Four Facts You Need to Know About Concrete Trowels
If you've planning to pour some concrete for the first time, you may be investing in various supplies, including a concrete trowel. Before you buy or use your trowel, there are a few things you should know. Check out these facts.
1. There Are Power Trowels
When you think of concrete trowels, you may immediately picture a hand tool, but that isn't the only option. If you're working with a large area or if you plan to do a lot of concrete work, you may want to invest in a power trowel.
These feature a motor that moves the trowel blades over the the concrete, and just as you can with lawn mowers, you can get ones that you walk behind or ride.
2. A Trowel Isn't the Only Finishing Tool You Need
You use a trowel to smooth down concrete after it has been poured, but you also need other finishing tools. You may want to use a float before using the trowel. Some people use a large plank instead of a float, but in both cases, the object is to push down the concrete.
Then, you need to use an edger to straighten up the edges. Many people also use a masonry brush so that they can make lines or patterns in the concrete. If you use a power trowel, you can remove the trowel blades and replace them with other blades to finish the job.
3. You Shouldn't Use the Trowel Immediately
After pouring the concrete, don't reach for the trowel right away. Instead wait until the concrete partially dries. It takes practice to perfectly judge the right time to trowel, but as a general rule of thumb, you need to wait until the concrete can hold weight but has not set yet.
To test it, step on the concrete and see how much of a depression your shoe makes. Ideally, only a fraction of the shoe's sole should sink into the concrete. If the whole sole sinks in, wait a bit longer and test again.
4. Clean Trowels Immediately
Whether you use a power or a hand trowel, you need to clean the blades as soon as you are done using the trowel. Immediately after use, you should easily be able to rinse off the concrete. However, if you wait, the concrete will harden, and it will be a lot harder to remove. Wrestling hardened concrete off trowel blades can put you at risk of cutting yourself.