We Pour More!
F&S crafts & trades finish the job.
So when Armory Avenue was dug up to repair underground infrastructure, the cement finishers made it whole again with new pathways.
Craig Harris, cement finishers foreperson, believes the team can tackle most projects on campus.
The new cement on Armory went a few places: the street and curb, a portion of the sidewalk, and inside a portion of the Ice Arena. Their work topped the ground where plumbing for steam and condensate was installed underground in a section spanning the width of the roadway.
Flat, shallow surfaces like the street and sidewalk require accurate use of the cement truck and a good eye for what fills the space. Other parts, like under the Ice Arena where the plumbing hit the building envelope, necessitate tools and funnels to get the liquid into parts that aren’t as easy to reach.
Cement finishers deal with all types of flat work, along with patching and pouring of steps, and urethane injections into walls to stop leaks in basements and elevators. Another common task is resurfacing concrete floors with epoxy and urethane mortar, and some polishing.
Harris knows his work helps with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility. And it’s what stands out the most to him, personally and professionally.
“The U of I aims to be one of the top ADA compliant campuses in the country,” Harris said. “I see a lot of students and staff who depend on these walks and bike paths, so for us to fix or replace them with new and compliant ones gives you a sense of pride or well-being to be able to help out.”
Brute strength is used to push and pull the thick, viscous cement. A light touch is just as important. Cement finishers flatten and shape the substance to align with surrounding surfaces.
“My favorite part of the trade is doing something with my hands that a lot of people can’t do,” said Harris. “Then also realizing it will likely be there when I am long gone.”