Collection: Concrete Edgers & Groovers

Authorized Marshalltown dealer. Shop the full line of concrete edgers, groovers, and combo edger/groover tools at Pittsburgh Spray Equipment — hand-held and long-handle walking versions, plus specialty tools for steps, curbs, control joints, ADA wheelchair access, chamfered edges, and power-trowel edger pan attachments. Every tool ships direct from Marshalltown with the same warranty and quality that concrete pros have used for over 100 years. Not sure which tool fits your project? Call 888-714-1410 or email sales — real technical help, no phone tree.

Why buy from Pittsburgh Spray Equipment

• Full manufacturer warranty on every unit
• Tech support that answers — call 888-714-1410 or email sales, no phone tree
• Financing available — Credit Key + Klarna at checkout on qualifying orders
• 60+ years serving the concrete & finishing industry — Pittsburgh-based, family-owned

Concrete Edger & Groover Buying Guide

What Do Concrete Edgers Do?

A concrete edger is the tool concrete finishers use to form a clean, rounded, finished edge along the perimeter of freshly-poured slabs, sidewalks, curbs, and driveways — anywhere concrete meets a form or another surface. The rounded edge does three jobs at once: it prevents brittle "sharp corners" that chip off under foot or vehicle traffic, it hides small imperfections at the form line, and it makes finished concrete look intentional. Edgers come as small hand-held tools for tight spots and small pours, or walking (long-handle) versions that let you edge from a standing position along a large slab.

What Do Concrete Groovers Do?

Concrete groovers (sometimes called "jointers") cut shallow, straight control joints into wet concrete. Control joints are the pre-planned weak lines where a slab is allowed to crack as it cures — without them, concrete cracks randomly, ruining the finish. Every slab wider than about 12 feet needs control joints, typically at 8-12 foot intervals depending on slab thickness. Groovers come in the same hand and walking styles as edgers, plus specialty types like Chicago groovers (deeper cut, more common in industrial slabs), Texas groovers (rounded profile, popular in the South), and Control Joint groovers for the deepest, most-visible cuts.

Hand vs. Walking (Long-Handle)

Hand edgers and groovers are the go-to for small pours, sidewalks, and detail work along step nosings and curb corners. They're cheap ($10-$60 range), fit in a tool bag, and don't require any assembly. Downside: on a big slab you're on your knees or hunched over, which wears you out fast.

Walking (long-handle) edgers and groovers mount the working head on a 4-6 foot broom-style handle so you can work from a standing position along a large slab. Faster, easier on your back, and the standard for commercial finishers on 500+ sq ft pours. Slightly more expensive ($30-$150 range) but often included as a "combo" that also lets you swap in a groover head.

Combo Edger + Groover Tools

Combo tools (Marshalltown 3487W, 3491D, 3486D, 3631, 3632) put both an edger blade AND an adjustable groover on the same walking or hand tool. If you're finishing a slab that needs both edges AND control joints (basically every slab), a combo saves a tool swap and a trip to the truck. Slightly higher cost but not by much — usually the best value for the DIY or one-truck-crew concrete contractor.

Tool Material — Stainless Steel vs. Bronze vs. Zinc vs. Blue Steel

Stainless Steel — the workhorse material. Rust-proof, holds an edge, easy to clean at the end of the day. Marshalltown's most popular line. Costs a few dollars more than blue-steel but lasts multiple seasons even in wet climates.

Bronze (QLT line) — bronze is softer than steel and glides more smoothly over the concrete surface, which many finishers prefer for the final passes on high-visibility slabs (decorative patios, stamped concrete). Also naturally rust-proof. More expensive than stainless.

Blue Steel (QLT line) — traditional carbon steel with a factory blueing. Cheapest option ($10-$25), still cuts well, but requires cleaning and drying at the end of the day to prevent rust. Fine for occasional-use tools.

Heavy-Duty Zinc — zinc-coated steel, rust-resistant, heavier feel than stainless. Good middle-ground price/durability for weekly-use tools.

Application-Specific Tools

Safety Step Edger/Groovers (Marshalltown 3887S, 4283D, 3883SD, 4280D) form both the tread edge AND the riser groove of formed concrete steps in a single tool. Essential if you do porch, stoop, or stair work.

Curb & Gutter Tools (Marshalltown CG650SSD, 4262D, 4260D) form the profile of poured curb-and-gutter concrete — the vertical face + the gutter pan. Municipal and commercial curb work.

ADA / Wheelchair Groovers (Marshalltown WCG093W, WCG093D) cut the specific groove pattern required by the Americans with Disabilities Act for accessible ramps and curb cuts.

Chamfer Edgers (Marshalltown 479CH, 480CH, 3623, 3624) form a beveled (angled) edge instead of a rounded one — used on architectural concrete, bench edges, and any place where the design calls for a chamfer.

Power Trowel Edger Pans (Marshalltown PAN24-4CE, PAN30-4CEB, PAN36-4CE, PAN36SC-4CE, PAN24SC-4CE) — for large commercial slabs finished with a walk-behind power trowel, these attachments give you a machine-formed edge without hand tools. Fits standard 24", 30", and 36" trowels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both an edger AND a groover?
For any concrete slab, yes — the edger forms the perimeter, the groover cuts the control joints across the surface. If you're pouring anything larger than a small step pad, plan on both. That's why combo tools (single tool that does both) are our best-sellers.

When during the pour do I use them?
After screeding and initial bull-floating, but while the concrete is still workable (thumbprint stage — you can press a thumb ~1/4" in). Edge first (all four sides), then groove the control joints, then final float and broom-finish.

How deep should control joints be cut?
Rule of thumb: 1/4 the slab thickness. A 4" slab gets a 1" deep control joint; a 6" slab gets 1.5". Marshalltown's Chicago Groover (CG101234W, CG83812W, CG81412D) cuts the deepest standard grooves; the Control Joint Walking Groover (15551) is for slabs needing extra-visible or extra-deep joints.

Stainless steel or bronze — which is better?
For daily/weekly use: stainless steel (more durable, cheaper, easier to clean). For high-visibility decorative work where the finish matters and you want the smoothest possible glide: bronze. Both are rust-proof. Most contractors have both in the truck.

What's the difference between a groover and a jointer?
Nothing — same tool. "Groover" is what Marshalltown calls them; "jointer" is a bricklayer's / older mason's term. You'll see both in the industry.

Do the walk-behind power trowels work as edgers too?
Yes — the Marshalltown M365E and M365ERP 36" edger power trowel is a walk-behind that includes the edging function. For big commercial slabs (500+ sq ft) this replaces multiple people with walking edgers and dramatically speeds up finishing.