Will AI replace Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers?

AI can do 0% of the work Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers do at least twice as fast. None of their 26 tasks show real AI use yet. Robots can technically handle 24 physical tasks. 2 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next0 · 0% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • No other tasks in this job can be sped up by AI today.

Robots can technically do this24 · 94% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.Robots: purpose built settings29% of time
  • Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.Robots: purpose built settings10% of time
  • Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.Robots: purpose built settings9% of time
  • Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth, using trowel.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Chip, scrape, and grind high spots, ridges, and rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisels, power grinders, or hand tools.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Operate power vibrator to compact concrete.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Mix cement, sand, and water to produce concrete, grout, or slurry, using hoe, trowel, tamper, scraper, or concrete-mixing machine.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Cut out damaged areas, drill holes for reinforcing rods, and position reinforcing rods to repair concrete, using power saw and drill.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete or pattern or stamp the surface to provide a decorative finish.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Wet concrete surface, and rub with stone to smooth surface and obtain specified finish.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
  • Clean chipped area, using wire brush, and feel and observe surface to determine if it is rough or uneven.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Fabricate concrete beams, columns, and panels.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Waterproof or restore concrete surfaces, using appropriate compounds.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
  • Polish surface, using polishing or surfacing machine.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Spread roofing paper on surface of foundation, and spread concrete onto roofing paper with trowel to form terrazzo base.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time
  • Sprinkle colored marble or stone chips, powdered steel, or coloring powder over surface to produce prescribed finish.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time
  • Cut metal division strips, and press them into terrazzo base so that top edges form desired design or pattern.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time
  • Apply muriatic acid to clean surface, and rinse with water.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time
  • Push roller over surface to embed chips in surface.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time

Still needs a person2 · 6% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.4% of time
  • Build wooden molds, and clamp molds around area to be repaired, using hand tools.1% of time

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 94% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Keep an eye on the 24 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 2 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers1%Boilermakers0%Brickmasons and Blockmasons0%Stonemasons0%Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles0%Floor Sanders and Finishers0%

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