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Walk-behind trowels

Walk-behind trowels have a single rotor ("helicopter") with sometimes three, but usually four, blades on the rotor. They are typically powered with either electric motors or gasoline engines and range in size from 24 to 48 inches in diameter.

"Walk-behinds are much more affordable, portable and can be used in tighter and smaller spaces, such as residential floors, basements and small commercial jobs," says Orzechowski. "Portability is important in getting the trowel to and from the jobsite, as well as on and off the slab."

On some jobsites, site access might limit the contractor to using multiple walk-behind trowels instead of a single ride-on unit. It's really not uncommon, however, to see both types of trowels used on the same job, says Tim Lickel, concrete product manager with Wacker Corp.

"Walk-behinds can get into tight spaces while the ride-ons work in the wide open spaces," he explains. "A ride-on trowel is designed to edge along a wall line, but when it comes to finishing around obstructions, such as floor electrical and plumbing stubs, a walk-behind is good to have on hand."

Selection strategy

When it comes to selecting a concrete power trowel for your rental inventory, life cycle costs, serviceability, safety and factory support are all key. Having the right type and amount of trowels available is another consideration.