Power floated concrete is a popular choice for construction projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to its durability, smoothness and low maintenance requirements. This type of concrete surface finish is achieved by using specialized equipment called power trowels or power floats. In this article, we will discuss how to perform a power float and introduce two common machines used in the process: riding power trowels and walking power trowels.

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How to Power Float Concrete

Power floated concrete is a process that begins after the concrete has been poured, leveled and partially cured.

Here are the steps to power floating:

Wait for the concrete to set: After the concrete has been poured and leveled, it is necessary to wait for the right time to begin the power float process. This moment occurs when the concrete is strong enough to support the weight of the trowel without sinking or leaving deep marks on the surface.

Initial Float: Once the concrete is ready, the power floating process begins with initial floating. This step is performed with a power trowel equipped with a float blade or combination of blades. The purpose of initial float is to level the surface, remove any high spots and fill any low spots.

Smoothing: After the initial float, the blades on the trowel are changed to smoothing blades. This further smooths the surface and compacts the concrete, increasing its density and durability.

Finishing: In the final step, a power trowel is used to produce a smooth, polished surface. This is accomplished by increasing the speed of the trowel and applying pressure to the surface.

2 Types Machines for Power Floated Concrete in UAE

There are two common types of power floats in the UAE: riding trowels and walking trowels.

GN100 High-speed Power Trowel

GN100 High-speed Power Trowel

F100 Riding Power Trowel

F100 Riding Power Trowel

Riding power trowels

Riding trowels are large, heavy machines that are operated by workers sitting on the machine. These trowels are suitable for large projects such as industrial floors, warehouses and commercial buildings.

Advantages of riding trowels include:

  • Faster completion of the power float process
  • Ability to cover a large area in a short period of time
  • Reduced worker fatigue because the operator sits on the machine

Walk behind power trowels

Walking behind power trowels, also known as walk-behind power floats. they are smaller machines operated by workers who walk behind the machine. These trowels are ideal for small and large area projects.

Advantages of walk-behind trowels include:

  • Lower cost compared to walk-behind trowels
  • Easier to maneuver in confined spaces
  • Suitable for limited space or small area projects

Conclusion

Overall, power floated concrete is a widely used construction technique in the UAE due to its many advantages. This process requires the use of specialized equipment such as riding and walking trowels to achieve the desired smooth and durable surface.