Why does magnesium float for concrete? Magnesium smooths the surface of fresh concrete and opens the pores for proper evaporation, all without pulling the surface like a wood or resin tool. Most magnesium floats are extruded or cast. Molten magnesium can be cast into any shape desired. Click to see full answer.
What is a PRO GRIP magnesium concrete concrete float?
Goldblatt PRO Grip Magnesium Concrete Floats are made from high-grade magnesium with the “pre-broken-in” design that their finishing tools are known for. PRO Grip mag floats are available in three blade styles. The handles, designed in conjunction with a panel of professional finishers, are also ergonomically shaped.
What are magnesium floats?
Magnesium smooths the surface of fresh concrete and opens the pores for proper evaporation, all without pulling the surface like a wood or resin tool. Most magnesium floats are extruded or cast. Extruded floats are made by pushing molten magnesium through a die (think Play-Doh), so the floats are the same profile from end to end.
What is the purpose of floating in concrete?
Floating has to be done on virtually every concrete job after concrete is poured and leveled. (Leveling is usually accomplished with a screed.) When done properly, floating pushes the aggregate down into the concrete and encourages moisture to rise, helping the concrete dry and creating a smoother surface.
What happens if you put a wood float on concrete?
Because a wood float constantly soaks up bleed water, is dragged over a rough concrete surface, and is hosed down after use, it loses its edge over time. This creates a rough, fuzzed-up surface that pulls and drags at the surface of the concrete rather than smoothing it.
Do I need a magnesium float for concrete?
Once your top is flat from screeding, use a magnesium float to flatten and smooth the top while opening the pores of the fresh concrete, allowing bleed water to evaporate and air to escape. Once the concrete is firm enough and all bleed water has evaporated, use a steel trowel for your final finish.
Can you finish concrete with a magnesium float?
Magnesium floats slide easily across the concrete requiring less effort, and produce a better finish. While floating hold the float flat while sweeping it across the surface in an arc.
Why are floats made of magnesium?
While hand floats are primarily available in wood and magnesium, the most popular are made of magnesium. This is because magnesium floats are extremely durable and easily slide across the surface. Wood floats are rougher and typically limited to floating non-air-entrained and high-slump concretes.
Why do you float concrete?
A concrete float is a tool used to finish a concrete surface by making it smooth. A float is used after the surface has been made level using a screed. In addition to removing surface imperfections, floating will compact the concrete as preparation for further steps.
How long after pouring concrete can you float it?
Allow all of the water to disappear before you do anything else. This can take 20 minutes or 4 hours depending on the temperature, humidity and how hard the wind is blowing. After the bleed water is all gone you can get out your steel finishing trowel and put on the final touches.
Do you need a bull float for concrete?
A bull float is used to level and smooth freshly poured concrete. Concrete used for visible projects, such as driveways, patios and sidewalks, often requires finishing. Finishing is a process that gives a concrete surface the desired smoothness, texture and durability.
How do you make concrete floats?
The typical concrete mix designer for use as a building material is sand, aggregate stone and cement mixed with water. In place of gravel or sand, mix in fine glass beads. The beads are strong but much lighter than sand and stone. The glass beads are about 10% the density of water which helps the concrete float.
What is Devil float?
A devil float, also known as hand float, contains nails that slightly stick out at one end and is used to roughen the surface of plaster to provide a key for the next coat. It can also be used to get rid of any bumps.
What is the purpose of troweling concrete?
Trowel Finishing Concrete This type of concrete finishing equipment is used to create a polished, level finish on a variety of concrete surfaces. Floating, finishing, and combination blades are used to create the desired end result.
What is the difference between a float and a trowel?
What's available: Steel trowels look similar to hand floats, except the blades are thinner and the handles are open rather than closed. The key difference among tools is the type of steel used for the blade. The most common types are blue, stainless, and high-carbon steel.
How do you use a magnesium bull float?
1:262:47Bull Floats - Finishing Tips for Concrete - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you are using a concrete with air the mag. Float is a great tool to use let's take a look atMoreSo if you are using a concrete with air the mag. Float is a great tool to use let's take a look at how they're used. As. We talked about one of the most important tools in the finishing.
When should you Powerfloat?
A rough guide for considering when to begin power floating is when walking on the surface leaves indentations of 3-4 mm. If the concrete is too wet the machine will tear up the surface, and if it is too dry, it will not be possible to trim high spots or fill low spots effectively.
What is the difference between a float and a trowel?
What's available: Steel trowels look similar to hand floats, except the blades are thinner and the handles are open rather than closed. The key difference among tools is the type of steel used for the blade. The most common types are blue, stainless, and high-carbon steel.
How do you finish concrete?
HOW TO FINISH CONCRETESpread the concrete. Use a square shovel or a come-along tool to push and pull the wet concrete into place.Screed the concrete. During this step remove excess concrete and bring the surface of the concrete to proper grade. ... Float the surface. ... Edge the slab. ... Groove in joints. ... Trowel the surface.
What is the difference between a Fresno and a bull float?
What it is: The fresno may look similar to the bull float, but its blade is made of tempered or “blue” steel. The fresno should only be used following the bull float. Purpose: The fresno is applied after the bull float to better seal the surface of the slab. Size: Approximately 6” x 36” but sizes do vary.
What are the uses of Portland cement?
Basic use. Use Portland Cement in concrete for bridges, walls, culverts, floors, pavements, sidewalks, pipe, railway structures, reinforced concrete buildings, tanks and reservoirs, as well as for masonry units and other precast products.
How are magnesium floats made?
Extruded floats are made by pushing molten magnesium through a die (think Play-Doh), so the floats are the same profile from end to end. Molten magnesium can be cast into any shape desired.
Why does wood float on concrete?
Because a wood float constantly soaks up bleed water, is dragged over a rough concrete surface, and is hosed down after use, it loses its edge over time. This creates a rough, fuzzed-up surface that pulls and drags at the surface of the concrete rather than smoothing it.
What is the best material to use for a concrete float?
Magnesium. Although they are slightly weaker than their aluminum counterparts, magnesium floats are lighter and are the most popular choice among professionals. Magnesium smooths the surface of fresh concrete and opens the pores for proper evaporation, all without pulling the surface like a wood or resin tool.
What is a bull float?
A bull float is used to smooth 95% of a slab, but it has a tendency either to pull a small amount of concrete away from the edges of the slab or to push concrete toward the edge. A hand float is used to level and smooth these areas so that they match the rest of the slab. Floats also can be used around obstacles, such as pipes and drains, ...
What is a laminated resin float?
Laminated-canvas resin floats have an extremely dense “waffle” surface that gives the concrete the same slightly rough texture as a wood float. The advantage to paying twice the cost of a wood float is that you get a much more durable tool. Canvas resin doesn’t soak up water, so it won’t fuzz up after repeated use on wet concrete ...
Can you use a hand float on concrete?
Floats also can be used around obstacles, such as pipes and drains, where more precision is needed. Learning how to use a hand float correctly will take some practice, but the techniques can be used on any concrete job. Walkways, patios, and interior work all benefit. First, however, is knowing what type of hand float to use.
Can you use wood shake on color hardener on concrete?
This effect sometimes can be useful, especially when working with really stiff concrete or concrete that is setting up too hard. Wood also is preferred when applying shake-on color hardeners, which need to be worked into the top surface of the slab.
What is floating concrete?
Floating has to be done on virtually every concrete job after concrete is poured and leveled. (Leveling is usually accomplished with a screed.) When done properly, floating pushes the aggregate down into the concrete and encourages moisture to rise, helping the concrete dry and creating a smoother surface.
What is a mag float?
A mag float is simply a flat piece of magnesium or aluminum attached to a handle. The tool allows the user to float concrete at his or her desired pressure and angle. Mag floats are also available in a wide range of lengths and widths. Handles are also increasingly being designed with user comfort in mind.
What is magnesium option?
Magnesium options offer a way to essentially screed and float in one step – as the concrete is placed, the operator pulls the float along the surface of the material (screeding) and the magnesium blade leaves a smooth (floated) surface.
What is a screed float?
Screed floats are designed as a two-in-one application for large concrete pours. They are typically feature a float attached to a motor with handles. Additionally, attachments are offered in a variety of sizes and materials. Magnesium options offer a way to essentially screed and float in one step – as the concrete is placed, the operator pulls the float along the surface of the material (screeding) and the magnesium blade leaves a smooth (floated) surface.
What is the difference between mag and aluminum floats?
As a general rule mag (magnesium) and aluminum floats tend to seal, while wood and resin floats tend to open or bring more paste to the surface of concrete.”. There are floats available for virtually any application, big or small.
What is a wood float for concrete?
Every concrete contractor should have a wood float in his or her toolbox. Wood floats are made of hardwood ( mahogany or teak, for example) to resist wear and warping. Like mag floats, wood floats are also available in an assortment of widths and lengths with a variety of handles of various designs attached in any number of places. Wood floats are particularly useful in those stressful instances in which concrete is setting up too quickly. Wood floats rough up the surface of concrete more than does magnesium, almost forcing moisture to the surface while opening the surface up (or increasing porosity) for surface applications of color, hardener, etc.
How long is a bull float?
This is because these floats consist of a long handle attached to a wood, resin, aluminum or magnesium float. The handle can measure anywhere from 4 feet to 16 feet long.
How do you make concrete floats?
Concrete can be made to float if it is shaped like a boat. A boat-shaped or hollow object will displace a volume of water greater than the actual volume of solid material in the object. The object is said to be “buoyant” when it floats due to low density.
Do you have to use a bull float on concrete?
After pouring the concrete and screeding it level, the bull float is the first tool we use when finishing the slab. The job must be done right after screeding because the concrete will still be wet enough to shape. This keeps the surface smooth without digging the magnesium board into the concrete by accident.
How much does a concrete bull float cost?
Average costs: You’ll pay about $100 to $125 for a 4-foot magnesium bull float with bracket, and $18 for a 14-inch magnesium hand float. The price of wood floats varies, depending on the type of wood used, but will generally be lower than the cost of magnesium.
Can you finish concrete without a bull float?
Fresnos are used for troweling slabs that do not require a hard trowel surface. A Fresnos will speed up the troweling process. Fresnos should not be used as bull floats. Troweling can also be accomplished by machine.
How long do you wait to float concrete?
Allow all of the water to disappear before you do anything else. This can take 20 minutes or 4 hours depending on the temperature, humidity and how hard the wind is blowing. After the bleed water is all gone, you can get out your steel finishing trowel and put on the final touches.
What is the difference between a trowel and a float?
A float has a thicker base than a trowel and is usually made of plastic, sponge, rubber, wood or magnesium – a lightweight pale grey metal. It’s used to even up the surface on plaster or concrete, make it firmer and give whatever texture is required.
What defects can be caused by bull floating too soon?
More often, premature finishing or improper first ( bull floating ) or second floating results in trapping rising bleed water and air below the top surface of the concrete (Image 2). When this occurs, the resulting weak or soft zone below the surface causes the top surface of the concrete to flake or scale off.
