🏗️ Concrete

• accelerator ak-SEL-eh-ray-ter ▶ EN
  acelerante ah-seh-leh-RAHN-teh ▶ ES

  An admixture that makes concrete set faster, used in cold weather or tight schedules.

  It's dropping below forty tonight, ask the plant for accelerator. — Va a bajar de cuarenta grados esta noche, pídele acelerante a la planta.

• admixture ad-MIKS-cher ▶ EN
  aditivo ah-dee-TEE-boh ▶ ES

  A chemical added to the concrete mix to change how it behaves, like setting faster or flowing better.

  The engineer approved an admixture so we can pump this mix. — El ingeniero aprobó un aditivo para poder bombear esta mezcla.

• aggregate AG-greh-get ▶ EN
  agregado ah-greh-GAH-doh ▶ ES

  The rock and sand mixed into concrete to give it body and strength.

  This mix uses three-quarter-inch aggregate. — Esta mezcla lleva agregado de tres cuartos de pulgada.

  Also: árido (general)

• air entrainment air en-TRAYN-ment ▶ EN
  aire incluido AH-ee-reh een-kloo-EE-doh ▶ ES

  Tiny air bubbles put in the mix on purpose so the concrete survives freezing and thawing.

  Exterior flatwork needs air entrainment per the spec. — Las losas exteriores llevan aire incluido según la especificación.

  Also: aire incorporado (general)

• anchor bolt ANG-ker bohlt ▶ EN
  ancla AHN-klah ▶ ES

  The bolt set into wet concrete so walls, columns, or equipment can be bolted down later.

  Check the anchor bolt layout against the template before the pour. — Revisa la posición de las anclas contra la plantilla antes del colado.

  Also: perno de anclaje (general)

• batch bach ▶ EN
  bachada bah-CHAH-dah ▶ ES

  One load or mixing of concrete or mortar made at a time.

  That last batch came in too wet, reject it. — Esa última bachada llegó muy aguada, recházala.

  Also: revoltura (MX) · tanda (general)

• bleed water bleed WAH-ter ▶ EN
  agua de sangrado AH-gwah deh sahn-GRAH-doh ▶ ES

  The water that rises to the surface of fresh concrete; finishing on top of it weakens the slab.

  Wait for the bleed water to evaporate before you trowel. — Espera a que se evapore el agua de sangrado antes de pasar la llana.

• blowout BLOH-owt ▶ EN
  reventón de cimbra reh-behn-TOHN deh SEEM-brah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  When a form breaks open under the pressure of wet concrete and the mix spills out.

  Slow the pour down or we'll get a blowout on that tall wall. — Bájale al colado o nos va a dar un reventón de cimbra en ese muro alto.

• boom pump boom pump ▶ EN
  bomba pluma BOHM-bah PLOO-mah ▶ ES

  A pump truck with a long folding arm that reaches over walls and obstacles to place concrete.

  We need a boom pump to reach the back of the lot. — Necesitamos una bomba pluma para alcanzar el fondo del terreno.

• brace brays ▶ EN
  puntal poon-TAHL ▶ ES

  The diagonal member that keeps forms or walls from tipping or bowing.

  Add a brace to that corner form before you fill it. — Ponle un puntal a la cimbra de esa esquina antes de llenarla.

• broom finish broom FIN-ish ▶ EN
  acabado escobillado ah-kah-BAH-doh ehs-koh-bee-YAH-doh ▶ ES

  The rough texture made by dragging a broom across fresh concrete so it isn't slippery when wet.

  All exterior sidewalks get a broom finish. — Todas las banquetas exteriores llevan acabado escobillado.

  Also: rayado (MX)

• buggy BUG-ee ▶ EN
  bogui BOH-gee ▶ ES

  The motorized cart that hauls concrete from the truck to spots the chute can't reach.

  Run the buggy through the side gate and dump along the back wall. — Mete el bogui por el portón de lado y vacía a lo largo del muro de atrás.

• bulkhead BULK-hed ▶ EN
  frontera de colado frohn-TEH-rah deh koh-LAH-doh ▶ ES

  The temporary form that stops the concrete at the end of a pour so the next pour can join it.

  Set the bulkhead at the column line, that's where today's pour ends. — Pon la frontera de colado en el eje de la columna, ahí termina el colado de hoy.

  Also: tapa (MX)

• bull float bul floht ▶ EN
  flota de mango largo FLOH-tah deh MAHN-goh LAR-goh ▶ ES

  The wide, long-handled float pushed over fresh concrete right after screeding to smooth and close the surface.

  Hit it with the bull float before the bleed water shows up. — Pásale la flota de mango largo antes de que suba el agua de sangrado.

• cement seh-MENT ▶ EN
  cemento seh-MEHN-toh ▶ ES

  The gray powder that binds sand and gravel together when mixed with water; it is one ingredient of concrete, not the concrete itself.

  Grab two more bags of cement from the truck. — Trae dos sacos más de cemento de la troca.

  Also: cemento (MX)

• chamfer CHAM-fer ▶ EN
  chaflán chah-FLAHN ▶ ES

  The angled strip put in a form corner so the finished concrete edge comes out beveled instead of sharp.

  Nail chamfer strips in all the exposed column corners. — Clava tiras de chaflán en todas las esquinas expuestas de las columnas.

• chute shoot ▶ EN
  canalón kah-nah-LOHN ▶ ES

  The metal trough on the back of the mixer truck that guides the concrete down to the forms.

  Swing the chute over here and give me half a yard. — Gira el canalón para acá y dame media yarda.

  Also: canaleta (general)

• cold joint kohld joynt ▶ EN
  junta fría HOON-tah FREE-ah ▶ ES

  The weak seam left when fresh concrete is placed against concrete that already started to set.

  Keep the trucks coming or we'll end up with a cold joint. — Que no paren las ollas o nos va a quedar una junta fría.

• column KOL-um ▶ EN
  columna koh-LOOM-nah ▶ ES

  A vertical concrete member that carries loads from beams and slabs down to the foundation.

  Pour the columns first and the deck next week. — Cuela las columnas primero y la losa la semana que entra.

  Also: castillo (MX)

• compaction kom-PAK-shun ▶ EN
  compactación kohm-pahk-tah-see-OHN ▶ ES

  Packing down the soil or base so it's dense enough to support the concrete on top.

  The soils tech has to verify compaction before we form the slab. — El laboratorista de suelos tiene que verificar la compactación antes de cimbrar la losa.

• compressive strength kom-PRESS-iv strength ▶ EN
  resistencia a la compresión reh-sees-TEHN-see-ah ah lah kohm-preh-see-OHN ▶ ES

  How much squeezing load the hardened concrete can take before it fails, checked by breaking cylinders.

  The seven-day break already hit the design compressive strength. — La prueba a siete días ya alcanzó la resistencia a la compresión de diseño.

• concrete KON-kreet ▶ EN
  concreto kohn-KREH-toh ▶ ES

  The mix of cement, sand, gravel, and water that hardens into structures like slabs and footings.

  The concrete shows up at six, so have the forms ready tonight. — El concreto llega a las seis, así que deja la cimbra lista hoy en la noche.

  Also: hormigón (general) · concreto (MX)

• concrete cover KON-kreet KUV-er ▶ EN
  recubrimiento reh-koo-bree-mee-EHN-toh ▶ ES

  The thickness of concrete between the rebar and the surface, which protects the steel from rust.

  You need three inches of concrete cover against the dirt. — Necesitas tres pulgadas de recubrimiento contra la tierra.

• concrete finisher KON-kreet FIN-ish-er ▶ EN
  acabador ah-kah-bah-DOR ▶ ES

  The tradesperson who levels, floats, and trowels fresh concrete to its final surface.

  We need four concrete finishers for Thursday's slab. — Necesitamos cuatro acabadores para la losa del jueves.

• concrete mixer KON-kreet MIK-ser ▶ EN
  revolvedora reh-bohl-beh-DOH-rah ▶ ES

  The small drum machine used to mix concrete or mortar on site.

  Fire up the concrete mixer, we're doing the patch work by hand. — Prende la revolvedora, los resanes los vamos a hacer a mano.

  Also: mezcladora (general) · concretera (GT)

• concrete pour KON-kreet por ▶ EN
  colado koh-LAH-doh ▶ ES

  The event of placing concrete; one continuous placement from start to finish.

  The whole crew comes in early for the big pour. — Toda la cuadrilla entra temprano para el colado grande.

  Also: vaciado (general) · fundición (SV)

• concrete saw KON-kreet saw ▶ EN
  cortadora de concreto kor-tah-DOH-rah deh kohn-KREH-toh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The walk-behind or handheld saw with a diamond blade used to cut hardened concrete.

  Use water with the concrete saw to keep the dust down. — Usa agua con la cortadora de concreto para controlar el polvo.

• construction joint kon-STRUK-shun joynt ▶ EN
  junta de construcción HOON-tah deh kohns-trook-see-OHN ▶ ES

  The planned joint where one pour stops and the next one starts.

  The construction joint lands on grid line C. — La junta de construcción cae en el eje C.

• control joint kon-TROHL joynt ▶ EN
  junta de control HOON-tah deh kohn-TROHL ▶ ES

  A groove cut or tooled into a slab so shrinkage cracks happen along the joint instead of at random.

  Cut the control joints within twelve hours of the pour. — Corta las juntas de control antes de doce horas después del colado.

• crack krak ▶ EN
  grieta gree-EH-tah ▶ ES

  A break or split in hardened concrete from shrinkage, loads, or movement.

  Map every crack in the slab before the owner walks it. — Marca todas las grietas de la losa antes de que el dueño la recorra.

  Also: fisura (general)

• cubic yard KYOO-bik yard ▶ EN
  yarda cúbica YAR-dah KOO-bee-kah ▶ ES

  The unit concrete is sold by in the US; one truck usually holds about ten.

  The footing takes twelve cubic yards, so order two trucks. — La zapata lleva doce yardas cúbicas, así que pide dos ollas.

• curb kerb ▶ EN
  guarnición gwar-nee-see-OHN ▶ ES

  The raised concrete edge along a street or parking lot.

  The curb and gutter crew starts after the base is compacted. — La cuadrilla de guarnición y cuneta empieza después de compactar la base.

  Also: bordillo (general) · encintado (PR)

• cure kyoor ▶ EN
  curar koo-RAR ▶ ES

  To keep new concrete moist and at the right temperature so it gains full strength.

  Cure the slab for seven days before you load it. — Cura la losa siete días antes de ponerle carga.

• curing blanket KYOOR-ing BLANG-ket ▶ EN
  manta de curado MAHN-tah deh koo-RAH-doh ▶ ES

  The insulated blanket laid over new concrete to hold in heat and moisture, mainly in cold weather.

  Cover the footings with curing blankets, it's freezing tonight. — Tapa las zapatas con mantas de curado, va a helar esta noche.

• curing compound KYOOR-ing KOM-pownd ▶ EN
  membrana de curado mehm-BRAH-nah deh koo-RAH-doh ▶ ES

  The liquid sprayed on fresh concrete that seals in moisture so it cures properly.

  Spray curing compound as soon as the finish sets. — Rocía la membrana de curado en cuanto amacice el acabado.

• cylinder SIL-in-der ▶ EN
  cilindro de prueba see-LEEN-droh ▶ ES

  A molded sample of fresh concrete that the lab breaks later to check the strength.

  They cast six cylinders off the third truck. — Sacaron seis cilindros de la tercera olla.

• dowel DOW-el ▶ EN
  bastón bahs-TOHN ▶ ES

  A short piece of rebar sticking out of one pour so the next pour ties into it.

  Drill and epoxy dowels into the existing slab every sixteen inches. — Perfora y ancla bastones con epóxico en la losa existente a cada dieciséis pulgadas.

  Also: dovela (general) · ancla (MX)

• edger EJ-er ▶ EN
  canteador kahn-teh-ah-DOR ▶ ES

  The hand tool that rounds off the edge of a slab so it doesn't chip.

  Run the edger along the forms after you float it. — Pasa el canteador a lo largo de la cimbra después de flotear.

  Also: bordeadora (general)

• embed plate EM-bed playt ▶ EN
  placa ahogada PLAH-kah ah-oh-GAH-dah ▶ ES

  A steel plate cast into the concrete so steel members can be welded or bolted to it later.

  The embed plates for the stair stringers go on this wall. — Las placas ahogadas para las zancas de la escalera van en este muro.

• expansion joint ek-SPAN-shun joynt ▶ EN
  junta de expansión HOON-tah deh eks-pahn-see-OHN ▶ ES

  A full-depth gap with filler material that lets concrete sections move without pushing on each other.

  Put expansion joint material wherever the slab meets the building. — Pon material de junta de expansión donde la losa pegue con el edificio.

• exposed aggregate ek-SPOHZD AG-greh-get ▶ EN
  agregado expuesto ah-greh-GAH-doh eks-PWEHS-toh ▶ ES

  A decorative finish where the top paste is washed off so the stones in the mix show.

  The patio spec calls for exposed aggregate with river rock. — La especificación del patio pide agregado expuesto con piedra de río.

  Also: lavado (MX)

• float floht ▶ EN
  flotear floh-teh-AR ▶ ES

  To work the surface of fresh concrete with a float to even it out and prepare it for finishing.

  Float the slab as soon as the sheen leaves the surface. — Flotea la losa en cuanto se le quite el brillo a la superficie.

  Also: aplanar (general)

• footing FUT-ing ▶ EN
  zapata sah-PAH-tah ▶ ES

  The wide concrete base at the bottom of a foundation that spreads the building's weight into the ground.

  The inspector has to see the footing rebar before we pour. — El inspector tiene que ver la varilla de la zapata antes de colar.

  Also: cimiento corrido (general)

• form release form ree-LEES ▶ EN
  desmoldante dehs-mohl-DAHN-teh ▶ ES

  The oil sprayed on forms so the concrete doesn't stick to them.

  Spray form release on the panels before you set them. — Rocía desmoldante en los paneles antes de colocarlos.

• form stake form stayk ▶ EN
  estaca ehs-TAH-kah ▶ ES

  The steel or wood pin driven into the ground to hold edge forms in place.

  Drive a form stake every four feet along the sidewalk forms. — Clava una estaca a cada cuatro pies a lo largo de la cimbra de la banqueta.

• form tie form tahy ▶ EN
  tensor de cimbra tehn-SOR deh SEEM-brah ▶ ES

  The metal rod or strap that holds both sides of a wall form together against the pressure of wet concrete.

  We're short about fifty form ties for the tall wall. — Nos faltan como cincuenta tensores de cimbra para el muro alto.

  Also: corbata (MX)

• formwork FORM-werk ▶ EN
  cimbra SEEM-brah ▶ ES

  The temporary wood or metal molds that hold wet concrete in shape until it hardens.

  Check the formwork one more time before the trucks roll in. — Revisa la cimbra una vez más antes de que lleguen las ollas.

  Also: encofrado (general) · moldes (SV)

• fresno FREZ-noh ▶ EN
  fresno FREHS-noh ▶ ES

  A big steel trowel on a long handle used to finish slabs without walking on them.

  Run the fresno over the middle while it's still workable. — Pásale el fresno al centro mientras todavía se deja trabajar.

• grade beam grayd beem ▶ EN
  contratrabe kohn-trah-TRAH-beh ▶ ES

  A reinforced concrete beam at ground level that ties footings or piers together and carries walls.

  Form the grade beams after the piers are cut to elevation. — Cimbra las contratrabes después de descabezar las pilas a nivel.

  Also: trabe de liga (general)

• gravel GRA-vel ▶ EN
  grava GRAH-bah ▶ ES

  Crushed or rounded rock used in concrete mixes and as base under slabs.

  Spread four inches of gravel before the vapor barrier goes down. — Tiende cuatro pulgadas de grava antes de poner la barrera de vapor.

  Also: piedrín (GT) · gravilla (general)

• groover GROO-ver ▶ EN
  ranurador rah-noo-rah-DOR ▶ ES

  The hand tool that cuts a control joint groove into fresh concrete.

  Put a joint in with the groover every ten feet. — Marca una junta con el ranurador a cada diez pies.

• hand float hand floht ▶ EN
  llana de madera YAH-nah deh mah-DEH-rah ▶ ES

  The small wood or resin float used by hand to work the concrete surface.

  Work the edges with a hand float where the machine can't reach. — Trabaja las orillas con la llana de madera donde no llega la máquina.

• honeycomb HUN-ee-kohm ▶ EN
  panal pah-NAHL ▶ ES

  The rocky voids on a concrete surface where the mix didn't get vibrated in around the rebar or forms.

  We got honeycomb at the base of the wall, it needs patching. — Nos salió panal en la base del muro, hay que resanarlo.

  Also: oquedades (general)

• jumping jack JUM-ping jak ▶ EN
  bailarina bahy-lah-REE-nah ▶ ES

  The upright rammer that hops up and down to compact soil in trenches and tight spots.

  Use the jumping jack to compact the trench backfill in lifts. — Usa la bailarina para compactar el relleno de la zanja por capas.

• keyway KEE-way ▶ EN
  llave de cortante YAH-beh deh kor-TAHN-teh ▶ ES

  The groove formed in a footing or joint so the next pour locks into it.

  Press the keyway into the footing while it's still wet. — Marca la llave de cortante en la zapata mientras todavía está fresca.

  Also: cuña (general)

• lap splice lap splahys ▶ EN
  traslape trahs-LAH-peh ▶ ES

  The overlap where two rebar ends run side by side and get tied so they act as one bar.

  The spec wants a forty-diameter lap splice on the number five bars. — La especificación pide un traslape de cuarenta diámetros en la varilla del cinco.

• mag float mag floht ▶ EN
  llana de magnesio YAH-nah deh mahg-NEH-see-oh ▶ ES

  A lightweight magnesium hand float that opens the surface and brings up moisture for finishing.

  Use the mag float first, then come back with the steel trowel. — Usa primero la llana de magnesio y luego regresa con la llana metálica.

• mixer truck MIK-ser truk ▶ EN
  olla OH-yah ▶ ES

  The truck with the rotating drum that delivers ready-mix concrete to the job.

  There are three mixer trucks lined up on the street already. — Ya hay tres ollas formadas en la calle.

  Also: camión revolvedor (general) · camión chorreador (SV)

• monolithic pour mon-oh-LITH-ik por ▶ EN
  colado monolítico koh-LAH-doh moh-noh-LEE-tee-koh ▶ ES

  Pouring the footing and slab, or several elements, in one continuous placement with no joints between them.

  The garage is a monolithic pour, footings and slab together. — El garaje es colado monolítico, zapatas y losa juntas.

• mud slab mud slab ▶ EN
  plantilla plahn-TEE-yah ▶ ES

  A thin layer of lean concrete poured over dirt to give a clean, level surface to work on.

  Pour a two-inch mud slab so we can lay out the footing steel. — Cuela una plantilla de dos pulgadas para poder armar el acero de la zapata.

  Also: concreto de limpieza (general)

• patch pach ▶ EN
  resanar reh-sah-NAR ▶ ES

  To fill and repair holes, honeycomb, or defects in hardened concrete.

  Patch the tie holes before the waterproofing goes on. — Resana los hoyos de los tensores antes de que entre el impermeabilizante.

• pier peer ▶ EN
  pila PEE-lah ▶ ES

  A column of concrete, often drilled into the ground, that carries a load down to solid soil.

  The drill rig starts on the piers Monday. — La perforadora empieza con las pilas el lunes.

  Also: pilote colado (MX) · dado (general)

• plate compactor playt kom-PAK-ter ▶ EN
  placa vibratoria PLAH-kah bee-brah-TOH-ree-ah ▶ ES

  The machine with a flat vibrating plate used to compact base and soil.

  Run the plate compactor over the gravel in two directions. — Pasa la placa vibratoria sobre la grava en dos direcciones.

• pour por ▶ EN
  colar koh-LAR ▶ ES

  To place fresh concrete into forms or onto a prepared surface.

  We pour the footings tomorrow if it doesn't rain. — Mañana colamos las zapatas si no llueve.

  Also: vaciar (general) · fundir (SV)

• power trowel POW-er TROW-el ▶ EN
  helicóptero eh-lee-KOHP-teh-roh ▶ ES

  The machine with rotating blades that finishes big slabs faster and harder than hand troweling.

  Get the power trowel on the slab as soon as it holds your weight. — Sube el helicóptero a la losa en cuanto aguante tu peso.

  Also: allanadora (general)

• PSI pee-es-AY ▶ EN
  PSI peh-EH-seh-EE ▶ ES

  Pounds per square inch, the measure of concrete strength; most slabs are 3,000 to 4,000 PSI.

  This foundation mix is four thousand PSI. — Esta mezcla de cimentación es de cuatro mil PSI.

  Also: libras por pulgada cuadrada (general)

• pump truck pump truk ▶ EN
  bomba de concreto BOHM-bah deh kohn-KREH-toh ▶ ES

  The truck with a pump and hoses or a boom that moves concrete from the mixer to where it's placed.

  The pump truck sets up at five thirty, keep that corner clear. — La bomba de concreto se instala a las cinco y media, deja esa esquina despejada.

• ready-mix REH-dee-miks ▶ EN
  concreto premezclado preh-mehs-KLAH-doh ▶ ES

  Concrete batched at a plant and delivered to the job in a mixer truck, ready to pour.

  Order the ready-mix for a seven a.m. delivery. — Pide el premezclado para que llegue a las siete de la mañana.

• rebar REE-bar ▶ EN
  varilla bah-REE-yah ▶ ES

  Steel reinforcing bar embedded in concrete to add tensile strength.

  Tie the rebar on 12-inch centers before the pour. — Amarra la varilla a cada 12 pulgadas antes del colado.

  Also: barra de refuerzo (general) · cabilla (PR)

• rebar cage REE-bar kayj ▶ EN
  armado de varilla ar-MAH-doh deh bah-REE-yah ▶ ES

  Rebar tied together into a basket shape, ready to drop into a pier, column, or beam form.

  The crane sets the rebar cage into the pier hole at noon. — La grúa mete el armado de varilla en la perforación de la pila al mediodía.

• rebar chair REE-bar chair ▶ EN
  silleta see-YEH-tah ▶ ES

  The small support that holds rebar up off the ground so it sits at the right height in the slab.

  Set the mat on rebar chairs, don't leave it lying on the plastic. — Pon la parrilla sobre silletas, no la dejes tirada sobre el plástico.

  Also: pollo (MX)

• retarder ree-TAR-der ▶ EN
  retardante reh-tar-DAHN-teh ▶ ES

  An admixture that slows the set of concrete, used in hot weather or long hauls.

  With this heat we need retarder in every load. — Con este calor necesitamos retardante en cada carga.

• sand sand ▶ EN
  arena ah-REH-nah ▶ ES

  The fine aggregate in concrete and mortar mixes.

  We need another yard of sand for the pump mix. — Necesitamos otra yarda de arena para la mezcla de la bomba.

• saw cut saw kut ▶ EN
  corte con disco KOR-teh kohn DEES-koh ▶ ES

  A cut made in hardened concrete with a diamond blade, usually for control joints.

  Chalk the lines so the saw cuts run straight. — Marca las líneas con tiza para que los cortes con disco salgan derechos.

• screed skreed ▶ EN
  regla REH-glah ▶ ES

  The straight board or bar dragged across fresh concrete to level it to grade.

  Grab the other end of the screed and keep it tight to the forms. — Agarra el otro extremo de la regla y mantenla pegada a la cimbra.

  Also: codal (general)

• screed rail skreed rayl ▶ EN
  maestra mah-EHS-trah ▶ ES

  The guide strip or pipe set to grade that the screed rides on across a big slab.

  Set the screed rails on grade before the first truck dumps. — Pon las maestras a nivel antes de que vacíe la primera olla.

• set set ▶ EN
  fraguar frah-GWAR ▶ ES

  When concrete stiffens and hardens as the cement reacts with water.

  Don't load the slab until it sets, give it a few days. — No le pongas carga a la losa hasta que fragüe, dale unos días.

• shoring SHOR-ing ▶ EN
  apuntalamiento ah-poon-tah-lah-mee-EHN-toh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Temporary posts and frames that carry the load of fresh concrete or hold back soil; removing it too early can kill someone.

  Nobody touches the shoring until the engineer signs off. — Nadie toca el apuntalamiento hasta que el ingeniero dé el visto bueno.

• sidewalk SAHYD-wok ▶ EN
  banqueta bahn-KEH-tah ▶ ES

  The concrete walking path along a street or building.

  Saw-cut the sidewalk every five feet. — Corta la banqueta con disco a cada cinco pies.

  Also: acera (general) · acera (PR)

• slab slab ▶ EN
  losa LOH-sah ▶ ES

  A flat, horizontal plate of concrete like a floor, driveway, or deck.

  We pour the garage slab on Thursday. — Colamos la losa del garaje el jueves.

  Also: plancha (GT) · placa (general)

• slab on grade slab on grayd ▶ EN
  losa sobre terreno LOH-sah SOH-breh teh-RREH-noh ▶ ES

  A slab poured directly on the prepared ground instead of on a framed floor.

  This building is slab on grade, no basement. — Este edificio es de losa sobre terreno, sin sótano.

  Also: firme (MX)

• sleeve sleev ▶ EN
  camisa kah-MEE-sah ▶ ES

  A pipe or blockout cast into the concrete to leave a hole for plumbing, conduit, or bolts.

  The plumber needs two sleeves through the grade beam. — El plomero necesita dos camisas atravesando la contratrabe.

  Also: pase (general)

• slump slump ▶ EN
  revenimiento reh-beh-nee-mee-EHN-toh ▶ ES

  How wet and workable the concrete is, measured by how much a molded cone of it sags.

  The spec calls for a four-inch slump on this pour. — La especificación pide un revenimiento de cuatro pulgadas en este colado.

  Also: asentamiento (general)

• slump cone slump kohn ▶ EN
  cono de revenimiento KOH-noh deh reh-beh-nee-mee-EHN-toh ▶ ES

  The metal cone used to run a slump test on fresh concrete.

  The tech left the slump cone by the washout. — El laboratorista dejó el cono de revenimiento junto a la zona de lavado.

  Also: cono de Abrams (general)

• slump test slump test ▶ EN
  prueba de revenimiento proo-EH-bah deh reh-beh-nee-mee-EHN-toh ▶ ES

  The field test where a cone of fresh concrete is pulled and measured to check how wet the mix is.

  The inspector wants a slump test on the first truck. — El inspector quiere prueba de revenimiento en la primera olla.

• stem wall stem wall ▶ EN
  murete de cimentación moo-REH-teh deh see-mehn-tah-see-OHN ▶ ES

  The short concrete wall that rises from the footing up to where the framing starts.

  Set the anchor bolts in the stem wall while it's wet. — Ahoga las anclas en el murete de cimentación mientras está fresco.

  Also: muro de desplante (general) · rodapié (MX)

• stirrup STIR-up ▶ EN
  estribo ehs-TREE-boh ▶ ES

  The bent rebar loop that wraps around the main bars in a beam or column.

  The plans call for stirrups every six inches near the supports. — Los planos piden estribos a cada seis pulgadas cerca de los apoyos.

  Also: anillo (general)

• strike off strahyk off ▶ EN
  enrasar ehn-rrah-SAR ▶ ES

  To drag the screed across the fresh concrete to cut it down level with the forms.

  Strike off behind the pump hose as they go. — Ve enrasando detrás de la manguera de la bomba conforme avanzan.

  Also: reglear (MX)

• strip forms strip forms ▶ EN
  descimbrar dehs-seem-BRAR ▶ ES

  To take the forms off the concrete after it has gained enough strength.

  We can strip forms on the walls tomorrow morning. — Podemos descimbrar los muros mañana en la mañana.

  Also: desencofrar (general)

• tie wire tahy wahyr ▶ EN
  alambre recocido ah-LAHM-breh reh-koh-SEE-doh ▶ ES

  The soft wire used to tie rebar together at the crossings.

  Bring another roll of tie wire, this one's almost gone. — Trae otro rollo de alambre recocido, este ya casi se acaba.

• trowel TROW-el ▶ EN
  llana YAH-nah ▶ ES

  The flat steel tool used to smooth and densify the concrete surface.

  Give it two passes with the steel trowel for a smooth finish. — Dale dos pasadas con la llana metálica para un acabado liso.

  Also: plana (general)

• trowel finish TROW-el FIN-ish ▶ EN
  acabado pulido ah-kah-BAH-doh poo-LEE-doh ▶ ES

  The smooth, dense surface left by steel troweling, common on interior floors.

  The warehouse floor gets a hard trowel finish. — El piso de la bodega lleva acabado pulido duro.

• vapor barrier VAY-por BAIR-ee-er ▶ EN
  barrera de vapor bah-RREH-rah deh bah-POR ▶ ES

  The plastic sheet laid under a slab to stop ground moisture from coming up through the concrete.

  Tape every seam on the vapor barrier and patch the holes. — Encinta todas las uniones de la barrera de vapor y parcha los hoyos.

• vibrator VAHY-bray-ter ▶ EN
  vibrador bee-brah-DOR ▶ ES

  The tool with a vibrating head that is dipped into fresh concrete to shake out air pockets.

  Run the vibrator in every lift or we'll get honeycomb. — Mete el vibrador en cada capa o nos va a salir panal.

  Also: aguja vibradora (general)

• waler WAY-ler ▶ EN
  larguero de cimbra lar-GEH-roh deh SEEM-brah ▶ ES

  The horizontal member that runs along the outside of wall forms to stiffen and align them.

  Double up the walers on the bottom row, that's where the pressure is. — Dobla los largueros de la fila de abajo, ahí es donde pega la presión.

  Also: carrera (general)

• washout WASH-owt ▶ EN
  zona de lavado SOH-nah deh lah-BAH-doh ▶ ES

  The designated spot where trucks and pumps rinse out their leftover concrete.

  Send the driver to the washout behind the trailer. — Manda al chofer a la zona de lavado atrás de la oficina móvil.

• water-cement ratio WAH-ter seh-MENT RAY-shoh ▶ EN
  relación agua-cemento reh-lah-see-OHN AH-gwah seh-MEHN-toh ▶ ES

  How much water there is compared to cement in the mix; more water means weaker concrete.

  Don't add water to the truck, it kills the water-cement ratio. — No le eches agua a la olla, echa a perder la relación agua-cemento.

• wet cure wet kyoor ▶ EN
  curado con agua koo-RAH-doh kohn AH-gwah ▶ ES

  Curing concrete by keeping the surface wet with water, hoses, or soaked burlap.

  The spec requires a seven-day wet cure on the deck. — La especificación exige curado con agua por siete días en la losa.

• wheelbarrow WEEL-bair-oh ▶ EN
  carretilla kah-rreh-TEE-yah ▶ ES

  The one-wheel cart used to move concrete, mortar, and material by hand.

  Bring the wheelbarrow, the chute won't reach that corner. — Trae la carretilla, el canalón no llega a esa esquina.

  Also: carreta de mano (GT)

• wire mesh wahyr mesh ▶ EN
  malla electrosoldada MAH-yah eh-lehk-troh-sohl-DAH-dah ▶ ES

  The welded steel grid laid in slabs to control cracking.

  Pull the wire mesh up into the middle of the slab as you pour. — Jala la malla electrosoldada hacia el centro de la losa mientras cuelas.

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