How to Do it With Marshalltown Tools

Concrete Tips and Techniques
Finishing

The first step is edging or rounding the edge which prevents chipping when forms are removed. Use a pointing trowel to separate the concrete from the forms. The edging tool should be approximately 3" x 6". Hold the edger tool fairly flat, however, the front should be tilted up slightly on the forward motion and the rear elevated slightly when returned. Edging may have to be repeated after each subsequent operation.

Jointing is necessary to avoid checking or cracking. Joints in sidewalks and driveways are spaced at intervals equal to the width. It is not advisable to exceed 10 feet in either direction without cutting a joint. Cut joint to at least one-fourth the depth of the slab. Never stagger or offset a control joint.

The next step in finishing is hand floating. We recommend a magnesium float especially for air-entrained concrete, as these floats are light and will slide easily over the surface. Move the float in a sawing motion to cover an arc. This will produce an even surface. If a rough or textured finish is desired, use a wood float. Edging and grooving may be repeated after floating.

Troweling is the last step in the finishing operation. Hand trowels are made in various sizes. We recommend a 14" x 4" or 16" x 4" for most finishing jobs. During the first troweling, the trowel blade should be held flat on the surface. Use a sweeping arc motion overlapping each previous sweep by 1/2".
	Additional troweling is necessary to produce a more durable surface. The trowel should be tilted slightly. However, allow a certain time lapse so the concrete can set up slightly. [The water sheen will disappear and a footprint will leave less than one-fourth inch indentation.] Power trowels can be used to reduce finishing time on large slabs.
Apply the same basic principles when using a power trowel as you do when you use a hand trowel. Smooth-troweled slabs are easy to clean but can be slippery when wet. For better footing, it can be roughened slightly by brooming to produce a non-slip surface.