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How to Finish a Concrete Slab


Pouring the Form, then Screed, Float, Edge, Groove, and Trowel

© 2008 by All rights reserved; content may not be copied, rewritten, or republished without author’s written permission. Author’s Google profile

Screeding Wet Concrete


Screeding a wet concrete slab



This article was updated on 08/02/20.

The is the second in the DIY concrete slab series, and explains finishing the slab by the steps of screeding, darby, edging, grooving, floating, and troweling the slab. The first article covered building the concrete form and pouring the concrete.

The term slab is used in this article for any concrete pour for the sake of convenience. Finishing a concrete slab is a DIY project that requires patience and a bit of practice However, if done properly, concrete finishing has an orderly and predictable outcome.

If a home is to be framed on the slab, a smooth level finish is desired. This is even more true when building a concrete countertop. For this and other types of projects, there are specialized concrete mixtures available.

Pour and Finish Your Slab in Fair Weather Conditions

Always be aware that there is a limited concrete working window to work the poured concrete slab, whether it is a porch step or a large patio. As soon as the concrete begins to dry, the wheels have been set in motion, and the DIYer must work within these constraints.

For most DIY concrete projects it is desirable to end up with the smoothest finish possible. This is especially important if your intent is to lay porcelain or ceramic tile on your finished surface. These are the tools and materials you will need for this project:

  • 2” X 4” stud or aluminum screed
  • Darby
  • Concrete edger
  • Concrete groover
  • Magnesium float
  • Steel trowel

First, Screed the Slab

The first thing to do following the concrete pour into the form is the screed step This is also known as the strikeoff. Do this with a straight, unbowed, 2” X 4” board or aluminum screed. Why is this step done? To level the wet concrete with the top of the form. Like any semi-liquid, wet concrete tends to seek its own level but in this case, there's not enough time.

The screed forces the bigger aggregate, which is gravel, towards the surface. The board should overlap the concrete form 6” on both sides for effective working area.

Begin at one end. Use a sawing motion on the top of the form to level out the concrete, back and forth, to the opposite end of the concrete form.

Time for the Darby

A Concrete Darby Now your darby comes into play. A darby is a tool that smooths the surface of the concrete. Use smooth, overlapping arcs. Push down while smoothing to remove lumps while filling any low spots. Larger projects such as a driveway should be done with a bull float.

Next, water will begin to appear on top of the slab. Wait while the water reabsorbs into the slab. When a thumb pressed into the slab’s surface leaves a quarter of an inch inch impression it’s time to edge the concrete slab.

Edging and Grooving the Concrete Slab

A Concrete EdgerNow run the edging tool around the top edge of the slab. This rounds off the edge. Why is this important? It prevents the edge from chipping after the concrete dries.

Next use the grooving tool on the cement surface every 10 to 12 feet using a straightedge to guide the groover. You’ll trowel over the surface of these grooves in the next step but they’ll still be there beneath the surface.

The slab will be subjected to many forces over its lifespan. The groove provides the concrete slab with a vertical plane to crack if it must.

Floating and Troweling the Concrete Slab

A Magnesium Concrete FloatNext, float the concrete slab. This is done using a special magnesium float. This step takes the smoothing one step further. Sweep the float across the slab in large smooth arcs.

How much pressure is applied? This is where concrete finishing becomes an art. It depends on the hardness of the concrete slab at this point.

And finally, begin to trowel the slab with a steel trowel. This is like floating but its objective is to take the concrete slab to more precise levels of smoothness. Further successive passes yield more precise results.

And Yet Another Pass of the Trowel

Trowel it the first time, let it dry more, and trowel it another time. Under most circumstances, three passes will yield the best results. Let the concrete slab dry completely and then remove the form and discard the lumber.

There is one more thing to consider about how to finish a concrete slab -- you don't want it to cure too fast or it may crack. On very hot days, or in very low humidity, you may have to cover it with burlap cloth and sprinkle water on it.


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About the Author:

Photo of Kelly R. Smith and Frankie, Southern Black Mouth CurKelly R. Smith was a commercial carpenter for 20 years before returning to night school at the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. After working at NASA for a few years, he went on to develop software for the transportation and financial and energy trading industries. He has been writing, in one capacity or another, since he could hold a pencil. As a freelance writer now, he specializes in producing articles and blog content for a variety of clients. His personal blog is at I Can Fix Up My Home Blog where he muses on many different topics.

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