When NOT To Start Finishing Concrete (How To Know It's Too Early)

[@bubba9482]

We get on the floor with our sliders and lay down the wall lines by hand. Everytime the machine makes another pass wall lines get hit prior. Nice to see a guy who knows the proper way to run a machine with the correct pattern. I've see a lot of guys over the years not running patterns, drives me nuts! Another nice job Mike!

[@74stevedc]

I like to edge once before machine pass, we call it ski jumps If you power trowel to early. Basically turn a flat floor into a mogul field. Yes your correct it can really turn a nice floor into not to nice and is very hard to fix. Excellent job Mike 👍. Some times the sun dries the surface so you think it's ready then underneath it's still very soft that is what I saw in the video.

[@chadlebbing4960]

I love this channel. No bullshit. I don’t even do concrete work of this size mostly footings, pads, and the occasional patio. I’ve taken quite a bit from this channel and applied it to what i do. Your the man mike. Thx for everything.

[@dazzadazza5255]

Thanks for showing this Mike no one else ever give you an example and footage of what not to do. It's a hard task finding a concreter on site that will explain in detail the do's and don'ts that just scream at you work harder work harder hahaha thanks appreciate it very much.

[@user-xo5zl2wq8c]

As a 1.5 to 2 million sq/ft per year finisher for over 20 years rain or shine, I can honestly say, You nailed it! Timing is 90% of the battle. Never hit edges pre machine. Waste of time and they'll tighten up to fast. Whatever pattern you choose, keep crossing it up next passes. Where I work it's usually 80/90+degrees. Use water on edges and slab on final pass to burn in a consistant finish. Around 3-4 gallons on a 5000 footer if you timed it right. Just a quick splash to work up a layer of grease that u can burn.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks, what state you working in?

[@user-xo5zl2wq8c]

@@MikeDayConcrete Florida. Cut teeth in Michigan for 8 years. I miss it. This state is one hot, flat, swampy, turd. 8 mos of the year walking out the door at 5 am feels like stickin ur head in a dryer full of wet clothes. We have standing will calls everyday for 100 yds at 7:00, 30 yds at 10:00 and 20 at 1:00. Slabs w drops., sitework and lentils/beams. Boom at 7, trailer at 1. Rain is not an issue. I have poured a slab on wed. and finished it on sat. due to a tropical depression.

[@211-v1m]

@@user-xo5zl2wq8c 🤘🤘🤘 DONT GIVE UP🤕🤕🤕🤘🤘😂😂💯💯

[@captaindigi82]

Always pan opposite to the way you placed it the first time and i agree. Change direction. Pan until flat. Most people pan way to early. Let ot go and use small mosquito machines on the edges keep them fury and flat passing fromleft to right. Use a mag or a flat trowel and rubnot trowel until the machine is one pass off finishing . If you have to get on boards or sliders to clean exetera face the wall let the machine tame out your marks but personaly i just walk the edges

[@jessesawyer3875]

You are a mf savage

[@tombarnes1871]

Hey Mike- Here is something I learned many years ago. I have two sets of plugs for the fall/winter also have a ratchet spark plug socket. One plug stays in the house at room temp the other was in the machine. On particularly cool/cold days I changed out the cold plug and put in the warm plug. Any machine will start easy doing this. Hope this is helpful….

[@robsongoissilveiras]

its a such good lesson, here in brazil its too difficult to find some kinds of videos about this machine.

[@Ryderman2000]

Great camera angle to show you exactly how to the concrete is looking under the sun 👌

[@Mark-bh8zo]

Any tips on what to do if you troweled too early and now the slab is dusting/chalky if you rub it?

[@tomoaktree4951]

Great Video Mike! Perfect example of trying to power trowel too early. Your videos are awesome!

[@1276scooter]

Your videos are great Mike. Thanks for posting them

[@frankflanagan109]

Nice work Mike! We do ours very similar..... usually hit the edges while waiting for the field to firm up, if not we run the power trowel over it and float it out.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Hi Frank!

[@jaxxonfinnegan2187]

i know it's kinda randomly asking but do anybody know of a good site to watch newly released series online?

[@lanebrycen8762]

@Jaxxon Finnegan i use flixzone. Just search on google for it =)

[@ConcreteAlchemy]

Why would you not use pan on your trowel machine? Or is it to early for that to?

[@leemoroz2353]

On my last 2 steel passes, my shoes pull up a chunks of concrete, how can I avoid this..15 yr Decorative finisher learning flat work..can you help me out with this problem. We even use slip on smooth bottom croc style shoes. Thanks

[@leemoroz2353]

Also when I stop the machine for a few seconds and restart it the blade pulls up chunks

[@MikeDayConcrete]

That usually happens for a couple reasons, 1. you're hitting it a little too early and the wet paste sticks to your shoes. 2. IF you use air-entrainment, there's too much air in the mix.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Yes, that's common. We grab the blade arm by hand before starting the machine and give it a little spin to "break" the blades, this usually works most of the time but sometimes they still pull up small chunks.

[@gunfisher4661]

I`ve had to get out on floors a couple times and all of a sudden the floor blows. Talking about A&E ,full power blades up doing every thing to save the slab and be flat at the same time.

[@byrny111]

Are all those blobs concrete or stone? How did you end up fixing that

[@kevfrost8756]

We put the pan on first Mike so you get a nice bit of fat , trowel the edges the same then use the blades we've been there all day and all nite floating, Kev in the UK 👍

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I"ve been there all night too buddy. Now I'll get out the skids and wipe it, no more all nighters.

[@joewilliam2080]

That's whats up. Float first

[@viankalobosvalenzuela7456]

Excellent work great professionals greetings from San Felipe Chile

[@TuffLuckGaming]

Can someone please explain to me what is this machine and why it's necessary. Why can't you just pour the concrete, smooth it out, and let it dry?

[@jasongorton3705]

Nice to see someone doing it properly. Same here in Australia, but hotter/less time

[@bubba9482]

So our troweling machines in the US spin counterclockwise, this is why we finish to the left. Same thing in the southern hemisphere, or do they spin clockwise and finish to the right?

[@jamesbaber3775]

@@bubba9482 looks like mikes chopper was spinning clockwise to me!

[@fastmustang8959]

Thank you Mike I appreciate you

[@rockycampbell6027]

When I first saw you using the picker to take the power trowel off the truck I was judging you for using that vs carrying it...but really I just wish I would have had one of those myself.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I know, I picked them up by hand for years before finding that little crane.

[@rockycampbell6027]

Much easier on the back.

[@TheGojodfrey]

We walk on it and if we aren't sure put you weight on you heels, if there is a biscuit it normally shows up. Hit the edges roughly at that stage anyway as they can flash by the time the body of the slab is ready, it'll also tell you whats happening. Pan it when it is ready, it'll show you when it is nearly there, the 45 minutes later cross it with the blades, always have a thin sheet of ply ready to walk the machine out if you can't lift it easily

[@AllenC1985]

Do you guys use the edge power trowels? If so are they worth the money?

[@doinjusfine1]

So whats after power trowel? Float it ? Broom ?

[@MikeDayConcrete]

You go over it with the power trowel 4 to 5 times until it's as smooth as you want it.

[@hustlindaddiy5194]

Mike, love your videos. Keep it up. Question: we had some corrosion on our stamped concrete patio likely due from some salt we used over the winter. The corrosion wore away some of the paint and now we likely need to repaint and seal the patio. Do you have any suggestions or videos on this process? Thanks a million.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Why was there "paint" on the stamped concrete. Was this intended?

[@hustlindaddiy5194]

Mike Day Concrete it was a stain or a sheen. Perhaps not a formal paint.

[@jons2304]

.

[@onetruesoldiervt3686]

Usually I'll go out hit all the edges one time on skids once or twice then run the machine then close the edges one or two last Times ! Burn n turn

[@DecoCreteTV]

Great video Mike!👌

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you!

[@edwardnavickis3071]

Mike, do you ever use a light pole power trowel. What do you think of this machine?

[@frankiecolon1601]

Thanks for the video great job 👍

[@MikeDayConcrete]

You bet

[@jr3626]

Another great video Mike thank you learned a lot.

[@charlesviner1565]

Hey! How is everyone doing?thanks for the video

[@MikeDayConcrete]

All good

[@gunfisher4661]

We usually run knee boards and stay away with the power trowel for a while and then come in on the edges or you can just let the boys on boards do the total finish on the edges. Our problem usually is the laborers run a contest to see who gets on a power trowel first so they don`t have to do there labor duties witch it ends up being to wet when they start. but the crew leaders allow that kind of stuff to happen making a not so good day for every one else.

[@jrvera7955]

Can I use a power trowel even if its going to have a broom finish?

[@BaberJacks]

Depends. If flat with no valleys for draining say big flat out door area, and also the big one, timing.

[@guillermoandrade627]

Great video Mike’s

[@DynaPimpin707]

Hey man appreciate the videos...I'm a union carpenter, concrete carpenter, about to get my c8 lisence for concrete construction just getting more cozy screening the mud. Did you form foundation, was curious if you use Walers, snap ties, cow bells, or if you build with those wedge ties?! Please no wedge ties 🙏

[@DynaPimpin707]

Screeding*

[@trapj5983]

Yeah hit em off knee boards usually a couple times to match the power trowel

[@codeconcrete364]

Nicely presented! That some valuable and brief information.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you!

[@ronsherrod4658]

I have a question regarding bleed water. Do you wait for bleed water to appear and evaporate before bull floating or do bull float right after screeding concrete? Anyone

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Right after screeding Ron.

[@ronsherrod4658]

Mike Day Concrete, Thanks Mike, much appreciated! 🤔

[@jerseyjim9092]

Yep, timing is everything.

[@joewilliam2080]

Where's the pan?

[@ohiowalnut]

Didn't have my glasses on, thought you flew it in like a drone for a minute!

[@joeysfather2723]

Same here

[@raulcrod]

Love your videos man but I wish you would use a GoPro to show us a better view it would be so much more value to your already knowledgeable videos

[@therealpublicassassin726]

I finish on sliders behind a machine and sale it by hand

[@miketoronto6096]

Yes sir Walls first 👍 good job

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks 👍

[@c6gav]

This guy's voice sound's like the voice of a trucker from the movie "Road Killer with Paul Walker who was killed in LA..!

[@iowamatt2519]

The deal with hitting the edges with every trowel pass, it's a waste of time. The first 2 inches will be covered no matter what with the fir out for insulation, and most of the time its 4 inches under the framed walls. So I hit it once with a mag and twice with a hand trowel.

[@iowamatt2519]

Garages are a different story, u have to hit them all the time

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Us too Matt!

[@LucidMindtv]

You are TIED in SECOND for favorite concrete channel. With tyler ley and Mike haddock close behind. You tied with victory. Apples and Oranges.

[@concreter6832]

No Need for boards , every time u pass with the machine do your edges first.nice job. Squeegee the slop of and start again or get bumps and a shit finish.

[@cmc2457]

The best time to start, when you started. No one knows when is the best time....

[@211-v1m]

Better get on them sliders and get them corners!!! ..And It depends on the pay.💵💵💯💯😂🤘🤘😂😂

[@strong4865]

I alaays wnhoy my naps , i can or coukd finish after pour out 10p uward by self.and take a nap.hahahha

[@xadebraun89]

Made a 8 minute video about it 😂that’s crazy try out your finger in it if it’s goes depose then a 8th of a inch

[@marcus2267]

this is so wrong in many ways.... where are the plate under the blades that u have to start with first before hittin it with the blades? i dont understand why you do this that way.... come to norway and we can show u how concreting is really done :) we are working way more easy and make such better quality. i see alot of american and other countrys that do concrete, and i have to say.... heavy work for something that isnt that hard. me alone can make 500 square meters alone here in norway with only help with pouring the concrete and then machine it by my self. if its flat and square for most of the time tho hah

[@ملكالمروحهمالك]

👍👍👍

[@scottbigger1945]

The guy needs flat sole shoes

[@concreter6832]

Squeeze the slop of ,or u will create waves .

[@alexhearn8943]

Your concrete is nothing like what we have here in the UK

[@alexhearn8943]

@Jason Young like I said our concrete doesn't go off as fast

[@alexhearn8943]

@Jason Young Alex.h_321 my insta if you'd like to see some of my work

[@alexhearn8943]

@Jason Young no your right ! Some of the work is shocking!

[@211-v1m]

What's the pay in the UK for a finisher? Lmfaoo

[@websilliams6485]

Concrete quality in the U.K is shocking, most plants we use cant even supply water reducers and you can forget about asking for hot water in your mix.

[@broketackle]

I want a job.