I spent 6 hours on a broom finish that I could have done in 2

Everyone says to use a magnesium float to close the surface before brooming, but last week on a driveway near Nashville I tried it and it made the finish look terrible. Ended up having to grind and redo the whole thing at my own cost. How do you guys handle timing the final broom without overworking the surface?

2 comments

2 Comments

betty_shah10d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, that "use a magnesium float" advice is one of those things that sounds great on paper but in practice it's like trying to time a dance move when you're already off beat. Ngl, I've noticed this happens a lot in concrete work - people think a tool or a trick will fix bad timing, but the real skill is just feeling when the surface is ready. You can't force it. Tbh, the whole "close the surface before brooming" thing is overhyped unless you're working with super dry air or extreme temps. I'd rather skip the float and just wait for the right cream to come up naturally when I pull the broom.

the_jenny10d ago

Yeah, the "right cream" part is spot on, that's really where the whole thing lives or dies. I feel like people get too caught up in the specific tool instead of just reading the concrete and letting it tell you when it's ready. It's like trying to force a conversation with someone who's not ready to talk yet, you just gotta wait for the right moment.