer. To facilitate the construction, holes with a diameter of at least 40 mm and an interval of 900 mm are drilled along the axis of the rule. It is recommended to periodically check the homemade rule for straightness.

Wooden homemade rules should be properly impregnated for water resistance, for example, with drying oil

Mastery Secrets

When using a long rule, beacons can be installed less often, which saves time repair work.

A long rule can level a large area in one pass, but such work is harder to do, since more mortar is used.

The working plane of the aluminum rule grinds over time, so it ceases to be perfectly flat. To get rid of this, you can simply cut off uneven places. The method, of course, is rather rough, but if there is no other way out, then it can be used.

Tools for smoothing concrete

The concrete surface can be leveled with different ways even after the concrete has hardened. But in order to prevent accidental destruction of the surface and spend a minimum of time and effort in the future, it is better to pay attention to this moment initially. That is why for leveling concrete surfaces it is recommended to use hand tool made from lightweight material.

Concrete trowels

After working as a rule, ridges remain on the surface, which can be removed with a trowel. Finish with trowels concrete works. The use of this tool contributes to the formation of "cement milk" on the concrete surface - a mixture of cement, a small amount sand and water. Thanks to this, the top layer of concrete is freed from large aggregates (gravel, crushed stone, etc.) and after hardening it can be sanded if necessary.

DIY ironing board

Usually do-it-yourself concrete trowels are made from softwood beams. Their length is 5-6 meters, and the section size is 225x38 mm. Handles are attached to both ends of the trowels, which make it easier to control them while leveling the concrete surface. In the case when a concrete slab is poured between brick sides or into a side formwork, the float must rest with both ends on the side or formwork, that is, it must be long enough.

Working methods

Even after concrete has been poured with a vibratory paver, it is useful to walk over the surface with a trowel, especially if the surface is to be sanded later.

When pouring concrete, the trowel is held by the handles by two people and the concrete is compacted by moving the tool in zigzags along the surface to be treated. The most even surface can be achieved by working with the trowel alternately in two mutually perpendicular directions.

Branded trowels are made of aluminum or any other extruded alloy. Therefore, they are quite light and maneuverable. The trowels have rounded edges, allowing you to smoothly change the angle of the guide. Thanks to this tool design, you can get a surface with a minimum amount of roughness.

The concrete trowel, which can now be bought with a guide of various configurations, is a very durable and ergonomic tool. When choosing a trowel in a store, you should pay attention to its physical parameters (width and length) and the composition of the material from which it is made. It is best to choose products from a trusted brand.

Scraper trowels

When leveling concrete surfaces, special scraper trowels are also used. With their help, excess water or concrete milk is removed from the leveled surface. Usually scrapers with blades are sold complete with a spatula. All main parts of the scraper trowel are made of durable and lightweight aluminum alloys. This trowel helps eliminate bumps and fill in depressions on the surface of concrete pavements during pouring. This equipment allows you to ultimately achieve the most even surface.

Techniques for working with a do-it-yourself ironer are clear from the video:

The concrete trowel is designed to smooth the cement composition on the surface of the wall, floor and ceiling. It allows you to make a flat plane in a matter of minutes. In addition to leveling walls, it is often used in the pouring process. floor covering and laying mortar.

Varieties of construction tools

There are the following types of building trowels. Each model has characteristic differences and scope in the course of finishing work. These include:

  • channel (toothed);
  • scraper (plaster);
  • trowel (plastic).



The toothed trowel has small protrusions in the form of teeth on the inside. It provides a uniform distribution of the concrete composition on the plane of the wall. This type is intended for finishing bathrooms and bathrooms.

In addition to the cement composition, construction glue is applied with such a trowel. The equipment is made of high-strength metal alloys. The teeth are made of stainless steel.

The plaster trowel is intended to create a decorative surface. It is made from metal. On the inside, there are multiple protrusions and grooves that mimic the irregularities on the surface of the walls and ceiling. The length of the handle reaches 5 m. The design has a swivel mechanism. It provides the desired angle of inclination during operation.

Plastic trowels are used to level the cement layer. They are made from thick plastic. It provides the minimum weight and maneuverability of the tool in the course of work. The width of such equipment reaches from 50 to 150 cm. The set includes interchangeable handles with adjustable height.

Putty trowels are made for dense steel. On the outside of the equipment there is a wide handle. This type of finishing tool is light in weight.

The trowel is able to penetrate into the most remote corners of the stone plane. It evenly distributes the composition on the surface of the walls and ceiling. The size of the product reaches from 50 to 200 cm.

How to work with an ironer?

Before proceeding with the alignment process, it is recommended that the following criteria be met. They include a strict frequency of actions. These include:

Choosing the right tool. For this, special attention must be paid to the material from which the base is made. construction equipment. In the photo, the ironers are presented modern models building tool.

The metal base must not bend under mechanical stress. The denser the base, the smoother the plane will be. The height of the handle should have several levels. This will ensure the quality of the finishing process.



Grater size. In the selection process, you need to pay attention to the width and length of the tool. The base should be slightly larger than the cultivated area. This will help reduce the size of the joints when leveling drywall walls.

Serpyanka fixing. This element is intended for sealing seams and joints. It is a plastic tape with many through holes. It provides even corners in space and tight fixation of the seams between drywall sheets.

In order to fix it on the plane of the wall, it is necessary to measure the required distance at which this material will be fixed in the future. Next, the sickle is cut off and fixed with the help of a building compound.

Excess mixture is polished with a plastic trowel. It removes the remnants of putty, thereby forming the desired angle.

Sealing the received seams. When the sickle is completely dry, they proceed to the finishing of the seams and joints. Here you will need a putty trowel. It has a compact size and has good maneuverability in the process of movement.





Not a large number of building composition is applied to a metal spatula. The applied layer is carefully polished with a trowel until a smooth surface is obtained.

If small flaws have formed on the plane, it is leveled to the desired result. It is necessary to work with the putty mixture quickly. It freezes in minutes. You can remove the superimposed layer by soaking. For this inner part trowels are abundantly moistened with water.

Photo trowels for concrete

The use of a professional correction tool when laying screeds from a concrete solution eliminates the risk of accumulation of excess moisture on the surface, eliminates the smallest irregularities and strengthens the coating by removing the upper fragile layer of cement laitance. The trowels are used at different stages of the mixture solidification by themselves or after the passage of vibratory compactors, the effect of such processing is always positive. At limited budget or for one-time purposes, they can be made on their own.

The main purpose is to work with movable freshly poured bases for the purpose of primary distribution, leveling and improving the quality of the resulting plane. Additional functions include the removal of laitance and excess moisture and the correction of already slightly cured mortar. Structurally, it resembles a mop on a long pipe, the dimensions of the handle and the rules determine the area covered in one go. Designs for domestic purposes are suitable for rooms with a length of up to 7 m, professional factory models usually have a convenient telescopic handle that expands from 3 to 6 m and have the ability to connect sections.

Smooth movement is ensured by slightly rounded edges and a smooth surface of the working part, which in turn looks like a long and narrow ruler. The standard profile length varies from 1 m to 3 s in steps of 50 cm, width - from 80 to 100 mm. The thickness of such a ruler for factory aluminum products is 0.8-1.1 mm. The most reliable ones have additional stiffness profiles, but not more than 2. Long models are equipped with two conventional or telescopic handles and are moved by the joint actions of two people. Such a smoother is driven in zigzags, the best results are achieved with two profile passes in mutually perpendicular directions.

Suggested varieties

Depending on the functions performed and the profile, they are divided into channel and scraper. The former are intended for smoothing and easy correction of the concrete screed in its plastic state, this group includes types with the ability to adjust the blade angle. After their passage, no laitance is formed and the number of protrusions and depressions is minimized. The desired effect is achieved exclusively when processing a freshly laid mixture that has not lost its plasticity.

Scraper types are used to eliminate irregularities on the already hardening mortar (1-3 hours after pouring) and to control the level. They remove the cement milk protruding on the surface and remove excess moisture. The working elements of such trowels are made of special aluminum, their design is more rigid than that of floating channel trowels. Some manufacturers implement the rules with interchangeable nozzles, that is, with an included scraper in the kit. The use of such equipment makes it possible to achieve optimal results and coordinate the smoothing process over time.

Depending on the type of material, this tool is divided into wood and aluminum. The former are more common among home-made ones and cope quite well with their functions. During their operation, the ability of wood to deform when wet is taken into account, the working part needs periodic monitoring for distortion. Ignoring drying after contact with concrete mortar leads to bending or dips on the blade, which is unacceptable, in general, their service life is limited. In order to extend it, all wooden elements are treated with hydrophobic compounds; protection requires periodic updating.

Aluminum varieties have a long service life, but are much more expensive. The range includes trowels with telescopic handles and a variety of blade edge shapes: rectangular, square, trapezoidal or rounded, the rule profile is double. Most have built-in bubble levels to make smoothing the screed easier. It is recommended to buy when planning a large amount of work or multiple use, it is not suitable for one-time purposes due to the high cost. In addition to aluminum, light and alkali-resistant extrusion alloys can also be selected for fabrication.

Alignment Technology

These features are taken into account when planning actions: for the primary distribution, you need to purchase or make your own smoother for moving concrete, ideally with a hinged pipe. In small rooms, this tool is used after rubbing the mixture with a beacon rule or with the simultaneous operation of two devices. In any case, the motion vector will be common - from the corner to the exit, but the grouting of the layers will be perpendicular. This technique will eliminate voids and irregularities.

An ideal screed is obtained by smoothing compositions with plasticizers in two overlapping directions. But if such actions are impossible, one should not contrive, one should not walk on a leveled surface. It is important to remember about the viability of concrete and the influence of foreign impurities on this indicator. The introduction of plasticizers improves the mobility of the mixture at first, but can accelerate its setting time. If the moment is missed, the effect of the use of ring options is sharply reduced. The final quality of the plane is also affected by the size of the fractions of the components: the smaller they are, the more accurately the screed is laid.

It should be remembered that the device should not be buried in concrete; all movements must be smooth and coordinated. Guides help to avoid mistakes, a slight increase in the cost of the screed when placing them definitely pays off. The step of the beacons depends on the length of the working part, it is desirable that it be 30-40 cm less than this indicator. This tool is also used in finishing, the rules are generally unchanged.

How to make a do-it-yourself ironing board?

The simplest material for homemade levelers is softwood: it has affordable price and is easily processed. The working part is made of a board or a bar with a width of 13 cm and a thickness of 30 mm. The length is selected based on the planned tasks, taking into account the heavy weight and area restrictions for private purposes, the optimal range is 1-1.5 m. The handle is made from the same bar with a cross section of 40 × 40 mm, or from a pipe welded to a metal plate. Thinner strips (25x25 or 35x35 mm) are used as reinforcing struts. You will need wood screws, sandpaper and water-repellent impregnation.

Homemade wooden spatula for concrete screeds produced according to the following scheme:

  1. All elements are processed with a planer and carefully polished with sandpaper. The smoother the timber, the better, deviations are unacceptable. It is recommended to round the corners of the future handle.
  2. The lower end of the handle is cut at an angle of 60 ° and screwed to the working part using self-tapping screws. It is extremely difficult to make a floating rail for concrete yourself, this will require a hinge system and certain turning skills, most wooden homemade products have a rigid mount.
  3. The fastening of the handle is reinforced on both sides with a bar-strut.
  4. All wooden structures treated with antiseptic and hydrophobic impregnation, if necessary - twice.

With a rule length of more than 1 m, it is recommended to make 2 handles, with appropriate spacers on both sides. Maximum allowable length handles improvised designs is 4-6 m, while it is necessary to take into account the inevitable increase in weight with an increase in the size of the trowel and the risks of its immersion in concrete solution. To reduce it to wooden beam it is possible to drill holes, but not in places where forces fit and with a diameter of not more than 4 cm (with a width of 13 cm). Alternative option is a pipe welded to the finished aluminum rule, but for its implementation it is necessary welding machine. By analogy with factory products, a bubble level can be attached to the surface of such homemade products, while not forgetting the obligatory check of the evenness of the device itself.

The simplest wooden blanks are made right on the site and thrown away at the end of the work. They do not perform scraper functions. It should also be remembered that due to the high weight of the material, their dimensions are limited. With a length of more than 3 m, 2 people will be needed to move them, even if there are 2 handles. Homemade products help to quickly and relatively accurately level the screed, but with high requirements for smoothness, it is better to buy professional correction trowels. The most comfortable and light products are recognized with drilled holes, protected from the ingress of the solution by polymer plugs. This equipment is provided for rent, the cost of such services is considered affordable.

Articles

Such a hand tool as a trowel cannot be described 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: in order to smooth the surface, this building device is intended. Of course, there are a fairly large number of tools that qualify by this term, but, as a rule, they perform completely different tasks and even not construction ones at all. But let's get back 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 setting the solution, 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 to come to the surface of the screed. Further, with the help of our tool, we can remove this moisture. Of course, this is entirely the merit of the device itself, thought out to the smallest detail.

In fact, the device of this tool is quite simple, usually it is a pen, in all respects similar to a pen. It can also be solid, according to the principle of a trowel device. In both cases, the convenience of one or another option depends on the skill of the builder himself. The handle is fixed to a metal plate by means of spot welding, which plays the role of a working smoothing surface.

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

When pouring concrete over a large square, using a tool of this configuration is a must, and here are some of the performance features that help the master perform the tasks.

  1. A wide working surface, due to which, while working with concretes and mortars, it is possible to process a significant surface area at once. As a result, we get better alignment and a minimum of irregularities.
  2. Handle length: the telescopic design of the working handle can in some cases reach 12 meters, which makes it possible to process large volumes of laid concrete in large areas. In production, this significantly speeds up the process of pouring concrete on the floor surface.
  3. Scraper function: such a 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 can no longer get into after pouring the concrete. But with the help of this device, this task becomes completely solvable.
  4. The material from which the trowel is made: as a rule, it is stainless steel, which does not lend itself to corrosion, respectively, 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 extends 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 improvised materials, most often, wood is used for these purposes.

It is impossible not to mention one more very promising model of this tool: a metal trowel has firmly occupied a niche in finishing work. 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 putty on the ceiling, such a similarity of a spatula greatly facilitates the process and reduces material consumption. The principle of applying putty with our ironing tool is quite simple: apply the mixture along the entire length of the work surface and then evenly stretch it over the surface of the ceiling, 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 beginners: “In order for the surface to turn out to be even, you need a spherical float!” 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 in professional slang call a spatula-trowel. 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 appearance this is perhaps the same one, only with a metal work surface. Wide application she received when finishing with drywall, namely during the sealing of the joints of the plasterboard. Let's take a step-by-step look at the whole process and the rules for working with such a grater.

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

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

All this is very often impossible to achieve without additional installation work. 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 properly level it.

This requires specially made by hand or ready-to-use mixtures that can be bought at hardware stores. But, in order to achieve what you want, these mixtures alone will not be enough - you also need special equipment, a trowel.

Stroking device

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

The so-called do-it-yourself trowel for leveling happens different types. Such equipment is used for minor floor correction - leveling, by adjusting the smoothing angle. The trowel for private use is suitable for work 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 sociable and easy to use.

Leveling the surface with your own hands is sometimes impossible without first using a special scraper trowel or, as it is also called, a scraper trowel. It is she who allows you to remove excess water and concrete milk from the surface. Usually such scrapers with blades come with a trowel. And this dual equipment allows, ultimately, with proper use, to 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.

smoothing

Alignment scheme.

You can level 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 solution that has not yet solidified, when it is poured. It is for these cases that it is recommended to use hand-held compact equipment made of lightweight material specifically for working with freshly laid mortar.

This equipment is used only after vibration treatment has been carried out. The control rail will help to remove and smooth out all the bumps on the still plastic surface. And the corrective rail will help not only to correct the deformation, but also to fill in the depressions with high quality. This device, even at the stage of fresh concrete, will allow you to get results that will greatly speed up the process of completely leveling the surface with special tools.

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

Features of smoothing

Smoothing scheme

The hand trowel moves over the surface at the required distance. To vibrate the profile, the handle of the device is shaken in 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. With a high mobility of the mixture between the trowel and the surface, adhesion occurs. It increases if fine silica is added to the concrete, in which case too much adhesion can cause the laid concrete to move, which is unacceptable, as it can lead to a change in the established coating height. To prevent this and to achieve the most even surface, smoothing is carried out in two directions at right angles to each other.

Smoothers can be used for do-it-yourself leveling with varying degrees of mobility, but in any case, it should be such that the smoother does not sink into 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.

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