I finally figured out why everyone's broom finish looks patchy

Every time I walk past a new driveway in Phoenix I see the same problem. People are waiting too long to start their broom. The concrete starts setting up and then the broom drags instead of giving you clean lines. I've been finishing flatwork for 8 years and I start brooming as soon as the bleed water is gone. If you wait until it feels firm you're already behind. Has anyone else noticed this or am I the only one annoyed by it?

2 comments

2 Comments

cora56215d ago

Yeah, but you're a little off on the timing part. That bleed water disappearing thing is tricky because in Phoenix the heat can make it vanish in like 5 minutes on a hot day. I've seen guys start brooming too early when the concrete is still swimming in water and it just makes a soupy mess that ruins the finish. You gotta go by feel, not just when you think the water is gone. Like if you press your finger in and it barely leaves a mark, that's the sweet spot. Waiting until it 'feels firm' is definitely too late though, I'll give you that.

thea_knight15d ago

So you're saying the finger test is the real tell, not just watching for the water to burn off? How hard is it to get that timing right when the temp's swinging 30 degrees between morning and afternoon?