Rented a power trowel for the first time, swore it was a scam

I've finished driveways with a hand float for 12 years, never saw the point of those machines. Finally rented one from a Sunbelt in Dayton for $95 a day on a 2,000 square foot garage floor. That thing leveled the slab flat in about 40 minutes, my knees are still thanking me. Anyone else held out on a tool forever then felt dumb after giving in?

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the_holly17d ago

That 2,000 square feet in 40 minutes has me curious. How much time were you spending on a slab that size with the hand float before, like a full day or two? And were you getting it as flat as the power trowel does, or is the finish actually better too? I ask because I've seen guys swear by the hand method forever and then admit the machine does a smoother job on the second pass, not just a faster one. Also, did you have any trouble controlling it on the edges or was it pretty straightforward for a first timer? Just trying to figure out if the rental fee is worth it for the average homeowner or if it only pays off on big pours.