SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Cement Finisher
  • Cement Mason
  • Concrete Finisher
  • Concrete Mason
  • Finisher
  • Mason
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What do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers do?

Cement masons and concrete finishers are skilled tradespeople who work primarily with concrete to create smooth and durable surfaces. Their duties include pouring, leveling, and finishing concrete for a variety of construction projects such as sidewalks, driveways, floors, foundations, and other structures. Cement masons often work with both residential and commercial projects, ensuring that the concrete is mixed, poured, and set properly to withstand the elements and the stresses of daily use.

The work begins with reading blueprints and plans to understand the requirements of the project, including measurements and depths. They are responsible for setting up forms to hold the concrete in place while it cures. Once the concrete is poured, these professionals utilize various tools to spread, level, and smooth the surface. They may use trowels, floats, and screeds, and may also apply stains, patterns, or textures to the finished concrete surface.

Cement masons and concrete finishers need to have a solid understanding of concrete mixtures and how environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, can affect the curing process. Physical stamina and manual dexterity are essential, as the job often involves heavy lifting and working in varying weather conditions. Safety is a paramount concern, as they must be aware of and adhere to safety protocols to prevent injuries while operating heavy machinery or working at heights.

This profession requires knowledge of construction best practices, as well as a commitment to quality workmanship. With experience, cement masons can advance into supervisory roles or specialize in particular areas of concrete work, such as decorative concrete or precast concrete installation. Overall, a career as a cement mason and concrete finisher can be both rewarding and essential to the construction industry.

What the work actually is

  • Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
  • Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
  • Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
  • Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
  • Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Quality Control Analysis Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

  • Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Trunk Strength The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Multilimb Coordination The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Knowledge

  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Building and Construction Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)

A normal week

  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Getting Information
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Scheduling Work and Activities

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Project management software Hard Dollar HD Project Estimating · Maxwell Systems Quest Estimator · National Concrete & Masonry Estimator · Tradesman's Software Master Estimator
  • Analytical or scientific software ADAPT-Modeler · HIPERPAV · LogicSphere Firstmix · Shilstone seeMIX
  • Accounting software Sirus GT Construction Accounting
  • Information retrieval or search software ACT Contractors Forms

Tools

  • Trowels Brick jointers · Low rider power trowels · Tuck-pointing trowels
  • Floats Concrete floats · Rubber floats · Spreaders
  • Concrete spreaders Double-beam screeders · Roller tube finishers · Walk-behind laser screeds
  • Batching plants or feeders Center discharge floor hoppers · Collection hoppers · Round-gate concrete buckets
  • Power saws Chain saws · Concrete saws · Multipurpose saws

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers earn in South Africa?

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers do?

Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed, Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them and Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.