Question: How To Make A Bull Float For Concrete?

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.

Why does magnesium float on 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.

How soon can you finish concrete after pouring it?

It’ll soon reabsorb into the concrete. However, it’s critical to wait until it disappears. Working the concrete before the surface “bleed” water disappears will weaken the surface of the slab when it dries. When all traces of the water are gone and the concrete starts to harden, you can resume finishing activities.

How do you get a good finish on concrete?

Here are the steps for finishing a concrete slab:

1. Spread the concrete. Use a square shovel or a come-along tool to push and pull the wet concrete into place.
2. Screed the concrete.
3. Float the surface.
4. Edge the slab.
5. Groove in joints.
6. Trowel the surface.

What is the difference between a Fresno and a bull float?

A fresno is a large, long-handled trowel that looks similar to a bull float, except the blade is made of tempered or “blue” steel. In fact, most manufacturers refer to a fresno as a fresno trowel. Just like a steel trowel, only use a fresno after the surface has been floated with a wood or magnesium float.

What tool do you use to smooth concrete?

Screeds are long, straight, stiff tubing or boards used to smooth and roughly level wet concrete shortly after it is poured. Screeds are available in different sizes and can even be project-specific, such as those used for building concrete bridges.