Placing and Finishing
Placing and Finishing is about 17% of the exam: placing concrete, applying finishes, and curing and testing. The goal throughout is dense, uniform, well-bonded concrete with a sound surface. For worked examples, traps and full explanations, see the PrepPass CSLB C-8 Concrete Study Guide.
Placing and consolidating
Deposit concrete near its final position; never pile it and drag it or move it with a vibrator. Start slabs at one end, discharging against placed concrete; start slopes at the bottom. Control the drop with drop chutes. Place walls in level lifts and vibrate each one about 6 in into the lift below, with insertions about 1 to 1½ times the vibrator's radius of action apart, usually 5 to 15 seconds each.
Finishing
Strike off and bull float immediately, then wait: do not float or trowel while bleed water is on the surface, and never dust dry cement onto it. After the sheen leaves, edge, joint, float and — where specified — trowel or broom. Air-entrained concrete bleeds little and can be finished sooner. Saw contraction joints to about a quarter of the depth within the sawing window.
Curing and testing
Start curing as soon as finishing allows and keep the concrete moist for the specified period: water, wet coverings, forms left in place, or membrane curing compound applied when the bleed water is gone and a sheen remains. Test fresh concrete for slump, air and temperature, and make cylinders at the required frequency.
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