When it comes to achieving a smooth and level concrete floor, one effective technique is screeding. Whether he is a seasoned contractor or a DIY enthusiast, mastering the art of screeding can significantly improve the quality of the final concrete surface. In this blog post, readers will learn the essential steps and tips on how to properly kick screed a concrete floor.
Introduction
When it comes to laying a concrete floor, efficiency and accuracy are crucial. Mike Day, a seasoned professional in the construction industry, has produced an insightful video on screed concrete, specifically focusing on the method of kick screeding. In this article, we will delve into the details of this video and explore the intricacies of kick screeding a concrete floor.
Understanding Screed Concrete
- Screed concrete is a technique used to level and smooth freshly poured concrete.
- It involves using a screed, a flat board, to distribute the concrete evenly across the surface.
- Kick screeding is a hands-on method of screeding that allows for greater control and precision.
The Mike Day Concrete Video Review
In his video, Mike Day demonstrates the art of kick screeding with finesse and expertise. Here are the key takeaways from his tutorial:
- Mike emphasizes the importance of preparing the concrete mix to the right consistency for optimal screeding results.
- He showcases the proper technique of using a screed board to distribute the concrete evenly across the floor.
- Mike’s demonstration of the kick screeding process highlights the efficiency and precision that can be achieved through this method.
Advantages of Kick Screeding
- Kick screeding offers greater control over the leveling process.
- It allows for real-time adjustments to be made, ensuring a smooth and even concrete finish.
- The hands-on approach of kick screeding can result in a more personalized and professional outcome.
Tips for Successful Kick Screeding
- Maintain a steady pace while kick screeding to ensure uniformity in the concrete layer.
- Use the correct screed board length that suits the size of the concrete surface.
- Regularly check the level of the concrete to avoid any inconsistencies in the finished floor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, kick screeding is a valuable technique for achieving a flawless concrete floor. Mike Day’s video provides a comprehensive guide to mastering this method, making it accessible to both seasoned professionals and DIY enthusiasts. By following his expert advice and honing your kick screeding skills, you can elevate the quality of your concrete flooring projects.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- What are the essential tools needed for kick screeding a concrete floor?
- How long does it take to master the technique of kick screeding?
- Can kick screeding be used on both small and large-scale concrete projects?
- Is kick screeding suitable for outdoor concrete applications?
- Are there any safety precautions to consider when kick screeding concrete floors?
Hey everybody, in this video i’m going to talk to you About the art of Kickscreening and how to hand screed Concrete So if if this is the first time here and You don’t know who i Am i own day’s concrete floors And i also own the website Everythingaboutconcrete.com In my business we specialize in concrete Floors concrete slabs Pool decks patios stamped concrete Staining concrete All types of concrete repair concrete Countertops even epoxy floors So if you’d like to learn about that Stuff then go ahead and hit the Subscribe button down below I’m coming out with two to three videos A week about the different kinds of Things we do And and how we do it so if that Interests you then go ahead down there And hit the subscribe button So today we’re going to talk about kick Screening or hand screeding concrete Now we do both we hand screed floors Like this And we also have a vibra screed where we Vibroscreed floors i’ll have another Video on that coming up Soon but today we’re going to talk about
How to hand screed with that straight Edge right there That’s a magnesium straight edge it’s a 2 inch by 4 inch by 14 foot straight Edge it’s pretty Pretty lightweight doesn’t weigh very Much We uh me and my guys here we we Probably prefer hand screeding over Vibroscreen Especially on a floor like this that has A bunch of pipes It’s just for us we’ve been doing it so Long it’s just as easy for us if not Even easier than vibra screen to be Honest with you But the key for us is when we when we Put that straight edge down there We want to tip it slightly towards Towards us so we’re riding on the back Edge We don’t like to keep it flat so the Front edge is digging in We just like to skim it across And have it slightly tilted away from us So that you can see right there we’re Just going on the back edge When we pull the straight edge towards Us pick it up and then we kind of kick And Fill our feet in the key is Each edge the very edge of the straight Edge should be leaving a little bit of a Line
In the concrete as you go so we’re wet Padding we’re wet screeding off those What we call those wet pads You know a pad is a wet pad is where you Mag float the edges Where you mag float around pipes or Along the wall We snap a chalk line on that wall Concrete wall And then we’ll mag that pad as you can See it’s nice and smooth Along the wall and that’s what we go by When we screed Right now i got one guy standing still And the other guy kind of screaming down The edge So we like you know we’ve been doing it Quite a while so the rhythm Of the straight edge is is pretty even Between both of us You can see we we just pull it about six Or eight inches at a time And then when we when we pull it towards Us we Slightly pick it up and tilt it towards Us it just makes for an Easier more relaxing type of rhythm Otherwise your fingers and your wrist Can get Pretty sore if it’s if the straight edge Is stiff So we like just to have an even flow to It as we straight edge It’s pretty important to have a good guy
Raking the concrete that’s me raking it Right there Obviously you want to be pulling back Just a little bit you want about An inch or so of concrete behind it And pulling that back so it does get low And there isn’t any holes Again guys if you like this kind of Stuff go ahead down there and hit that Subscribe Button i’d appreciate it So we pull and we kick pull then we kick To fill our feet Pull and kick it takes a little bit of There’s a little bit of a learning curve To this i mean You’re just not going to go down there And grab that thing on the first day and Expect to be real good at it This is a good way to learn right here Is with a small straight edge Just doing a small piece something that You can control really slow Pull it towards your kick pull it Towards your kick Fill in your feet pull and kick It may look kind of easy but it’s not as Easy as it looks to do all that And then not dig in on those outside Edges to keep that Right where it should be so the floor Stays nice and flat Our floors when we’re done there within An eighth of an inch when we do this
If you take the laser and check it after They’ve been power troweled They’re all within an eighth of an inch It’s pretty flat You always get to kick in there to fill It where your feet were Straight edge around the pipe and then Pull out any little bit of high you have Around the pipe And then mag float it nice and smooth And flat So i mean if you did this every day you Could get good at this in about a week If you did a A floor like this five days in a row You’d pick up the rhythm It’s it’s you know it’s the rhythm Between your hands your arms And your feet and then making sure that Outside of that straight edge doesn’t Dig in To the floor or or leave a hump on the Floor You want to be leaving that little bit Of a line as you’re going down that Outside edge Like a 16 inch line or an eighth of an Inch line You can see that guy pulling the Concrete back that’s pretty important The closer he can keep that to perfect The easier it is to straightedge that’s For sure You can see that guy over there on the
Right pulling kick Pulling kick filling in his boots Now with me if the concrete’s high Enough it just fills in where your boots Are anyway you don’t have to kick as Much Which is what i like i don’t like to Kick too much Only kick when i have to You can see that straight edge is Slightly tipped on the back edge That makes it really easy So you’re either going to you know when You do a floor like this you’re either Going to use a Hand screed or you’re going to use a Vibra screed Most most likely and We just find that when we’re going Around a bunch of pipes and stuff like This And the floor isn’t that big that The floor comes out really nice and flat When we hand screed Going around pipes and boxes and stuff Sticking out of the floor with a vibrous Creed Tends to leave the floor just a little Bit more up and down a little bit more Humpy Than we like We’ve all been doing this a long time I’ve been doing it 35 plus years the guy in the white over
20 the guy in the gray Over 15 so we’ve been doing it together A long time Let’s see we’re getting right down to The end now this floor Probably took us about 35 to 40 minutes Total to pour And do everything you can see Doing it by yourself isn’t quite as Quite as bad you just Go at your own pace all you got to worry About is your own feet Pull and kick pulling kick slightly on The back edge Leaves the floor fairly smooth so when You go to bowl floated it’s quite easy To bowl float Here we’re going to finish that one last Piece off guys so again if you If you haven’t subscribed already go Ahead down there and subscribe I’m coming out with these videos two or Three times a week about all kinds of Different things to do with concrete Uh leave a comment down in the comments If you already know how to screed like This And if you’re going to learn if you want To learn then leave a comment that says Learn I’d appreciate it guys thanks for Watching have a good day
