In our previous article on "The Basics of Power Troweling", we introduced the concept of preparing freshly poured concrete by floating and finishing, as well as various types of machine considerations for large and small surface areas.
In this article, we continue with introducing the processes involved in troweling concrete and highlighting some key points and tips.
The ideal smooth and even surfaces on freshly poured concrete can be achieved by processing it before it dries.
For small surface areas a hand trowel can be used, but for larger areas Walk-Behind Power Trowels, or even Ride-On Trowels are a much better option, because they are much faster and more efficient.
Power Trowels are fairly easy to use, but like any piece of equipment, it takes training and a little practice to maximize their potential. If you have never used one before, then you may find the following tips particularly useful.
Make sure your pour is set for a rain free day. Once poured, the concrete mixture will start to dry. It is critical to wait for the right time to start your trowel.
A useful guideline to know when you can start up your trowel, is when the operator can stand on the concrete surface, and leave footprints about 1/8”-1/4” in depth and you can walk on it firmly without the top layer sticking to your boots it is ready to power float.
Right away you will be able to tell if you are working the top 1/4" slurry, or if you're sinking in. Watch it closely and stop if you think it's too soft.
To move the Power Trowel, lift the handle up a little to go left, and push down to move right. The machine doesn't react immediately, so watch that it doesn't swing too far in either direction.
The concrete surface should be floated prior to finishing. This means a Power Trowel has to be fitted with the correct tools for floating first; there are 3 options available.