What is a Cement Mason / Concrete Finisher?

Concrete finishers place and finish concrete floors, sidewalks, curbs, bridge decks and other concrete structures.

Concrete finishers apply:

• Smooth or textured finishes to concrete surfaces
• Exposed aggregate finishes
• Stamped and patterned designs
• Water proofing and restore concrete surfaces

They have the knowledge to properly use:

• Grouts from dry pack to wet applications
• Epoxy and cementitious materials
• Concrete curing compounds

In general, concrete finishers:

• Place and finish concrete in forms and slabs
• Use wide variety of power tools in their trade for cutting, coring, chipping, grinding, and the roughening of concrete surfaces for grouting and special coatings
• Level and smooth the surface, round the edges, and make joints or grooves to help control cracking on the surface
• Use machines such as power trowels and ride-on power trowels to finish large factory and warehouse floors
• Hand-trowelling is still required for hard-to-reach areas in corners, around pipes and edges

Apprenticeship Training

The term of apprenticeship is 3 years (three 12 month periods) including a minimum of 1200 hours of on-the-job training and 4 week technical training in the first and second years, and 1200 hours of on-the job training in the third year.

An applicant who previously completed courses or work experience related to the Concrete Finisher trade may qualify for credit that could reduce the term of apprenticeship.

Check out Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training at Trade Secrets.