That time I swore by hand troweling and finally gave power trowels a real shot

I used to think power trowels were just for lazy guys who couldn't get a good finish. Then I took a 2 week job in Austin last summer on a 30,000 square foot warehouse floor and my foreman made me use a ride-on. After about half a day I could see how much flatter it was, especially on the long runs. I still hand finish edges and small stuff, but for big slabs I'm converted. Anyone else fight the switch for years before giving in?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakotab9328d ago

I mean, hand troweling gives you way more control over the surface even if it takes longer.

lee84727d ago

Man tell me about it. I tried using a power trowel on my garage floor a couple years back and it left these weird swirl marks that I had to grind out later. Hand troweling might take all day but at least you can see what the concrete is actually doing. I remember one time I was finishing a small patio and the weather started changing on me real quick. Being able to adjust my pressure and angle on the fly saved that pour. Plus there's something satisfying about watching the cream come up under your hand. You just don't get that same feel with a machine buzzing around.

the_elliot27d ago

I did 400 square feet of a basement floor by hand last summer with a 36-inch magnesium trowel. You get a much better feel for the cream coming up and can catch problem spots before they set. @dakotab93 is right that it takes longer but I'd rather take my time than have to grind down a mess later. The finish just looks cleaner when you work it by hand instead of letting a machine decide for you.