[paulyun]

Hello,
I plan to concrete a walkway around my house. I finish the form, and am ready to pour the concrete mix. I would like to know after I screed the concrete, should I use the Bull float? By the way, the walkway is about the five feet long. Is that necessary to use that float (bull float/magnesium float) for that small area? Or can I use the hand float to do the job?

Thanks

Paul

 

[Maintenance 6]

Is that 5'x5'? If so, I would hand float it.

 

[vsheetz]

A 5' sidewalk goes around your house? Must be a very small house.

I have a magnesium hand float that I use for small areas, edges, touch-up, etc. The large bull float is used for large areas. Floating pushes the rock down and water to the surface. Then finish as desired - broom, trowel, etc. Don't over do the floating, or float when it's too dry - you'll bring the small stuff to the top and have scaling and a loose surface.

 

[yesitsconcrete]

hand jobs're always better'n fooling w/bulls :laughing: we use bull floats 'cause hand floats take too long - they're used on larger surfaces,,,sorry - couldn't resist.

 

[paulyun]

Thanks for the advice.
Please note that the walkway is NOT 5'X5'; it is 5'WX80'L. Again would bull float do the trick and quicker job than the hand float?

 

[Willie T]

If you aren't used to it, a bullfloat will be hard to use on a sidewalk because of the angle you will be to the walk. For an experienced person, no sweat. But you'd be done before you got the hang of it.

You also have the hassle of dealing with the form board surfaces and making sure all your stakes are below form level.

It's a sidewalk. The troweling is minimal... mostly just to clean up the edging marks and catch a few low spots. And those edge lines can be left in for decoraction if carefully done. We have one driveway finisher that does that as their trademark. It looks sharp.

For safety, you'll likely give it a light broom anyway. Our city brooms all their sidewalks, and I have hardly ever seen one of their guys touch a trowel to a sidewalk. And they look good......... although they DO walk a bull down the walks once or twice. (No cracks about all the hoofprints it must leave...)

 

[paulyun]

Thanks, Willie
Would it be a little bit better to use a magnesium float rather than the bull float?

 

[Willie T]

If you have a 16" mag, I'd just use that. You'll be done with 80' in no time.

 

[paulyun]

Thanks again, Willie
Have a wonderful day!

 

[Gary in WA]

After screed, I'd use a 30" darby. Reach it all from one side. Be safe, G