Book 1

Placing and Leveling Concrete

Placing concrete involves delivering the concrete from the supply and placing it at the established area inside the forms. Leveling involves leveling the concrete to a specific grade. Leveling may also be called rodding, screeding and straight-edging, or dragging-off. Read Book 1 / Unit 14 Review “Words You Should Know”  Watch the video below and answer Video Questions …

Placing and Leveling Concrete Read More »

Specifications and Testing

A specification is a detailed set of written instructions. Specifications can: supplement the drawings in a set of plans and identify equipment and materials used in the structure; state the requirements that a material, product, system, or service must satisfy; and/or identify how to determine whether the requirements are satisfied. Specifications and standards become legally …

Specifications and Testing Read More »

Designing Concrete Mixes

Admixtures are ingredients in concrete—other than cement, water, and aggregate—that are added immediately before or during mixing. They may be natural or manufactured chemicals. There are also different types for different purposes. However, all admixtures are used to change the characteristics of the fresh or hardened concrete. Read Book 1 / Unit 9  Review “Words …

Designing Concrete Mixes Read More »

Concrete Ingredients

Concrete results from a careful mixture of portland cement paste and aggregates such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, and other materials. A chemical reaction called hydration causes the mixture to harden into the rock-like mass we know as concrete. When it is first mixed, concrete is soft and malleable, but when it hardens it is …

Concrete Ingredients Read More »

Hand Tools: Special Tools

Working with concrete often requires repetitive motions with special tools. This repetition can cause injuries, resulting in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Many hand tool manufacturers are now modifying tool designs to be ergonomic, fitting the shape of the body with minimal discomfort and fatigue. Read Book 1 / Unit 12  Review “Words You …

Hand Tools: Special Tools Read More »

Forming Tools

Concrete work requires the use of forming tools. They include some hand tools, circular saws, measuring tools, and leveling instruments. Using forming tools properly and safely requires practice. This unit introduces you to basic forming tools and how to use them. Read Book 1 / Unit 11  Review “Words You Should Know”  Watch the video …

Forming Tools Read More »

Workplace Safety & Health

Almost every workplace can contain hazards and unsafe conditions. People can also do things in a way that can lead to injury and even death. Every year, millions of people suffer nonfatal workplace injuries. Thousands of people in the United States die every year from injuries suffered on the job. Workplace accidents can range from …

Workplace Safety & Health Read More »

Production & History of Cement

Cement is one ingredient in concrete. How the cement is made is important. The manufacturing process must be carefully controlled to produce a cement that has required chemical and physical characteristics. This process can be broken down into five basic stages. Read Book 1 / Unit 2  Review “Words You Should Know”  Watch the video …

Production & History of Cement Read More »

C1 – Industry Orientation (Duplicate)

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. It is used in virtually every structure built today. Cement masons can find jobs with concrete contractors or general contractors. They are involved with form building, concrete finishing, concrete repair, installing base, installing terrazzo, and installing decorative or architecturally-designed floors. Some are employed with companies …

C1 – Industry Orientation (Duplicate) Read More »

Scroll to Top