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Used to hand float everything, now I run a power trowel for flatwork only
For about 8 years I did all my residential slabs with a hand float and a magnesium trowel. Took forever, especially in July heat around Phoenix. Last spring I borrowed a buddy's 36 inch power trowel for a 1,200 square foot garage pour and never went back for big flat areas. Now I still hand finish edges, steps, and anything under 200 square feet, but anything bigger gets the machine. Anyone else split it that way, or are some of you guys still doing it all by hand on purpose?
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pipergonzalez18d ago
Heard a couple of old timers talk about how power trowels can leave a denser surface that sometimes seals too tight for certain finishes, makes it tricky if you need to do a broom finish or something. I get that, but for big slabs I just want it flat and fast, and my back thanks me. I still do all the small stuff by hand because the machine just doesn't fit or feel right on tight areas. Maybe it's a generational thing, but I can't see going back to hand floating a whole big garage in the Arizona heat. You still mixing your own concrete for those smaller jobs, or having it delivered?
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