Concrete is a notoriously difficult material to work with, mainly because it’s very unforgiving. It sets fast, so if you don’t know how to use it you can end up wasting it. However, it is an integral part of the construction industry. Most modern buildings rely on it.
If you are the owner of a construction company or are just planning on undertaking work involving concrete, then you need to know how to use the material properly. You need tools to work with concrete.
This post will tell you about nine of those tools.
Colorants
If you are using concrete for something other than the structure of a building, then it’s very likely that you are going to need to use colorant. The colors typically used to dye concrete are reddish, brown, or black. It is possible to buy brighter colors, but they are not that common.
You can add a finish to the concrete after it’s set too, but if you know that the concrete you are working with needs to be a specific color, then having dyes and colorants on hand is a much better idea. In the words of the specialists from https://www.diamaprosystems.com/, the colorant can make concrete more aesthetically pleasing. It is very commonly applied to flooring and tiles.
Mixers
You won’t be able to work with concrete without a mixer. However, you don’t have to buy freestanding mixers if you don’t want to. It is entirely possible to buy a mixer attachment for a skid steer. Skid steers are vehicles commonly found on construction sites. Having a mixer add-on for your skid steer will save you the trouble of buying freestanding mixers, and then having to haul them around the site. You can add the skid steer mixer attachment, mix the concrete, and then transport it wherever you need it.
Gloves
Gloves are essential bits of kit if you intend on working with concrete. Something that a lot of people don’t know is that you can actually get chemical burns from unset concrete. If you attempt to use concrete without gloves, then you could seriously hurt yourself. Make sure that you and all of your team have access to gloves. Not supplying your workers with gloves could lead to them injuring themselves, and then filing a personal injury lawsuit against you. It is your responsibility to make sure that your staff has the right equipment.
Wheelbarrows
You will need wheelbarrows to transport bags of concrete around. If you have ever seen bagged concrete before, then you will know that it’s very heavy. Getting your staff to carry bags around (or even carrying them around yourself) will be an impossible task. It will take ages to get a bag from one place to another. However, with wheelbarrows moving concrete is easier than ever. Your team may need support to lift the bags of concrete into the wheelbarrows, however. This is just so they do not hurt themselves, which again, will protect you from any personal injury lawsuits.
Work Boots
Work boots should be a standard piece of equipment on any construction site, no matter whether you are working with concrete or not. Construction companies who do not ensure that their staff has access to work boots should expect a personal injury lawsuit at one point or another. You should never let staff onto your site unless they are wearing boots, and also a hard hat. Wearing boots and a hard hat will prevent them from getting injured by any falling debris. It will also prevent them from injuring themselves if they drop heavy objects, like bagged concrete.
Safety Glasses
Safety glasses are also important. If concrete comes into contact with your hands, it can cause serious chemical burns. What do you think will happen if it comes into contact with your eyes? Not wearing safety glasses could lead to your staff being totally blinded or losing some of their sights. Safety glasses are just as important as boots, gloves, and a hard hat, arguably more so. However, your staff only need to use them when they are working with concrete. It is not necessary for them to wear glasses when performing other tasks.
Shovels
How do you expect to move concrete from a wheelbarrow into a mixer, or vice versa? Shovels are needed for this purpose. Investing in shovels isn’t something that’ll set you back a lot of money. However, when buying them, you should try to specifically buy shovels made for handling and moving concrete. You can buy shovels from an ordinary hardware store. Make sure the ones that you buy are full metal and are sturdy and durable so that they do not bend. Keep them stored indoors so they do not rust, either. Rusting can make them brittle and prone to breakage.
Digging Bar
A digging bar is an essential investment. You can use a digging bar to break hard ground, or even to create larger gaps in the ground for pouring concrete. As with shovels, you need to make sure that the digging bar you invest in is made from sturdy and durable metals so that it can withstand pressure. Make sure that you store your digging bars somewhere dry, so they do not rust also. A rusted digging bar will be ineffective. You can buy them from the same place that you buy your shovels, or from an industrial supply store.
Vibrators
Vibrators are very important pieces of equipment. And, as you would expect from any important piece of equipment, they can be very expensive. They are used to release air pockets and water from the already poured concrete mix so that the concrete sets properly and there are no cosmetic flaws. Air bubbles in concrete can cause it to crack, or at the very least make it look like it’s been laid by somebody who has no idea what they are doing. Always read a vibrator’s reviews before buying it so you can be sure you get the best one.
Concrete can be tricky to work with, which is why you need tools. Not having the right tools can lead to injury or just prevent you from being able to complete a job well. The tools specified here can make working with concrete much simpler.
