Red Seal Concrete Finisher Practice Exam

Which tool is used for polishing concrete surfaces?

1. A trowel

2. A concrete grinder

3. A float

4. A mixer

The correct answer is: A concrete grinder

The tool used for polishing concrete surfaces is a concrete grinder. This equipment is specifically designed to grind down high spots, level out the surface, and create a polished finish that enhances the appearance of the concrete. Concrete grinders are equipped with diamond pads that are effective in refining the surface texture, achieving varying levels of sheen, and removing imperfections from the concrete. In contrast, a trowel is primarily used for smoothing and finishing the surface of wet concrete, not for polishing. A float is used to help embed aggregate into the surface and also to smooth out the concrete, but it does not provide the polished finish that a grinder does. A mixer is utilized for mixing concrete components but is not involved in the finishing or polishing of concrete surfaces. Thus, the concrete grinder's functionality aligns directly with the requirements for polishing, making it the correct choice for this activity.