Figured out a broom finish trick on a driveway job in Akron that saved me 2 hours

I used to fight with wet edges on big pours, trying to keep my lines straight and even. Last month on a 30x20 driveway, I switched from a push broom to a wider 48 inch soft bristle broom and wet the concrete just a hair earlier. The lines came out way cleaner and I didn't have to stop and restart every few feet. My helper thought I was nuts for wetting it sooner, but the finish dried uniform and the homeowner actually complimented the texture. Anyone else found a specific broom width that just clicks for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellys783d agoMost Upvoted

Did you notice any difference in how the broom handled the timing with the humidity in Akron?

jenny_hall3d ago

Yooo that Akron humidity is no joke! I always mist a bit earlier too when it's muggy like that, otherwise the broom drags weird and you get those ugly chatter marks. A 48 incher definitely saves time on big slabs once you get the hang of the overlap.

ray_miller843d ago

And that wider broom makes a huge difference, I had the same luck on a big garage floor last week here in Cleveland.