Cement Finisher Examination
The examination is 3 hours long. It contains 61 questions and each question is worth 1 point. The required passing grade is 60%. The materials for your use during the examination are provided to you. They are: a pencil, a sheet of paper, a calculator and an eraser. No other material or reference document is allowed during the examination.
Skill Content on Which Questions May Be Based
Section 1 – Placing Concrete (40%)
- Preparing the placement of concrete
- Determine what materials are needed (perform different materials calculations)
- Verify the infrastructure and the substrate
- Applying concrete in different contexts
- Understand the different concrete mixes appropriate to placement and the desired characteristics
- Pour concrete in different contexts
- Apply concrete in different types of projects (sidewalks, borders, stairs, slabs, etc.)
- Describe the different types of joints
- Consolidate the concrete
- Levelling concrete
- Find the benchmarks
- Level (flatten) the concrete
- Installing Waterproofing Membranes and Other Specialized Coatings
- Preparing to place the membrane and specialized coatings
- Installing different types of membranes
Section 2 – Finishing and Protecting Concrete (30%)
- Finishing a concrete surface
- Float concrete
- Execute different finishes on a concrete surface (smoothing, broom finish, etc.)
- Apply different finishing techniques (exposure of aggregates stamping surfaces, etc.)
- Curing concrete
- Use different curing techniques (with humidification, chemicals)
- Protecting concrete
- Control cracking by using joints
- Apply surface treatment products (sealer)
- Finishing completely dry concrete
- Use a diamond polishing method
- Finish using epoxy products
- Interpret the application specifications for different products
- Decorate concrete using different products
Section 3 – Placing Concrete on Existing Surfaces (30%)
- Preparing to repair a surface
- Identify problems with the concrete
- Withdraw materials
- Prepare the surface for the repair
- Repairing concrete
- Use the repair methods and products appropriate to the context
- Perform a resurfacing (topping)
- Applying parging to concrete
- Prepare a surface for application of the roughcast
- Prepare the parging mix
- Apply parging on a surface
- Covering surfaces with gunite
- Know the different techniques for spraying concrete and finishing surfaces
Samples questions for the provincial qualification examination.
Suggested documentation
The suggested documents are an important tool to help you prepare for the examination. However, your best asset to write the exam successfully are the quality and diversity of the skills you have acquired during your apprenticeship.
- KOSMATKA, STEVEN et al., Dosage et contrôle des mélanges de béton. Association canadienne du ciment, Bulletin d’ingénierie EB101, septième édition canadienne, 2004, 355 pages.
- TARR, SCOTT M. and FARNY, JAMES A., Concrete Floors on Ground. Portland Cement Association, Fourth Edition, 2008, 237 pages.