Contractors Rakes

About Contractors Rakes

Contractors rakes are heavy-duty groundwork tools engineered for demanding construction, landscaping, and civil engineering applications. Unlike standard garden rakes, these professional-grade implements feature reinforced heads, robust tubular steel shafts, and hardened teeth or blades designed to handle tough materials including tarmac, asphalt, concrete, gravel, and compacted soil on building sites. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks specialist variants such as asphalt rakes for spreading hot bituminous materials, tarmac rakes with heat-resistant construction, builders spazzles (lutes) for finishing concrete surfaces, and serrated edge soil rakes for breaking up hard ground.

The contractors rake range at MyToolShed includes trusted professional brands such as Faithfull, Roughneck, Spear and Jackson, and Draper, offering various head widths, tooth configurations, and handle lengths to suit different working preferences. Whether you're laying driveways, preparing foundations, spreading aggregate, or finishing screeds, these essential tools deliver professional results whilst reducing physical strain on demanding projects.

Applications

• Groundworkers and Civil Engineers: Preparing sub-bases, spreading aggregate, and levelling foundations on construction sites
• Tarmac and Asphalt Layers: Installing driveways, car parks, and road surfaces requiring heat-resistant spreading tools
• Landscape Contractors: Preparing ground for hard landscaping, paving, and decorative surfaces
• Concreters and Screed Layers: Using spazzles and lutes for finishing floor screeds and concrete slabs
• General Builders: Site preparation, aggregate spreading, and groundwork across construction projects
• Highway Maintenance Teams: Council and contractor teams maintaining road surfaces and repair work
• Serious DIY Enthusiasts: Substantial driveway, patio, or groundwork projects requiring professional-grade equipment

Choosing The Right Contractors Rakes

Application Type: Match the rake to your specific task. Asphalt and tarmac rakes feature heat-resistant construction for hot materials, soil rakes have serrated or standard teeth for ground preparation, whilst spazzles provide smooth blades for finishing concrete and screed surfaces.

Head Width: Wider heads (600-1000mm) cover more ground quickly but are heavier and more tiring. Narrower heads (400-600mm) offer better control in confined spaces and reduce fatigue. Consider your project scale and physical capability when selecting dimensions.

Shaft Construction: Tubular steel shafts offer superior durability for professional site use, resisting bending and providing years of service. Aluminium options reduce weight for extended use. Ensure shaft length suits your height to maintain good posture.

Tooth Configuration: Square tooth designs provide better levelling without gouging, whilst pointed teeth excel at initial ground breaking. Tooth spacing affects material handling—closer spacing for finer materials like asphalt, wider spacing for aggregate and soil.

Safety Information

Always wear appropriate PPE including safety boots with steel toe caps, work gloves, and high-visibility clothing on active sites. When working with hot asphalt or tarmac, ensure adequate heat protection and avoid direct contact with hot materials. Maintain proper posture during raking operations—keep your back straight, bend at the knees, and avoid overreaching. Take regular breaks to prevent repetitive strain injuries. Inspect tools before use, checking for loose heads, cracked shafts, or damaged teeth. Store rakes safely with teeth facing downward to prevent trip hazards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between an asphalt rake and a tarmac rake?

These terms are used interchangeably in the UK, both referring to heavy-duty rakes designed for spreading and levelling hot bituminous materials. Both feature heat-resistant construction and closely-spaced teeth capable of withstanding high temperatures without warping or bending.

What length handle should I choose?

Handle length should allow you to work with a straight back and relaxed posture. When standing upright with the rake head on the ground, the handle should reach approximately chest height. Most contractors rakes feature handles between 1400-1800mm, with taller users requiring longer handles to prevent stooping and back strain.

Are square tooth or pointed tooth rakes better?

Square tooth rakes excel at levelling and smoothing operations, distributing material evenly without gouging the surface beneath—ideal for finishing work with tarmac, asphalt, and fine aggregate. Pointed teeth are better for initial ground breaking and working through compacted materials.