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Picked up a trick from an old-timer about broom finishes
He said to wet the concrete with a mist sprayer about 20 minutes before you finish brooming it - makes the lines way more consistent. Anybody else try this or got another method for keeping broom lines straight?
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lucast815d ago
Gotta disagree with that old timer on this one honestly. Pre wetting the slab just makes the surface gummy and can lead to the broom dragging rather than leaving clean lines. I've seen it cause a weird scuffing effect that looks terrible once it cures. You're better off going with a dry slab and a stiff broom that's been worn in a bit. Too much moisture at the surface messes with the whole profile of the finish and makes it uneven. Idk man, maybe it's just me but I've never had luck with that method.
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xena5825d ago
36 years in the trade and I've watched more guys argue about broom drag than I have watched them actually pour concrete, it's honestly kind of funny. You two are going back and forth like there's a right answer when we all know the real problem is a bad mix or a worn out broom that should have been retired three jobs ago. I swear half the time it's not even the water causing the issue, it's the guy behind the broom being in a hurry or too stubborn to adjust. But hey what do I know, I just pick the method that makes the least amount of pissed off phone calls later.
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Gonna have to push back on that lucast81 because I've actually had the total opposite experience with pre wetting. When I do it right with a fine mist like 15-20 minutes before I start brooming that water sits on top and gives the cream just enough slip to let the bristles glide through clean instead of catching and tearing. The real trick is you can't drench the thing you just want the surface damp not puddled and if you time it right that moisture actually helps the lines hold their shape longer instead of flattening out too fast. I've seen dry slabs where the broom starts chattering and bouncing leaving these inconsistent scratched up marks that look way worse than anything I've ever got from a properly damp surface. Honestly the gummy dragging thing sounds like too much water or maybe a broom that's too soft for the mix because I run a stiff worn in broom over a misted slab and it leaves these beautiful uniform lines every time. Different strokes for different folks I guess but that old timer gave me that tip years ago and I've never looked back.
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