Concreter
Concreting is an industry experiencing a huge amount of growth, as the residential housing market grows and governments invest in public infrastructure, like highways, bridges, airports, railways and ports.
Technological advancements mean there’s a wide variety of jobs and projects you can do as a concreter.
What is a concreter?
A concreter mixes, lays, spreads, compacts and finishes concrete for building and construction work. They mix cement with other materials, such as gravel, sand and water.
Concreters use equipment such as hand tools, vibrators, pumps, trowel machinery and other power tools.
Once they’ve poured the concrete, they move it into position using a pump. They then prepare and move the boxing or formwork and level the concrete to ensure it sets in the correct position. Then they clean and seal the concrete.
Do I need any qualifications to work in the industry?
To become a concreter, you need a Certificate III in Concreting.
This will give you all the skills and knowledge you need to get started and establish a solid foundation in the industry.
You’ll learn how to read and understand technical plans and specifications, construct and remove temporary formwork and handle materials safely.
You’ll also discover how to use all the equipment, place, finish, and cure concrete, as well as learning how to perform concrete repair jobs. You’ll also study all of the necessary workplace safety WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry.
Which sectors can I work in as a concreter?
Concreting offers work opportunities across a variety of sectors. You could work in large-scale construction or infrastructure, or you could specialise in repair and restoration. With this range, it’s hard to get bored.
Construction & civil
The civil sector is the largest sector, including commercial buildings, high-rise construction and infrastructure projects.
You might be working on a huge infrastructure project, such as building a bridge or pouring the slab for a new home.
No matter the scale of your project, it’s likely to involve work on foundations, slabs, driveways, sidewalks and structural elements.
Industrial construction
While often overlapping with commercial and civil building projects, industrial construction specifically deals with facilities for manufacturing, processing, energy production and heavy industry.
These projects typically require heavy-duty concrete work and may involve specialised industrial flooring systems.
Residential & commercial
In the residential sector, concreters typically work on projects related to private homes and smaller residential development, with work including laying slabs and foundations, pouring driveways, pathways and alfresco areas and concrete and paving around pool areas.
Commercial work may also include laying foundations on a larger scale. It can also include pouring carparks, public walkways and paths, and other commercial facilities.
Mining & resources
There’s plenty of concrete work at mining sites, processing facilities and resource extraction operations. This can include foundations for heavy machinery, such as tanks, pipelines and processing units.
Sometimes, concreters will need to mix and apply specialised chemical-resistant concrete.
Marine & coastal
Ports, harbours, seawalls and marine infrastructure all need concrete work. These projects often require concrete mixes specifically designed to withstand exposure to saltwater.
Decorative & specialty Concrete
Decorative and specialty concrete work goes way beyond a standard grey slab. It involves transforming concrete into an aesthetically pleasing and often highly functional surface, making it a popular choice for homeowners and businesses.
Stamped concrete, polished or coloured concrete and specialty concrete are popular with both residential and commercial clients.
Precast manufacturing
Precast manufacturing involves producing concrete elements off-site in a controlled environment, before transporting them to the construction site.
Elements that require precasting include items such as bridge beams, concrete railway sleepers, pipes and culverts.
Repair & restoration
As a concreter, you can also specialise in maintaining, repairing and restoring existing concrete structures. This includes repairing cracks in slabs and walls. It can also mean resurfacing deteriorating concrete or strengthening existing structures.
This is particularly important as infrastructure ages.
Duties and responsibilities of a concreter
The duties and responsibilities of a concreter depend on the role they’re doing and the project that they are working on. One of the appeals of being a concreter is that no two days are the same.
Some of the work that you may be assigned as a concreter includes:
- Laying steel reinforcing bars (rebar) to strengthen concrete structures and prevent cracking under load.
- Pouring, smoothing and levelling concrete.
- Spreading, shaping and sealing concrete.
- Polishing concrete surfaces (using trowels, trowelling machines and screeds).
- Installing steel plates, bolts, door sills and other fixtures and fittings.
- Forming joints.
- Rubbing concrete with water and abrasives to finish walls.
- Cutting concrete with power tools.
- Colouring freshly poured concrete with special powders.
Typical working hours
Concreters typically work full-time. Often, tradespeople start their days earlier than other professions, allowing them to finish earlier and use the afternoons to recover from the physicality of the job.
As you gain more experience, you may want to consider starting your own business. This allows you to decide how many hours a week you want to work and what types of construction projects to take on, giving you the chance to create a work-life balance that suits you.
Daily working conditions
Concreters usually work outside, so you may experience poor weather. Conditions can be dirty and noisy, and you might have to work either underground or at a certain height.
Concreting is a highly physical job, with lots of heavy lifting and time on your feet, so you will need a certain level of physical fitness.
In summer, concreters may start early to avoid the heat. In winter, concreters often schedule their jobs later in the day, so winter frost doesn’t cause delays.
How do I become a concreter?
Employers generally prefer to take on those who’ve completed an apprenticeship and earned a Certificate III in Concreting.
These usually take 24 months to complete.
Before you take on an apprenticeship, consider completing a pre-apprenticeship. This involves completing a Certificate II in Construction. This certificate is nationally recognised and you can use it for credit towards your apprenticeship down the track.
The industry experience and foundation skills that you will learn as part of your pre-apprenticeship will make you a strong candidate for an apprenticeship. And CTF can help pay your way. We offer a $500 award for completing your pre-apprenticeship to help individuals entering the industry.
Apprenticeship option
Completing an apprenticeship is one way to increase your appeal to a future employer. There are different ways to start an apprenticeship, and CTF offers funding to help you earn while you learn.
An apprenticeship offers a mix of practical learning and industry exposure while helping you develop valuable skills and connections while you’re studying the course at either TAFE or a registered training organisation (RTO).
Typically, you obtain an apprenticeship in WA by either approaching an employer directly or going through an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider, which will assist you with the process and match you with a potential employer in your field.
A concreting apprenticeship usually takes two years to complete, combining practical on-the-job training with formal study to earn your Certificate III qualification. This means you'll earn while you learn and gain real industry experience.
Future pathways and opportunities for concreters
Once you, your employer and your RTO have agreed that you’ve completed all elements of training and units of competency, you are ready to become qualified as a concreter.
You need to finalise all your documents, including having your training plan signed off. Then, your RTO will issue you with a qualification certificate, which is a nationally recognised qualification.
Future careers
Becoming a concreter offers a range of career opportunities, either working for yourself or for somebody else.
Some careers involving concreting that might appeal are:
- Formworker, Scaffolder, Surveyor, Steelfixer
- Business owner
- Sub-contractor
- Complete further studies to become a Site Supervisor, Construction Manager or Registered Builder.
