Hand Groover vs Walking Groover: Which One is Better for Your Concrete Work?

Are you in charge of creating a brand-new slab of concrete? You’ll need a lot of tools and materials on hand, with one of the most important being the small but powerful concrete groover. These tools are vital when it comes to creating concrete slabs and surfaces that are durable, strong and long-lasting, and if you’ve looked into them, then you’ll see there are two varieties of them available.

Concrete hand groovers and concrete walking groovers are two variations of the same tool that perform the same function, but in slightly different ways. Which one you choose will depend on a few different factors, both in regard to the size of your project and what exactly you need to do in it.

This blog will explore what you need to know about these two types of hand tools, including what they are, how they differ and how to pick the best one for your needs.

What Is a Concrete Groover?

A concrete groover is a tool that consists of a flat, metal head with a groove or valley down the middle known as the bit. The head will have either a handle or a pole on it to help you use it, and it’s this part that determines whether you have a concrete hand groover or a concrete walking groover.

Groovers are used to create long lines in concrete that are around ¼ of the depth of the concrete itself. These lines encourage the concrete to crack along them, rather than through the middle of the slab. Concrete will usually crack as it dries and any moisture inside it evaporates, so controlling these cracks is an easy way to help keep your slab in one piece. (Protecting your dried concrete with a hardener or sealer is also a smart way to keep it stronger for longer!)

You can also use the lines created by a groover to help provide traction for pedestrians, animals and vehicles, or to create channels for liquids like water and oil to run off in. They can even be used purely for decoration!

Concrete Hand Groover

A concrete hand groover has a handle on it that is designed ergonomically for extended periods of comfortable use. Hand groovers are small, light and give you more precise control over the lines you make in your fresh concrete. If you want to make decorative linework or a few lines for extra pedestrian grip, this is the easiest version of a groover to use for the job.

Concrete Walking Groover

A concrete walking groover has a long pole protruding from the blade that allows you to use it on concrete from a distance. These tend to be larger and are useful for projects where many grooves are needed, as you don’t need to be constantly getting up and down on your hands and knees to use them.

For an in-depth look into concrete walking groovers, read our blog What is the Purpose of a Concrete Walking Groover, and Do I Need One?

How to Choose the Right Groover for Your Project

With hand and walking concrete groovers to choose between, how do you know which one is the right choice for your project? It really comes down to two things: how many grooves your concrete needs, and how much physical labour you are willing to put in to get the perfect groove.

How Large is Your Project?

Are you pouring the surrounds of your small backyard pool, or are you creating a long, winding concrete path through your property? Depending on how many grooves you need to make, you might find one type of groover more suitable than the other.

For a shorter project, like a garden bed or walkway between your back deck and a garden patio, a handheld groover will get the job done nicely. Making precise and neat grooves with a handheld tool is easy due to the increased control you have over the lines, and if you only have a few to make, then doing them perfectly won’t take up too much of your day.

On the other hand, larger projects that require many grooves will take a long time to make if you only have a concrete hand groover available. Getting up and down multiple times for different sections of concrete can be exhausting, which is one of the best things about using a concrete walking groover. You can use this tool from a standing position and simply walk back and forth or lean over the concrete to make your grooves.

You may not have as much control over your linework using a walking groover, but that’s okay–you’ll still be able to create neat-looking grooves that are the correct depth to prevent cracking and keep your concrete stable as it dries.

Is Your Concrete Slab Narrow?

How wide is the slab you need to groove? If you are working on fresh concrete that is more than a few metres across, using a handheld groover means you’ll need to get onto the concrete itself to make lines that reach all the way across. 

Walking into fresh concrete isn’t ideal, but it won’t doom your project, either. If you want the precision offered by a hand groover, you can enter the concrete, make your lines and then exit it. You’ll need to smooth the concrete over using a float or similar tool, and make sure to remove the concrete from your boots well before it dries!

You can also lay planks across the concrete for you to walk and kneel on, or use a knee board to give yourself a solid space to work on top of.

But, you could also skip all this hassle by using a concrete walking groover! The extended poles of these tools allow you to easily reach across wider slabs and create uninterrupted grooves without having to walk on the concrete itself. Not only does this mean you don’t have to waste time wading through the concrete, but you also don’t need to fill and smooth over your footprints once you exit.

How Much Control Do You Need Over Your Grooves?

Are you creating decorative line work to beautify your driveway, front patio or backyard patio? Wonky, uneven or crooked grooves just won’t do. Being farther away from the concrete when using a walking groover makes creating precise grooves tricky, as you don’t have the control needed for such fine work.

Handheld groovers give you the control you need in these situations. Because you are working right against the fresh concrete and have your hands closer to the head of the groover, you can create perfect lines in your concrete, whether you need them for decoration, safety or controlled cracking.

Are you itching to buy hand tools online? Start by checking out our article on 8 Hand Tools Melbourne Concreters Need To Have.

Hand Groover vs Walking Groover 

Concrete Hand Groover

Concrete Walking Groover

As you can see, neither is better than the other all the time. The best concrete groover for your needs will depend on the type of project you are starting. Professional concreters will probably have both tools, or a version that can transform between them (like a hand groover with space for an attachable pole), but if you’re just a concrete DIYer, you may like to start your collection with just the one.

If you’re just doing small concrete projects around your home, then a good-quality hand groover made from stainless steel will probably be perfect for everything you’re going to do. But if you’re looking into large-scale projects that may require a lot of grooves, then look into a walking groover that will keep you upright and comfortable for long periods of time.

No matter your project’s size and scope, you can find a great range of concreting tools in Melbourne at Australian Slate-Crete Supplies!

Buy Hand Tools Online From Australian Slate-Crete Supplies

No matter what type of concrete groover is best suited to the project, you’ll need to find a quality source for your concrete hand tools in Melbourne. For hobby and enthusiast concreters, there’s only one place to go!

Australian Slate-Crete Supplies is one of the most respected concrete tool suppliers around,  and we have been supplying tried and tested hand tools to our customers for over 25 years. Whether you need coloured concrete supplies, stencils or protective safety equipment, you can find it within our stock.

Get in touch with our team by using our online message form, or by calling us on 03 9408 7722–our team will be happy to chat and answer any questions you might have about our products. You can also visit us at our store in Epping to chat with our staff and see the range in person.