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A typical day

On site at 6am, sometimes earlier. Check the forms and rebar, then the first truck backs in. Rake and screed the concrete level, bull-float it, and wait while it starts to set. Then edge, cut control joints and trowel it smooth by hand or ride-on machine, racing the clock before it hardens. Cure and cover it. On a small pour you are done by early afternoon. On a big slab, well past dark.