lindal13•5d agoMost Upvoted

Had to choose between a bull float and a power trowel on a tight deck pour

Last month we had a 40x20 patio pour in Portland with only 3 guys on the crew. I went with the bull float to save time and money since we were renting gear, but the finish came out a bit wavy in spots. The power trowel would've cost an extra $80 for the day but probably given a smoother surface. Has anyone else been burned skipping the power trowel on a medium sized slab?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellyjones5d ago

Portland rain got you. 80 bucks is cheap for a smooth surface though. That wavey finish will bug you every time you look at it.

miles_garcia5d ago

Bought a cheap orbital sander from Harbor Freight for like 30 bucks. Went over the whole thing with 220 grit and a foam pad. Took maybe an hour but knocked all the waviness out. Then just wiped it down with a damp rag and did a clear coat on top.

the_diana5d ago

Wait, isn't that gonna leave swirl marks if you don't step through the grits? I feel like jumping right to 220 on a cheap sander just burns the wood and makes it look worse than the waviness did.