Dragon Screed does not have a laser. It rides along on the forms that are set up – these forms are normally set up with a laser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely. Dragon Screed leaves an extremely flat finish. Forms are leveled with a laser prior to pouring. Our steel screed bars provide a flatness comparable to that of an A-frame screed, without the human error – here’s why: with a truss screed or roller screed, the concrete must be nearly flat prior to screeding. So one guy is pushing the concrete in to fill a hole (causing some to boil under an create a high spot), and another guy is pulling concrete out (causing a low spot). With our screed, we pour the concrete just a little high, then let the screed strike off the excess until the concrete is at the correct (and uniform!) height. Then, we turn on the vibration system and make another pass (or two if necessary) to screed and vibrate the concrete.
The two arms that connect the main beam to the screed bar are hinged on both ends, giving the operator about 18 inches of play in case the driving surface is uneven. Additionally, the main attachment is on a hydraulic pivot, so if the terrain is really rough and the operator needs more than 18 inches, they simply tilt the whole unit using the skid steer controls. In general the smoother the surface is, the easier it is to operate.
We suggest placing stakes every 3-4 feet, though it depends on how solid the subgrade is that the stakes are driven into.
The screed is more concerned with having enough vs having too much. If you do not have enough concrete in front of the screed, you will have to push concrete back in. On the other hand, if you have too much concrete, you just back up and screed it again. By pouring a little extra concrete in front of the screed, you allow the skid steer to do the dragging for you.
We cut the pipe below the level of the concrete and glue a coupling onto the end of the pipe (about a 1/4 of an inch below the surface). We then duct tape a small flagging wire to the inside of the pipe. We screed concrete right over the pipes. The screed passes over the flags and they pop right back up. After the concrete has stiffened up, it’s easy to find the pipes (the concrete is a slightly different color as compared to the rest of the pour), open them up, and plug your pipe right into it.
Dragon Screed uses the downward pressure from the weight of the screed bar itself, approximately 100 lbs. This weight, combined with hinged arms, allows you to drive over rougher terrain while keeping the screed bar riding on the forms.
Yes, it moves in a similar range of motion as your bucket would normally move. In addition it provides left and right tilt to adjust for slope on your pour and uneven terrain outside of the forms.
No. The main beam was designed with a small amount of flex built in. The arms float on hinges, ensuring that the rigid screed bar remains flat on the pour.
No, the vibrator parts and pieces are sealed and can be washed later with standard “after pour clean up”.
Definitely! – even on your very first pour. See our Profitability Analysis.
No, only the weight of the screed is recommended to be on your forms or rail system. Dragon Screed is designed to rise up and over the concrete if you get too much concrete in front of it. Placing downward pressure on the screed would not allow the screed bar to rise up when necessary.
We ship screeds with a third party hauler. We work with each customer to arrange shipment and are happy to use their preferred carrier. Customer are also welcome to come pick their screed up from our warehouse if they prefer.
Yes we do. Please call our office for details.