Tried power trowels for years, finally admitted hand floating is better for small slabs

Ngl I was hardcore team power trowel for like 5 years. Last month I did a 12x20 patio in Austin with this old timer who refused to use anything but a hand float and magnesium. I figured he was stuck in his ways. But watching him work corners and edges with zero chatter made me rethink everything. Then I tried it myself on a 10x10 shed slab and the finish was way cleaner with less pitting. Has anyone else switched back to hand work for residential jobs under 300 square feet?

2 comments

2 Comments

foster.ruby16d ago

Nah @patricia_king23 I get what you're saying about timing but I gotta disagree on the pitting thing. When I run my stick float it's way easier to feel the surface and back off if there's any bleed water still sitting there, with the power trowel I'm just guessing half the time. Maybe it's just me being clumsy with the machine though.

patricia_king2316d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, I gotta call you out on the "less pitting" part there... pitting isn't really a hand float versus power trowel thing. Pitting usually comes from air pockets in the mix or troweling when bleed water's still on the surface. I've seen plenty of hand floated slabs look like the surface of the moon because the guy started too early with his magnesium. Sounds like you just timed it better on that shed slab than you normally do with the power setup. The chatter thing though, that's real on small pours. No argument there.