Picked up a trick at a job site in Spokane last month

An old timer showed me how to use a broom finish to hide a bad trowel mark on a driveway pour, saved me from having to grind it down. Has anyone else found a quick fix for a mistake that didn't involve redoing the whole slab?

3 comments

3 Comments

henry_anderson542d ago

Well hold on now, is a little trowel mark really worth all that? I mean if its a driveway people are gonna park on it and drive over it anyways. The broom might hide it for a season but after some freeze thaw cycles that spot is gonna stick out like a sore thumb. I guess its fine if the homeowner is looking to save a buck but if I was paying for it Id want it done right the first time.

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taylor.brooke2d ago

I saw something from a concrete contractor online that said trowel marks aren't just cosmetic - they can actually trap water and lead to more cracking when it freezes. That stuck with me because I never thought about it that way before. My buddy had a similar issue with his driveway, had to get it resurfaced after two winters because those little grooves kept holding moisture. A proper broom finish might not be perfect but at least its consistent and sheds water better. You're right though, if I'm paying good money I want it done right the first time too, not some patch job that'll cause headaches later.

taylor_wells2d ago

Man that thing about trowel marks trapping water is the real deal. I remember my old man had a slab by his garage that looked smooth as glass when they poured it but after one winter the whole thing was spalling like crazy. He was so mad he pulled up the whole thing and had it repoured with a broom finish. Idk maybe its just me but I think people underestimate how much damage a little bit of trapped moisture can do over time. @henry_anderson54 I get what you're saying about cars driving over it but that freeze thaw cycle finds every weak spot eventually.

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