Trade Programs: Concrete Finisher

For more information about this trade, contact the training co-ordinator.

What does a Concrete Finisher do?

Concrete finishers work with one of the most common and durable materials used in construction jobs. Their duties on site may include ordering, placing, finishing, protecting, restoring and repairing concrete in projects that vary from bridge span decks and hydro-electric generating stations to industrial floors and street pavement.

Concrete finishers place and finish concrete on many different types of residential, industrial and commercial projects. This may include floors, walls, driveways, sidewalks, plus street, highway and airport pavements. They work with and prepare a variety of concrete materials and finishes to meet final specifications. Workers may also be involved in estimating concrete quantities and in making the arrangements for ordering and delivery of the product.

Concrete finishers must possess a sound knowledge of the properties of concrete and understand the various types of concrete mixes and how these mixes affect concrete strength, setting and curing times as well as finish and durability. Finishes can be trowelled for a smooth finish, brushed to create a coarse, nonskid finish, embedded with gravel chips for an exposed aggregate finish, patterned or stamped for a decorative surface or floated with a special dry shake to create a coloured surface.

For large areas, such as warehouses, much of the finishing work is now mechanized with laser-guided or power screeds, power floats and trowels and mechanical vibrators and pumps which minimize the demands for manual labour on the job. Skill with a hand trowel is, however, still the mark of a skilled finisher.

After completing apprenticeship training, a certified concrete finisher is qualified to:

• prepare the worksite for concrete
• place plastic concrete into forms and spread it to a specified depth
• level and straighten the surface, provide a floated, trowelled or textured surface as specified, cut joints to control cracking
• operate machines that speed production and semi-automate the placing and finishing process
• cure and protect concrete surfaces
• properly use dry pack grouting, epoxy coating and other specialty materials
• install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other inserts in freshly placed concrete
• install specialty concrete and apply architectural surface treatments such as hardeners, colouring, textures or patterns
• saw, cut, or core drill existing concrete
• restore concrete surfaces and repair, resurface and replace damaged sections of floors, walls, pavements and other concrete structures

What skills/abilities are required?

Concrete finishers often work with other tradespeople including carpenters, plumbers and electricians on a construction team, so good interpersonal as well as technical skills are important. While other tradespeople may prepare the sub-base for concrete, prepare and place the reinforcing material and place the formwork, it is the concrete finisher's responsibility to inspect this work to ensure that it is ready to receive the concrete.

Concrete finishers must also be well organized and prepared to place and finish concrete as it is delivered and as it sets. These jobs require a high degree of accuracy, and experienced finishers must be able to "read" concrete as it sets and apply the appropriate finishing technique at the appropriate time.

Concrete work is most rewarding for those who enjoy physical exercise, working with their hands and taking pride in seeing the results of their work. Workers also require good vision, hand-eye coordination, spatial perception and an ability to estimate size and dimensions. Artistic skills are a strong asset for much of this work.

How long is the apprenticeship program?

Training to become a certified concrete finisher consists of three years consisting of two levels. Practical and technical training is a minimum of 1200 hours per level. About 80 per cent of the time is spent learning practical on-the-job skills under the supervision of a certified journeyperson and 20 per cent consists of learning the theoretical and technical aspects of the trade through in-school training. The third year of training is devoted entirely to acquiring on-the-job experience.

What is taught during in-school/technical training?

During your apprenticeship you will attend periods of technical training for levels 1 and 2. Instruction is designed to enhance what you learn on the job and includes:

• Safety
• Concrete and Concrete Placement
• Finishing
• Curing
• Tool and Equipment

What is the supervision ratio?

As experience comprises the bulk of apprenticeship training, it is essential that each apprentice has on-site access to a skilled journeyperson and receives the attention and guidance necessary to perform the tasks of the trade safely and efficiently.

For every apprentice working in this trade, the employer is required to maintain a 1:1 ratio of apprentices to journeypersons on-site and must ensure that the apprentice is directly supervised by a certified journeyperson in the trade.

What are the entrance requirements?

Senior Years Apprenticeship Option: Begin your apprenticeship training in high school. A minimum age of 16 years in required.

General Admission: A Grade 12 or equivalent high school academic standing is required, including recommended courses in Math. If you are 19 years or older and do not hold a high school diploma, you can also qualify as a Mature Student. Prior Learning Recognition and Assessment may be required.

Trades Qualification: If you are experienced in the trade, but do not hold a Certificate of Qualification, you may become a certified journeyperson based on years of proven industry experience and successful completion of the Red Seal Examination. A Trades Qualification Application and trade specific work experience form must be submitted. Trades professionals whose entrance readiness is less than that required, must take appropriate upgrading.

For additional details on entrance requirements and how to begin your apprenticeship or obtain certification, see section on "How to Start".

Do I get a certificate?

When you successfully complete all your required levels of practical experience and technical training, you write an interprovincial examination. You must score at least 70 per cent or better to qualify for a “Red Seal” endorsed interprovincial certificate confirming your status as a certified journeyperson.

Your “Red Seal” endorsed Certificate of Qualification as a journeyperson in this trade is recognized throughout Canada.

What salary can I expect as an apprentice?

Manitoba's Concrete Finisher Regulation states that when an apprentice is not attending school, the apprentice is paid no less than the provincial minimum wage plus:

• 40 per cent during level one/first year
• 60 per cent during level two/second year
• 80 per cent during the third year

An apprentice who works for a unionized employer is entitled to the wage rate specified in the employer's collective agreement if this rate is more than the minimum wages specified in the trade regulation.

Employers may also provide other benefits such as group insurance for health, dental and vision care and training benefits. In total, the value of the benefits can range from 20 per cent to 30 per cent over and above the basic hourly pay rate.

Current wage details are available by downloading the training wage schedule

What are the career prospects?

Concrete finishers often work outdoors. Overtime and weekend work is frequently required because concrete finishers cannot leave an unfinished project and return to it the next day. General contractors who build highways, bridges and commercial, residential and industrial buildings employ many finishers. Others may work for specialty contractors who do only concrete work. Other concrete finishers are self-employed, contracting their services for smaller projects such as patios, sidewalks and driveways.

Experienced concrete finishers may specialize in a particular type of work, advance to supervisory positions or become contract estimators. With additional training, they can transfer their skills to other trades such as Bricklayer or Tilesetter.