Guide · 7 min
Vibrating screed or poker vibrator? Which one for each pour
Also called: vibrating screed; poker or immersion vibrator
By the SIMAQ technical team · Grupo ConstruMarket ·
Short answer
They don't compete: they do different jobs. The poker vibrator removes air from inside the concrete and is a must in columns, beams, walls, footings and anywhere with heavy rebar. The vibrating screed levels and compacts the surface of slabs and floors in one pass. On a typical slab you use both: poker to consolidate and screed to set the level.
max layer, 6 m screed
per poker insertion
m/min screed travel
What each one does
The poker (immersion) vibrator puts a vibrating head inside the fresh concrete. Air bubbles rise and escape, and the mix settles around the rebar. Without it you get honeycombs that weaken the element.
The vibrating screed is a beam that vibrates while riding on the screed rails. As you pull it, it settles the surface and leaves it level, ready for floating. It works the top of the slab, not the bottom of a column.
If your pour looks like this, use this
| Pour | Equipment | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Columns, beams, walls, footings | Poker vibrator | Slender columns: mini vibrator (35 mm head) |
| Slab or floor on screed rails | Screed + poker | Poker at beams and edges; screed for level |
| Large floor or subfloor | 6 m screed (SQRVA6M PRO) | Assembles in 1, 2 and 3 m sections |
| Sidewalk, ramp, narrow bay | 1.2 m screed (SQRVA1.2SET) | Comes with 1.2 and 3.0 m blades |
| Layer thicker than 200 mm | Poker, layer by layer | The screed alone won't reach the bottom |
How to use the vibrating screed
- Set your screed rails or level references: the screed works against them.
- Pick the blade: short for edges and narrow areas, long for wide slabs.
- With freshly poured concrete, start the vibration and pull at a steady pace (the 6 m screed travels 1.2 to 2.5 m/min).
- Keep a roll of mix in front of the blade so it fills the low spots.
- If low spots remain, fill by hand and pass again. Then comes floating or the power trowel.
How to use the poker vibrator
- Insert the head vertically and quickly, into the layer below to knit the layers.
- Hold it 5 to 15 seconds per spot, until paste rises and large bubbles stop.
- Pull it out slowly so the hole closes on its own.
- Repeat on a grid, spacing points about 1.5 times the head's radius of action.
Which SIMAQ machine to choose
Screeds: the SQRVA6M PRO is 6 m long, aluminium, with a 9 HP Honda GX270 and a 200 mm maximum layer thickness; the SQRVA1.2SET is the light one, with a 1.5 HP Honda GX35 and 1.2 and 3.0 m blades.
Vibrators: the gas SQ28 PRO (Honda GX160, 38 mm head) for large pours without power; the electric SQVEH40 (5.8 kg) when there's an outlet; the backpack SQMG28 PRO (Honda GX35) when you move around a lot; and the SQRVP1.5 mini vibrator (110 V, 35 mm head) for columns and small pours.
Before you ask for a quote, have this ready
With this, an advisor in your country can recommend the right machine in a single conversation:
- Length and width of the slab or bays.
- Pour thickness.
- Whether there are beams, columns or heavy rebar.
- Whether you have power on site, to choose the vibrator.
- Country and city of the job.
Common mistakes
- Using only the screed on a slab with beams or heavy rebar: the bottom keeps its air.
- Pulling the screed without rails and expecting it to come out flat.
- Dragging the poker sideways to move concrete: it segregates the aggregate.
- Over-vibrating one spot: water and paste rise and the stone sinks.
- Leaving the screed running while standing still on the concrete.
Takeaway
Poker to consolidate from inside (columns, beams, footings, edges); screed to set the slab level. On a normal slab, both. Get a quote here and an advisor will put together the screed-and-vibrator set for your pour.
Keep going
Frequently asked
Does a vibrating screed replace a poker vibrator?
No. The screed works the surface; the poker consolidates from inside. In columns, beams and heavy-rebar areas you need a poker, no matter what.
What screed length do I need?
For wide floors and subfloors, the 6 m one (it assembles in 1, 2 and 3 m sections). For sidewalks, ramps and narrow bays, the 1.2 m one, which also comes with a 3.0 m blade.
What slab thickness does the screed handle?
The SIMAQ 6 m screed lists a maximum layer thickness of 200 mm. Thicker than that, vibrate in layers with a poker.
Can you over-vibrate concrete?
Yes. Overdo it and water and paste rise while the aggregate sinks. With a poker, 5 to 15 seconds per spot is usually enough.
What comes after the screed?
Floating and finishing with the power trowel, once the slab holds your footstep with a 3 to 5 mm print.
