Job Cement Masons Essay, Research Paper

THE JOB

CEMENT MASONS pour, smooth and finish concrete surfaces such as floors,

walls, sidewalks and curbs using hand and power tools. Their work

encompasses such small projects as backyard patios to large jobs such as

concrete highways.

Before concrete is poured, Cement Masons (also called cement finishers)

check the forms (which hold the concrete) to see that they are properly

constructed. During the pour, laborers spread the concrete to the desired

depth, using shovels and rakes. On small jobs, the Cement Masons may mix

or direct the mixing of the concrete and also pour and spread the concrete.

Cement Masons level, smooth, finish and shape the concrete surfaces, using a

variety of hand tools such as straightedges, tamps, floats and trowels.

Power trowels may be used on large-scale projects, but corners, edges and

hard-to-reach places must still be finished by hand. In some projects,

machines are used in the leveling and troweling process. Masons mold joints

and edges, using hand tools such as edgers, jointers and straightedges.

They remove rough spots from surfaces with power grinders, hammers and

chisels and patch holes with a fresh cement mixture. Cement Masons can

create desired textures and colors using a variety of brushes, belts,

coloring powders and terrazzo (marble) chips. Crew leaders may also direct

the preliminary work such as setting forms or grading soil. Cement Masons

must be familiar with the characteristics of various cements and concrete

mixes and be knowledgeable of the effects of weather upon the curing of

concrete.