Had to choose between a power trowel and a walk behind for a 4000 sq ft garage slab

The job was in Tacoma last fall, a big residential garage. I could rent a walk behind trowel for $150 a day or a power trowel for almost $300. I went with the power trowel because the crew was just me and one other guy. It was the right call. We finished the final pass in about two hours flat, and the finish was way more even than I could have gotten by hand. Anyone have a different machine they prefer for slabs that size?

3 comments

3 Comments

shah.evan17d ago

Used to be solidly on the side of the walk behind for anything under 5000 square feet. Always figured the extra hand finishing around edges was worth the cheaper rental. But after helping a buddy on a similar size slab with his power trowel, I totally changed my mind. The flatness you get in the middle of the floor is just not the same with a walk behind, and that two hour finish time sounds about right.

skylerr233mo ago

Honestly, the power trowel is the only way to go on something that big with a small crew. I tried a walk behind on a similar sized shop floor once and it was a brutal day, my arms were shot. The finish just doesn't compare either, you always get those little waves. Spending the extra on rental saved you way more in labor and headache.

holly_flores793mo ago

Ever think a walk behind gives you more control on the edges? I've done a few that size and the power trowel just can't get as tight to the forms, so you end up hand finishing more anyway. That extra rental cost doesn't always pay off.