Tried a power trowel on a small garage slab and it nearly threw me off

Last month I used a 36 inch ride-on for a 20x20 slab in Phoenix and the concrete was too soft in one corner, thing almost flipped on me. Has anybody else had a close call with a power trowel on a tight pour?

3 comments

3 Comments

perry.karen2mo ago

Idk maybe it's just me but I feel like nobody's talking about the ride-on being way too big for a 20x20. I mean a 36 inch machine on a 400 square foot pour is like using a semi truck to move a couch. You're practically asking to fight that thing in the corners. A smaller walk-behind would've let you feather those edges easy without the wrestling match.

dakotacraig2mo ago

Check your mix slump next time, wet concrete on a slope is asking for trouble.

craig.tessa26d ago

Honestly, I think the real issue nobody's mentioned is the base prep. That "check your mix slump" advice is fair, but if the subgrade wasn't compacted right, even a perfect slump is gonna crack or settle weird on a slope. I've seen guys spend all day fussing over the finish while the ground underneath is basically a sponge. Put that ride-on on top of a soft spot and it'll sink right in, no matter how tight your mix is.