Floating Concrete Tools, Finishing Concrete Floors

A float, generally, is a flat metal, wood, or laminate tool that smoothes the surface of freshly laid concrete. The term "floating" refers to the application of pressure so a float sits lightly and flatly just on top of the surface of the poured concrete and pushes the aggregate down, allowing the liquid in the concrete to rise, dry, and create a smoother surface.

Floating is typically done after a section of concrete has been leveled using a screed, but before it is troweled to a finish. Steve Jarred of Mason Supply, based in Eugene, Ore., explains that "floating" means smoothing concrete for curing.

"After you've poured your mud, and rodded your concrete, a float comes in and levels it and opens the mud up so it can dry," says Jarred. "This has to be done in every job — whether a huge slab, stairs, decorative or any other situation."

There are a range of shapes and sizes of floats available for different types of projects. Bull floats come in many sizes, but generally are larger in surface area and made to float across an entire slab of concrete to level it. Hand floats are smaller and used to smooth, tighter surfaces and level concrete against the side of the forms it is poured into. Channel floats are made for use on larger-scale paving jobs. All of these are available in a range of sizes and in several types of materials.