Loading…
26
I still think that old school magnesium float beats a power trowel on a small patio
Last week in Bend, I had to finish a 12x12 patio and my crew wanted to use the power trowel. I made them use a hand float instead. The control was way better for the edges and corners, and we got a tighter finish near the forms. It took us an extra hour, but the homeowner pointed out how smooth it looked up against the house. Does anyone else skip the machine on smaller pours?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
claire_lewis7mo ago
My last patio job was a tiny 8x10 walkway, and I almost gave in to the power trowel just to save my back. But you're right, the hand float just gives you that feel you can't get with a machine. I always end up overworking a corner with the power trowel and leaving a weird swirl mark. The extra time is worth it when you step back and see a perfect, flat finish without any of those machine lines.
6
umaw697mo ago
Yeah, that part about "the feel you can't get with a machine" is so true. I mean, it's like my coffee maker. It's got all the settings, but I still use the old french press on weekends because I can just tell when it's right. Sometimes the slower way just gets a better result, even if it takes more work. You just can't rush a good finish, on a patio or anything else.
-1
hall.nora7mo ago
Right, like you can't exactly whisper sweet nothings to a power trowel when it's getting a little too aggressive on the edges. @claire_lewis knows the pain of those weird swirl marks, they haunt you forever. My neighbor used a machine on his driveway and it looks like a frozen pond with ripples, not exactly the vibe. Some jobs just need the human touch, even if your arms feel like jelly afterwards.
5