Should You Vibrate Concrete?

Vibrating concrete comes down to consolidation. Concrete consolidation is the compaction of a concrete or mortar with the reduction of air bubbles, hollow pockets or voids. The voids and honeycombing left by trapped air in hardened concrete make it weaker, leaving it prone to early failure. A good consolidation and compaction of the concrete mix makes for a strong finished product.
A concrete mix that is watery makes placement and consolidation very easy. But too much water makes a weak finished product. A strong mix is more like the consistency of damp sand which does not flow around easily for good consolidation. Vibrating the concrete allows the mix to fill all of the small spaces and helps bring air bubbles to the surface. Removing the
A superplasticizer, or water reducer, could be added to a concrete or mortar mix giving the effect of adding a lot more water without compromising the finished strength of the concrete. This type of concrete admixture makes placement and compaction a breeze but could still benefit from vibration to remove trapped air bubbles that can weaken the concrete. Whether using a thin mix or a thick, employing a consolidation method such as vibrating is one of the best ways to get better, stronger results.
Referral links to products featured in Creating Concrete videos - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
amzn.to/3vtmang - interlock stone mold
amzn.to/3VIEmDX - universal mold release
amzn.to/3TQ9e30 - silicone mold release
amzn.to/3J7Q2II - sonite sealing wax
amzn.to/4cDYz3T - Quikcrete red pigment
amzn.to/4cIlDOK - Quikcrete brown pigment
amzn.to/43EuVHL - Quikcrete charcoal pigment
amzn.to/3J0MLee - Quikcrete bonding adhesive (PVA)
amzn.to/3xlzwlW - Quikcrete bonding adhesive 4L (PVA)
amzn.to/4aiGGGg - Sika acrylic fortifier 4L
amzn.to/3vqjdUw - Drylok hydraulic cement
amzn.to/3J3aDhv - Bosch mortar mixing drill
amzn.to/4aiwQUS - 4.5" diamond cup wheel
amzn.to/4aisWvb - mortar mixing paddle whip
amzn.to/49nsDOq - Budget mortar mixer and paddle
amzn.to/4ayjR1z - Sea sponge set for texturing
amzn.to/3xvpE96 - Masonry / grout sponges
amzn.to/3TGrZ8H - Marshalltown margin trowel (rubber grip)
amzn.to/3VEhntP - Marshalltown margin trowel (wood grip)
amzn.to/3xujXbx - Marshalltown point trowel (rubber grip)
amzn.to/3TCp9Se - Marshalltown point trowel (wood grip)
amzn.to/4ale5A4 - Marshalltown 12" square trowel
amzn.to/4aEsUNI - 16" pool trowel set
amzn.to/43H3cpO - powdered concrete pigments
amzn.to/4avz2Is - fine sponge float
amzn.to/4cFsYPi - 5 gallon mixing bucket
amzn.to/4cyIKeG - bulk acrylic paint set
amzn.to/4aB9oBU - airbrush and compressor kit
amzn.to/3U29Y6c - high range water reducer
amzn.to/3TGModV - fiberglass reinforcement 3/4" strands
amzn.to/4cEd87w - alkalai resistant chopped glass fibers 3/4"
amzn.to/3J0YzNR - perlite 4 cubic foot bag (coarse)
amzn.to/3xiCYxI - vermiculite 4 cubic foot bag (coarse)
amzn.to/43H2xV8 - Aircrete FM-160 liquid foam maker
amzn.to/4aHPFk9 - RTV 100% silicone (10 pack)
amzn.to/3VKbWcS - Smooth-On Vytaflex 30 urethane rubber
amzn.to/3xiEhg6 - Smooth-On skin safe liquid silicone rubber
amzn.to/3VE04cj - slate texture skin
amzn.to/3J0QEAb - bluestone texture skin
amzn.to/3xmZfdR - basalt texture skin
amzn.to/4aFjSQE - Variable speed wet grinder step sanding kit
amzn.to/43I090s - 4.5 cubic foot cement barrel mixer 0.5hp
#CreatingConcrete #concrete #diyprojects #cement

[@Nettle314]

Very helpful! Thanks!

[@nicodesmidt4034]

Question: should you also vibrate aircrete ? Wouldn’t you vibrate away all the bubbles ?