Hand troweling vs. power troweling for garage floors - my take

I did two slabs last week in Toledo. Same mix, same weather. One I finished by hand, the other I ran the power trowel over. The hand troweled one came out way denser. Less dusting. The power trowel one looked good at first. But after three days the surface felt softer. I think power trowels burn the cream too fast. Am I crazy or does hand work still beat machines for durability? Anyone else notice this on their flatwork jobs?

3 comments

3 Comments

wade_kelly7721d ago

Jumped in here to say you're definitely NOT crazy. Power trowels are like a bad haircut - looks good for a day but then you realize the damage is permanent. Hand work just feels more RIGHT if you ask me.

young.ryan21d ago

Got to call you on that. Hand work isn't more right, it's just different. Power trowels are fine if you know their limits and don't overwork the surface.

morgan.jason21d ago

Did you ever think about how power trowels mess with the curing process? They seal the top too fast and trap moisture underneath, which can lead to delamination down the road. Hand floating lets the slab breathe more evenly across the whole surface. That's the kind of long term stuff people skip over when they're just focused on the finish.