How To Power Trowel Your Garage Slab | All My Troweling Secrets

[@cheshstyles]

This is the best powertrowel explaination ive seen on youtube. Excellent work Mike.

[@nw7130]

rzl dzl are you suggesting you’ve seen other explanations, cause I haven’t...

[@cheshstyles]

@@nw7130 yeah

[@scottfrazier131]

You can always tell a true professional just by listening to them talk. You can tell that you have a true passion for the trade!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks Scott, I do!

[@triztimedrks7896]

You got a great finisher. Treat that guy good. I’m sure you do. Good help is rare these days.

[@manuelgrado8170]

Always entertaining and educational, never disappointed with your videos 👍

[@scoyle1750]

Good uploads Mike I am a bricklayer from Ireland who does a lot of concrete work as I build a lot of garages and extensions so usually do all concrete floors and concrete patios and bases and enjoying your uploads and taking and using your expert tips and advice especially on finishing techniques 👍

[@gonzalezjorge2208]

Keep up the good work Mike

[@truth7416]

An absolutely excellent teaching video. Thanks so much for making it. I now feel I can go out and power trowel my slab.

[@calebdrenning6139]

DIYer here. Good content on all your videos, thank you for sharing your trade secrets.

[@TroiOi78]

Been doing concrete for about 5 years and never touched a power trowel. If I do, I definitely feel more comfortable after watching this video, thank you.

[@frankflanagan4360]

Great videos man, I run a trowel machine just about every day and pick up tips from all your videos. Thanks! I am looking forward to your stamp course.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Working on it Frank, I'm about half done with it.

[@cameronoverfield8764]

Good job guys I can’t run a power trowel as good as he does but my belly is every bit as good! Lol

[@cameronoverfield8764]

We do concrete frame and trim here in Cody, most everyone does but there is one good concrete outfit that is worth a damn

[@alwayssharp]

Thank you! Great tutorial.

[@dnhuffman]

Thanks for posting this! I'm getting ready to pour the slab for my shop and this was super helpful!! Strong work. I'm in Washington State, about 40 miles north of Seattle.

[@danielk6878]

This is almost exactly what my garage project looks like. I'll share this with my other coworkers so we are on the same sheet of music.

[@gandolph3]

Looking good :)

[@alexcorona7470]

Thanks for explaining everything

[@robertguerra1385]

Hey Mike there ever use a Fresno after the blue float

[@c.d.martinconcretellc1088]

Nice work! I used float blades and finish blades for 15 years. We use combo blades now. We do use float pans though. They are very sensitive to floor flatness, and you can get on the floor bit earlier. Pans also keep the machines very clean which is a huge benefit to life of machines. Combo blades are nice when blending cold joints when the first load needs troweled. It seems to burn quicker also. Only drawback is you CANNOT GET BEHIND!!!! lol you cant pitch blades on a pan!

[@donaldcurtis9229]

Concrete comes with water already in it

[@donaldcurtis9229]

Float blades combo finish blades

[@triztimedrks7896]

I been pouring mud 23 years. And I always run our 3’ & 4’ trowel machine. Mostly the 3’ if I can get away with it. I use combo blades.

[@alexcorona7470]

Very pretty

[@jeffdeluca1153]

Nice work as always Mike! Do you recommend any other power trowels besides the Marshalltown? Thx again

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I've got Whiteman's, Bartell and MBW are very good trowels also.

[@caseyjohnson6573]

I was wondering why he doesn't use the front guide on the soff cut saw? Also for intersecting cut line use card board or match book. Soff cut makes inserts too.

[@ssmith32183]

Have you guys ever worked in Tennessee? You do things much the same way as we do.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Never worked in Tn. Just in Maine

[@mitchyelvington4776]

I don't saw cut monolithic slabs! Looks hot that day!

[@MrPhilkite]

Hi Mike, I love your videos! You are a true master of your trade. I will be busting up and pouring a new heated floor for my 1980 26 x 26 garage floor this summer. I will be epoxy coating it after the concrete has properly cured. Since I will be epoxy coating it and don't require a shinny power trowel finish, would you just hand trowel the floor without the power trowel rental? Does the power trowel make the surface stronger? Thanks for the great videos! Phil Kite, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

[@MikeDayConcrete]

You can just hand trowel it if you desire. That's a lot of work. The power trowel does give you a bit stronger / denser surface. But you should be ok either way you decide. I would power trowel mine.

[@gaudenciosanchez9306]

@@MikeDayConcrete can you make a video. How to run a trowel machine..??

[@rockycampbell6027]

Have you ever ran more than one float-pass? I found that a few more float passes would further smooth the pad.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

All the time. Depends on what the first pass looks like.

[@bradhill4590]

Great video. What brand trowel machines do you have? My main machine is Whiteman which I really like. I've looked for those slip on float blades and can't find them anywhere.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I have 9 Whiteman's, Just bought a 4' Marshalltown and love it. HD Supply has the slip on blades, they get them from Wagman or Kraft.

[@Kettenhund75]

Is the purpose of the power trowel to create that super smooth and slick finish on the slab?

[@yopappy891]

Great video once again Mike, I did buy your how to pour a slab course but you keep me pretty busy with the YT stuff. I am curious about the blade pitch on the troweling machine, it appears you pitch the blades up more ( less contact) as the concrete gets harder is this correct?

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks for buying the course! In general, yes we pitch the blades up a little more as it gets harder. We do try to keep them as flat as possible with very little pitch, this makes the blades last longer.

[@borisfridlender8286]

Mike,I have a question, do I need to use with troweling machine for finishing concrete if I plan to make a finish with epoxy paint?

[@markdiener1425]

How do you know when to make another finishing pass (not the first float pass) Some visual indicator like the surface is "dry" but before the "burned out" end of finishing signal?

[@harleyjune1233]

what brand score saw - are you using? thanks in advance - blade and tool links...great video

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I use the Husqvarna Prowler X-150. 6" blade from Warrier diamond for the Soff-cut saw.

[@gregorysampson8759]

Rented one for the first time for just 3.5cy. It wouldn't run had to go back get another one. Control was hard at first then got the hang of it. So there appears to be 24 36 and 48 in trowels and then ride ons 6 or 8 foot. I think for me a 36 is a good size. Not being a pro lowes is the best price I found on a no name unit. They come with a pan too. One thing for sure if the slab isn't flat the trowel is going to dig in places and operator has to work to keep the finish clean.

[@davidderoode7691]

Mike, I done a little concrete work on the farm. Want to know how to set forms for a 30 x 28 mono pour garage. Minnesota requires similar 12 inches footings to Maine. How do you feel about fiber rebar , what about mesh? Seems like rusty mesh is all I can find.

[@FredD63]

When I had my flatwork guy pour my business pads 60 x 140, 40 x 80 and 60x 70 he power toweled them and parts of the concrete turned a black color … he had quite the crew working with him…. I wish I would have had him sill the area by the overhead doors like Tom Haus does his ….

[@markrotkiske7039]

Why when your guy was saw cutting at the end was he not using the guide wheel on the saw? Is there a trick to keep your cuts straight without using that? Other than that great video with good commentary

[@exca3737]

Does your blades ever stick or pull out concrete when you start it even if you get down and turn manually just a little? Does that mean there is too much air entrainment

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Sometimes they stick. Too much air does make the mix sticky. It does it on non air mixes too though.

[@pedrot9067]

Do you ever spray water on the slab to help finish it, do you recommend doing that ?

[@cliffkitchens1447]

We have one we use it almost every job that we do

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks Cliff!

[@whskythrttl]

Do you ever run a pan? And if not, why?

[@MikeDayConcrete]

We used to but not now. My guys just prefer the float blades. Pans are good, it's just our preference that's all.

[@michaelmarshall8373]

Never use that machine but thinking I’m going to need one for finish

[@MikeDayConcrete]

The small machine works good.

[@jcchapman7383]

For my 30 x 30 garage with a lift

[@chazgeisler6213]

I didn’t catch what size power trowel size this is? Looks like a 36” to me. I am curious what size you are using and when you would suggest bumping up to a 46” trowel machine. I have a 36” right now and am wanting to buy another one can’t decide if I want to get a 36 or a 46

[@chazgeisler6213]

I also do this as a living, we typically will do the whole interior and exterior concrete on a house except for the footings and foundations

[@cameronoverfield8764]

R u related to don day or Jeff day?

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I do have a brother Jeff Day, but there are a lot of Day's out there.

[@rubenguerrero1788]

Try it with a pan float

[@cameronoverfield8764]

In Cody wyo

[@celioferreira8713]

please please me consegui a vacancy pra me trabalhar with vocês...

[@johnnylopez4396]

How much u pay ur workers?

[@cmm170526]

👍

[@donaldcurtis9229]

I knocked more concrete off my boots the most of you people ever walked over

[@bulebearduke]

I had the pleasure (practice ripping out day old concrete) of working with guy writing the above comment. He couldn’t pour concrete in a wheelbarrow. His floors look like a stormy ocean with all the waves he makes in the floor . Also leaves more holes in the concrete surface’s finish then we have potholes in the roads here in New Jersey/ NYC area. He must have started in business pouring skate park ramps. 😮 A Real Captain Concrete! They sure don’t make finishers like they used to, most are on the wrong side of the grass now. Ross, Billy, and Rob...RIP “You want me to get you those knee boards up on the deck?” Still working in Princeton. 😂😅 TO’K

[@donaldcurtis9229]

@@bulebearduke why don't you use your real name you deadbeat

[@donaldcurtis9229]

@@bulebearduke you must be jealous cuz all them guys are good guys and you probably a bum

[@stevensgordan5998]

Its not that often you see fat guys doing concrete flat work...(just saying)