With the bull float, you need to even out the concrete and with a steel hand float, you need to seal up anything aggregate. This job shouldn't be rush because you want your patio to look great. You can save a lot of money just by doing this work yourself. A lot of people charge tons of money to do landscaping mainly on labor. Whether you're using patio slabs or making your own walkway, be sure to take the job nice and slow. The faster you rush the job, the more problems may occur. A simple remodel of the house will pay off in the long run.