Nine men using a screeding machine recently screeded 14,000 square feet of floor for a Massachusetts warehouse in 5 hours. Operated by one person sitting on top, the machine did most of the difficult work, including propelling itself from pour to pour. A 9-inch-diameter auger in front of the screed spread out the concrete for the 6-inch-thick slab. The vibratory screed easily struck off the 3-inch-slump concrete, leaving a smooth finish that required little bull floating. Laser receptors kept the auger and screed on grade. All the workers had to do was install mesh, dump the concrete, rake it a little, and bull float the slab.
HOW THE MACHINE WORKS
The auger and vibratory screed are attached to a carriage that rides on the machine's telescoping boom. Based on the laser receptors' readings, the hydraulic masts attached to the carriage raise or lower the auger and screed to keep them on grade.
ADVANTAGES
This screeding machine has three major advantages:
- Produces flatter floors.
- Results in high quality concrete.
- Reduces labor required.
LIMITATIONS
The screeding machine isn't appropriate for the following applications:
- Elevated slabs.
- Small slabs.
- Protruding pipes and conduit.
- Slabs with variable slopes.
