With the number of construction projects increasing in Australia, the demand for skilled concreters is constantly increasing. If you love mixing and laying concrete and can comfortably work with heavy objects, taking up a job as concrete can be the right choice at this time.

Who are concreters?

Concreters are construction workers who are trained to use concrete bricks and other materials to make different types of structures as per the requirement. Different manual and automated tools are used to level off the concrete, seal them, and smoothen so get a finished look.

Work of a concreter

Concreters perform different tasks and duties while working in the construction sector, including residential or commercial buildings.

• Excavating of foundation trenches.
• Mixing of cement, sand, gravel, and water to create concrete.
• Spreading, smoothening, sealing, polishing, and curing concrete for various structures and surfaces, including roads, tunnels, pathways, floors, etc.
• Use power cutters to cut lines in concrete.
• Use specialized machinery to create concrete surfaces of different shapes and textures.
• Use trowels, templates, paving machines, etc., to smooth and finish any concrete surface.
• Damping concrete and scrubbing it with abrasives to create surfaces.
• Installing different concrete fixtures such as door sills, steel plates, etc.
• Use wire mesh and spread a layer of plastic and sand on the concrete surface.
• Lifting of heavy objects during the concrete construction work.

Skills needed to become concreters

There is no formal education needed to become a concreter, but concreters must be physically fit and mostly have to do outdoor work. The skills needed to become a successful concreter are:

• Loves to do outdoor, practical, and hands-on work.
• Good physical fitness.
• An in-depth understanding of the components, equipment, technologies, and machinery necessary to carry out construction work.
• Measurement skills
• Understanding of mathematics
• Capable of working independently and in a team
• Understanding of work safety standards

Qualifications to become a concreter

Depending on the employer, the entry-level requirement may vary.

The general qualification for concreters in Australia:

• Completed a certificate III in concreting (CPC30318) from a registered training organization or TAFE. Instead of this certification, the job seekers may undertake an apprenticeship in concreting or undertake a traineeship under a registered building practitioner.
• Concreters working in the industrial sector must have the safety induction to get CIC (Construction Induction Card) to get accreditation to work on a construction site in Australia.
• To work at heights, concreters must have completed the short course on “work safety at heights.”

Steps to become a concreter

Here are the steps to start your career as a concreter in Australia.

Step 1: To obtain the CIC card. It is a mandatory requirement for all construction workers. The possession of a CIC card demonstrates that the holder has successfully completed the necessary safety training to be allowed to work on construction projects. To participate in any concreting training, you are need to have a CIC card.

Step 2: Apprenticeship programs, TAFE, and vocational courses are the ways to build a career as a concreter. The most common training course is certificate III in concreting.

Step 3: Concreters can enroll in on-the-job apprenticeships in construction firms.

Step 4: Undertake the work safety at heights training.

Concreting jobs are an excellent option for those who love to do outdoor work and are physically fit.

What should you look for when hiring concreters?

The two most important factors that you must consider when hiring a concrete contractor are cost and experience.

• Experience: The concreter you decide to work with must have at least five years of experience in this field. If you hire an experienced concrete contractor, you will get a high-quality finish. They will ensure that your work gets finished in time.
• Cost: You must get quotes from at least three to four concreters to compare their price.  You should double-check if all the costs have been listed in the quotes so that future confusion can be avoided.
• Insurance: Even if you choose the best concrete contractor, an unwanted accident may happen. So, it is essential to choose concreters who are insured and licensed. If you hire a concrete contractor that carries insurance coverage, you won’t have to worry about being compensated for any damages, regardless of whether they are covered by worker’s compensation or some other type of coverage. When you hire an insured concrete, you ensure that you and your property will be protected in the event of an unexpected disaster.
• Portfolio: You must go through the scope of services offered and previous projects of your potential contractors’ portfolios to understand the work standard of concreters. Going through contractor’s portfolio will help you make informed decisions.

If you want to know more about the roles and responsibilities of concreters, stay connected to the internet for getting more and more information!