How to Hand-Trowel Concrete
Troweling -- the process of smoothing and finishing off the surface -- is one of the last steps performed when pouring fresh concrete. Although power trowels speed large concrete jobs, hand troweling is still used for small sidewalks and concrete slabs. The process of hand troweling concrete is not complex. However, the timing of the troweling is critical, since if it is done too soon you can weaken the surface of the concrete, which can result in future cracks. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Work gloves
- Steel concrete trowel
- Plywood
- Extension handle (optional)
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Instructions
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Watch the concrete closely after floating, or leveling, it until you see water pool up on the surface. Then monitor the concrete every 15 to 20 minutes until the water completely evaporates but the surface is still very wet. The evaporation time varies widely depending on the air temperature, humidity and sunlight conditions.
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Put on work gloves to protect yourself from the wet concrete, which can burn the skin after prolonged contact.
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Kneel down on the side of the installation area and place a steel concrete trowel flat on the wet surface of the concrete. Move the trowel to the side in an arcing movement that covers 2 to 3 feet of space.
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Pick up the trowel and place it below or above the first arc, overlapping it by half. Repeat the side arc movement. Continue using this motion for as far as you can easily reach. Then place a piece of plywood, of any size, on top of the concrete. Kneel on the plywood to reach the remaining areas of the concrete for troweling.
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Repeat the troweling process using the same method. Do not delay the second troweling, since the concrete begins to set up, which makes troweling more difficult.
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Tips & Warnings
If desired, you can screw the trowel onto an extension pole, which allows you to stand during the smoothing process.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
