Concrete Contractor Job: What Does It Involve?

A concrete contractor is a specifically-trained individual that builds and repairs structures using concrete. Concrete contractors handle concrete at various stages, starting from unmixed combinations to finished hardened surfaces.

The United States Department of Labor classifies concrete workers as cement masons or cement finishers. According to their statistics, the demand for concrete contractors has steadily increased over the years.

Construction companies will need to handle the heavy demand for workforce expansion accordingly. One of the simplest methods of doing so is to incorporate workforce management software like Bridgit Bench to streamline their processes. Read on to learn more about the nature of a concrete contractor’s job, its qualities, and their expected salary.

What is a concrete contractor?

A concrete contractor is a contractor who is responsible for the installation and repair of buildings and surfaces that involve:

• Concrete
• Concrete products
• Concrete reinforcing materials
• Concrete accessories

The scope of a concrete contractor job includes:

• Foundation installation
• Constructing buildings using concrete
• Applying concrete finishes and designs to a project
• The construction of pavements, sidewalks, slabs, and retaining walls

A concrete contractor’s work takes place in several stages. Here’s the order it typically follows.

Concrete selection

The first stage involves the selection of concrete as per the required shape, size, colour, depth, and finish. Since there’s a large spectrum of concrete materials, the feasibility of each material is weighed in line with the project.

Small changes in the material used can impact the entire project. As a result, before site preparation begins, concrete contractors need to zero down on the suitable type of concrete that will be used.

Site preparation

After pre-planning (including the selection of concrete), the contractor then prepares the site to be worked upon. This process involves the removal of rocks, shrubs, and trees, followed by excavation. They also level the entire area to promote effective and smooth concrete work.

Formwork

As soon as the surface is ready, the contractor puts forms in place to ensure the concrete doesn’t pour out of the desired area. Framework also keeps the concrete in place as it hardens. Generally, the forms are made of metal, wood, or plastic and are removed after use.

Placement

Also known as pouring, concrete is poured into the forms at this stage. One of the more efficient pour methods is achieved by using a mobile volumetric concrete mixer. You’ll have everything you need to batch, measure, mix, and pour fresh concrete on-site and on-demand. As the concrete is poured, the formwork holds the concrete as it hardens.

Leveling

To ensure the concrete is compact, levelled, and smooth, contractors screed the top of the concrete. This stage also involves the placement of joints or edges before the concrete hardens, since it becomes challenging to place joints after the concrete dries.

Finishing

As the name suggests, concrete contractors make final touches on the structure at this stage.

What skills and qualities do you need to become a successful concrete contractor?

The skills and qualities that a concrete contractor needs can be learned at a business school or by working on a concrete site for several years. Here are some of the skills and qualities needed to become a successful concrete contractor.

Physical endurance

This profession is a physically demanding job. Professionals need to spend most of their working hours on their feet. They work in extreme and harsh conditions, often bending to finish the concrete projects (which puts severe strain on their knees).

Therefore, physical endurance for concrete contractors is vital to keep up with the demands of the job. A professional’s inability to handle such physical demands might prove a safety liability for the organization.

Problem-solving

Things in the concreting don’t always go according to plan. Professionals face time constraints, bad mixes, poor site preparation, and several other issues. Concrete contractors must therefore be problem solvers who efficiently deal with unanticipated issues.

Responsibility and time management

Concrete projects aren’t just time-sensitive, but can require professionals to work overtime, so the job requires them to stay focused. Negligence can lead to premature hardening or other material-related issues, making the timely progress difficult.

Similarly, some processes like finishing can’t be left until the next work day, requiring professionals to stay past their required hours.

Efficient in taking directions

In the fast-paced construction industry, concrete work involves taking directions regularly from a higher authority. Concrete contractors should be capable of following directions competently and without issue.

Quick learner on-site

Some professionals learn the craft on-site with other working contractors, so the job provides immense opportunities to learn and grow. But in order for it to work, the concrete contractor needs to be able to uniquely approach learning on-site and pick up on skills quickly.

Specialized hard skills

Construction jobs like concreting are highly demanding. Concrete construction tasks involve specialized tools, processes, and equipment. If a contractor wants to succeed in their role, familiarization and confidence in handling different tools and equipment are imperative.

Using concrete labour tracking software can simplify things

As evidenced by each stage, concrete work is interdependent. Moreover, the nature of the work itself is demanding and can be exhausting. Contractors need to exercise caution while handling resources.

Today, companies enlist the help of construction management software to better manage their workforce and resources. Using software can ensure better workforce allocation, equipment serviceability, and project progress tracking.

The right software lets you track and assess vital insights during multiple construction phases. Features include GPS timesheets, workforce scheduling, remote planning, forecasting, and more. A streamlined construction project eliminates room for costly mistakes. Some software companies even allow you to book a demo so you can test out how well it will work for your company.

Construction companies spend thousands of dollars on maintaining their workforce and equipment, and concrete work is not limited to mixing and pouring concrete. As the job is inherently dangerous, there’s no room for mistakes or negligence.

Good coordination to interlink every stage of work is a must. While traditional coordination methods work for smaller projects, complex projects need sophisticated solutions like software to achieve time-bound goals.

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