Need tips / tricks for floating, finishing concrete?

Question

4x15 apron slab

Answer 1

Start with a straight 2x4 and as it is poured, screed the board across your forms, this will level the wet cement across as you go.  As it goes through a heat the water will rise out of the cement. when it starts setting up you may use the widest float (hand or bull) to smooth it even better, pushing any rocks down below the surface. It will begin setting around the edges 1st. If you have an edging trowel, keep the edge against your forms and rub back and forth applying downward pressure. If it is still soupy, give it a little more time. If you have a bull float, hopefully 4 feet wide, you can also slide it down the length of your apron. This will be keeping the forward edge up just enough to keep from pushing the cement. When you draw it back toward you raise the rear of the float. If you had 3 sections of 6 foot handle you will be able to stand on the end and make it very easy and very smooth. If you do not have the use of a bull float you will need a hand trowel and will have to get down on your knees to rub it out. Be careful not to push the fine concrete out or off the top. It will be necessary to get a slick finish as it dries more. if a broom finish is desired for a slip resistant finish, just after it trowels out smooth and almost dry use a shop push broom and pull it over as straight as possible.

**JD