Advice on finishing poured concrete

[Zebedeewesty]

In the next couple of weeks i'm hoping to get the concrete poured for my garage base.
Its only a small (by comparison of some on here ) 20ft x 10ft slab.

I haven't been able to source a bull float or similar to hire so am wondering what else i can use to finish the concrete after tamping.
Its a bit too much of a stretch for a standard steel float.

I'm not after a glass smoothe surface but its gotta be smoothe enough for using a car creaper or engine hoist on.

Any advice greatly recieved.

 

[Gary S]

I rented a bull float and a power trowel. Then my very kind neighbor with lots of years of concrete finishing experience volunteered to finish the concrete for me. This is definitely the way to get a nice finish.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Looks like i need to do some more searching then.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Call concrete company and ask them for suggestions on finishers. You could probably get someone to finish it for $200-300 if you have all the prep work done. I have tried to finish garage size slabs myself and ran out of steam before the concrete did. Really bad finish and had to bust it up 20 years later. Two finishers could get it placed and troweled before you could even get started on it.

 

[Moose02]

I agree on the professional finisher just had my 33x44 garage done and it is just about perfect had 4 guys finishing used 5 inches of 4500 mix took two trucks for the garage and three for the basement came out great

 

[Moose02]

not sure how good the pic is

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Even 10x20 is a lot for one person to finish and not chance messing up. Get a finisher with two or three people and watch them do it. Well worth the money.

Charles

 

[Zebedeewesty]

I've done a few concrete paths using metal floats and got a good finish but its just the reach from the edge on this one that'll be the problem.
I've got a couple of mates helping with the concrete when i get around to it and its only about 3 cu yards.