Which refining tool is used after screeding in the concrete finishing process?

In the concrete finishing process, the bullfloat is a crucial refining tool used after the initial screeding operation. After the concrete is poured and leveled with screeding boards, the surface will still have some slight imperfections and may contain trapped air and water. Using a bullfloat, which is a large, flat tool, allows the contractor to smooth out the surface further and help to bring excess water to the surface, facilitating a better finish.

The bullfloat is particularly effective for covering a large area quickly and is designed to work the concrete to the desired level of flatness before finer finishing tools are used. This step is essential to ensure that the concrete surface is uniform and prepared for subsequent finishing operations.

Other options, such as trowels, may be used later in the process for refining the surface even further, but they are not the primary tool used immediately after screeding. The power trowel, similarly, is used in the later stages and is meant for larger projects to produce a superior finish quickly. Final finish may refer to the very last steps of the concrete finishing process, which occur after the bullfloat has done its work.