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Appreciation post: Thanks to the old timer in Phoenix who showed me how to broom a driveway right
I was on a job near Glendale last month and a retired finisher stopped by to watch me work. He pointed out I was going too slow on the first pass and letting the concrete set up unevenly. Has anyone else picked up a trick from just letting someone watch and chime in?
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juliarodriguez1mo ago
Yeah that happens all the time once you've been around long enough. I was doing a sidewalk repair and this old timer watched me for like ten minutes before he said anything. He told me to wet the broom before starting and give the concrete a little extra time to firm up before the second pass. That one tip stopped me from pulling up a bunch of fines and leaving a rough finish. It's funny how the little things make the biggest difference, you know?
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gavin3651mo ago
Ngl that bit about wetting the broom first is golden, @juliarodriguez. I had a similar thing with drywall mud where an old guy told me to wait til it just starts to set before the second coat. Saved me from a bunch of sanding and a headache. Funny how the simple stuff nobody tells you ends up making the job way easier.
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Did you find yourself holding your breath that whole time waiting for him to say something useful? I had that exact same thing happen on a stamped patio job. This guy leaned on his cane and just watched me struggle with the release agent for a good five minutes before he told me I was putting it on too heavy and it was gonna muddy the texture. He was right. One light dusting and a quick broom pass later and it looked ten times better.
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