Power Trowel or Standard Grinder?
Why not both? (On the right projects!)
The trajectory of the polished concrete industry has always been impacted by the advent of new technologies, whether it’s hybrid-diamond tooling technology, more effective grinding platforms, or concrete chemicals that have vastly improved the life of a polished surface. Power trowel polishing combines an older technology with new techniques to produce impressive polished concrete flooring at incredible speeds. But is power trowel polishing something your company should consider investing time and resources in?
Pros of using a power trowel to polish
- High Production Rates
- Lower Entry Cost
- Reduced Labor Cost
- Profitability on Large Scale Projects
Power trowel polishing has multiple benefits to consider. If your company works on larger scale, wide-open projects, choosing a power trowel polish system can save significantly on labor cost by completing project work more quickly. While there are many pros to power trowel polish, there do exist risks and negatives that you should consider when deciding to add a power trowel to your equipment lineup.
The benefits of power trowel polishing are most obvious in the production rates and lowered labor cost that come from using the power trowel platform. It’s important, however, to consider multiple factors that affect whether using a power trowel platform is the right choice.
- Aggregate Exposure choices are limited
- Leveling, surface prep, and more in-depth concrete floor work is not possible with a power trowel machine
- Wet grinding and slurry management are necessary components to power trowel polishing. Plan accordingly.
- Power trowel machines vary in size, but there are logistical implications in using one, including lifts needed, if there isn’t an easy way to bring the machine inside the jobsite
- Ventilation is important. Power trowels are gas powered or propane powered and can emit CO2. Proper ventilation is needed.
Planning a project? consider these factors before choosing a power trowel.
A project’s size and floor plan must be able to accommodate the power trowel platform used. Retail repolishing projects are not best-suited for these platforms, as racking systems, shelving, and displays are are natural obstacles to this method of floor polishing. These projects are better suited to grinder platforms that can maneuver around the existing construction & shelving.
Check out our project portal HERE for your next project. We will note any projects that we would prefer power trowel usage. Also, find training events in your region for polishing!
