Found out I've been using my bull float backwards for three years

Was finishing a garage slab in Boise last Tuesday. My apprentice just stared at me and finally said, 'Boss, why are you pushing it?' I always pulled the float towards me to smooth. He showed me the proper push technique. The finish came out way flatter. Anyone else have a basic tool habit they needed to unlearn?

2 comments

2 Comments

betty_shah27d agoTop Commenter

Saw a video from a concrete guy in Florida talking about this exact thing. He said pulling the float digs the front edge in and leaves ridges. Pushing it lets the flat part of the float ride on the cream for a true finish. Makes total sense now that I hear it. My dad taught me to pull it and I never questioned it for a decade. Sometimes the basics get passed down wrong and you just run with it.

noah_black27d ago

But does it actually matter on the job site? Feels like one of those things that gets debated forever but the slab ends up fine either way.