Power floating
and troweling
Efficient techniques promise
higher production
BY CARL O. PETERSON
OPERATIVE PLASTERERS AND CEMENT MASONS
JOB CORPS TRAINING PROGRAM
or 50 years power floats and trowels have been
F used for finishing large areas of concrete flat-
work. Using a 36-inch machine, a cement fin-
isher can finish 700 to 1500 square feet per day
depending on job and weather conditions. (In con-
trast, a cement finisher—with a good back—and hand
tools can finish 300 to 600 square feet per day.) In or-
der to achieve the highest production rates and great-
est profits, the machine must be used efficiently. Effi-
ciency comes only with knowing the machine and its
proper uses.
The machine
The size of a machine is expressed by the diameter, in
inches, of a circular area outlined by the moving blades.
Machines vary from a 20-inch hand held model to an 96-
inch riding model. The most common machine size is a
walk-behind model, 36- to 48-inch-diameter, which
costs from $1500 to $2000. While there are many differ-
ent machine types, the basic parts and their function re-
main the same (Figure 1).
The blades of the machine finish the concrete as they
are swirled around the surface. Blades are classified as
float (10 inches wide), trowel (6 inches wide) or combi-
nation according to their basic use. Float blades are
wider than trowel blades, with the leading edges turned
up so they will not penetrate or tear the fresh concrete
s u rf a c e. The smaller trowel blades apply more pre s-
s u re to densify the surface as the concrete hard e n s.
Combination blades, 8 inches wide, are used for both
floating and troweling operations. A single blade will
cost $8 to $14.
The blades are attached to a vertical rotating shaft by a
spider assembly. Commonly three but sometimes four
blades, equally spaced in a radial pattern, are attached to
the spider assembly. A strong, rigid spider assembly is re-
quired to maintain vertical and horizontal control of the
blades during the finishing operations.
An important safety feature is the guard ring, which al-
lows the operator to move the machine close to walls
Figure 1. While there are many manufacturers of machines,
most machines have the same basic parts. Learning about
your machine can lead to more efficient use and
productivity.
and other obstructions without the danger of blade
damage or breakage. The guard ring is connected to the
engine housing.
Engines for troweling and floating machines are usu-
ally gasoline-powered and range in size from 3- to 11-
horsepower. Electric motors are available if noise or car-
bon dioxide is objectionable. The engine drives through
a clutch to a vertical shaft rotating the spider assembly
and blades in a clockwise motion. Newly developed hy-
draulic machines are available which eliminate the need
for gears and brakes.
The handle, which is solidly connected to the engine,
contains the clutch and speed controls and pitch adjust-
ment. Without a safety clutch the blades would stop the
instant the operator let go of the handle—but the handle
would spin and create a safety hazard. The rotating ac-
tion of the blades can be adjusted to match the condi-
tion of the concrete surface by using the speed control.
Blades are always flat during floating, but are tilted dur-
ing troweling by using the conveniently located pitch ad-
justment control. Tilting the blades increases the finish-
ing pressure on the concrete surface.
General principles of floating and troweling
Floating embeds coarse aggregate, removes humps
and valleys and compacts the concrete surface. The con-
crete surface must be sufficiently hard and free of bleed
water before power floating begins. The concrete should
be a bit harder before power floating than it has to be for
hand floating—it should take only a l/8-inch footprint
indentation.
Troweling is done after floating to produce a dense,
smooth, hard surface. Two or more successive troweling
operations may be necessary to produce the desired
floor surface. Allow time between successive trowelings
to permit the concrete to increase its set.
To use the same machine for both floating and trow-
eling requires the use of combination blades or clip-on
float blades. Some contractors find it more productive to
purchase two machines, one equipped with float blades
and the other with trowel blades. This allows floating
and subsequent troweling operations to proceed with-
out delay. The extra machine can also be used as a spare
in case of a breakdown.
For both floating and troweling operations the angle
of the blade is important (Figure 2). For floating, the
blade must be absolutely. flat to prevent tearing or goug-
ing of the surface. During the first troweling pass, an old
blade may be used flat because of its slight curvature due
to wear. If a new blade is used on the first troweling pass,
it should be slightly tilted. On each successive troweling
pass the angle of the trowel blade is slightly increased to
exert greater pressure on the concrete surface.
When a trowel blade is tilted or pitched at too great an
angle, an objectionable “washboard” or “chatter” sur-
face will result. If this occurs, reduce the tilt and contin-
ue troweling until the surface is smooth and level, after
which the tilt may again be slightly increased. The tilt is Figure 2. To avoid damaging the concrete surface during
excessive if the leading edge of the blade is more than 1 floating the blades must be used flat. The angle of the blade
inch above the concrete surface. is subsequently increased during the troweling operations
to increase the blade pressure on the hardened surface.
Machine movement The increased blade pressure provides a hard, dense,
The power trowel can be guided in any direction durable concrete surface.
through the handle. First of all, it is important to adjust
the height of the handle to suit the operator. The opera-
tor is usually most comfortable when the handle rests on
his upper thigh. Where a temporary screed is removed and two differ-
Guiding a troweling machine is simple: to move left, ent placements are made adjacent to each other, the
apply a slight upward pressure on the handle, to move concrete may be softer on one side of the screed location
right, press down slightly; to move forward, twist handle than it is on the other side. In this case the machine
clockwise; to move backward, twist handle counter- should run parallel to the seam where the two concretes
clockwise; to rotate in one spot, hold handle in a neutral come together. The blades should overlap the seam by
position. just a few inches. If a machine is run across the seam, a
Before floating and troweling begin, it is generally de- bump will result.
sirable to plan the operations to ensure complete and ef- Remember that the machine should not be operated
ficient finishing. Figure 3 shows a pattern for floating in one spot for very long. The machine is moved across
and troweling. Note that the power floating is started in the slab in a sweeping motion—much as in hand finish-
the direction perpendicular to the direction of bullfloat- ing. While the operator’s footprints will be floated and
ing. If a second floating pass is made it should be at a troweled out, he should wear rubber shoes to minimize
right angle to the first pass. Also, successive troweling surface disturbance. Some operators wrap plastic sheet-
operations are perpendicular to initial troweling. Each ing around the soles of their shoes to prevent the shoes
successive finishing pass should overlap the previous from sticking to the concrete.
pass by half the width of the machine. This type of fin- There will be times when the operator must deviate
ishing pattern will ensure complete slab coverage and from the planned finishing patterns. Some areas will set
minimize surface imperfections. faster than others and these must be finished in the or-
Figure 3. When the concrete is ready, systematically power
float and trowel the concrete surface in a regular pattern.
Make sure that each successive finishing pass overlaps the
previous pass by half the machine width.

der they are setting. For example, concrete in the sun will
set faster because of the heat and concrete near door
openings may set faster because of being exposed to the
wind. Usually, though, concrete placed first should be
floated and troweled first.
Defects in the surface may also require the operator to
use a different finishing pattern. Humps and valleys left
after screeding and bullfloating can be corrected during
power floating. Low spots, for instance, are filled by go-
ing around them in a clockwise direction, then continu-
ing with the regular pattern. High and low spots along
the form are corrected as shown in Figure 4.
Power floating and troweling principles haven’t
changed much in the last 50 years. But sometimes we
don’t get the best production rates with our machines
because we tend to forget the correct use and operation
methods. Put this article in the job trailer—next to the
other reading material—so that it can serve as a re-
minder.
Figure 4. Power floating can correct minor defects which
occur during screeding and bullfloating operations. Note
the direction of machine travel relative to the defect.
Editor’s note
Author Carl Peterson is a coordinator for the Job Corps
Training Program that trains youth for pre-apprenticeship
positions in the concrete and gypsum industries. Trainees
learn the basics of construction skills and receive hands-on
experience in the program. They are then placed in appren-
ticeship positions. For more information about the program
call 1-800-424-5111.
PUBLICATION #C860000
Copyright © 1986, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved