The first step in finishing a concrete slab after placement. Workers drag a straightedge tool across the wet mud to strike it off, leveling the surface to the elevation set by the edge forms or guide rails. It removes high spots and fills low spots before floating begins.
We need to finish screeding this section before the mud starts getting stiff.
Always keep a small roll of mud in front of the screed board to fill low spots as you pull.
Also heard as
- striking off
Related terms
Screed
To strike off fresh concrete to the right height, or the straightedge, board or machine that does it.
Floating
The finishing step that levels, compacts and opens the surface of a slab once the bleed water is gone.
Bull float
A wide flat float on a long handle, pushed across a fresh slab right after screeding to smooth and close it.
Flatwork
Any concrete work poured along a horizontal plane to form a surface.