Broom finish vs. hard trowel on a driveway in Phoenix, and the homeowner was right to push back

Christopher Bell · 2026-10-08T01:50:03.574878+00:00

Did a driveway pour out in Phoenix back in April, about 1,200 sq ft, and the homeowner wanted a hard trowel finish because his neighbor had one. I pushed for a broom finish, he pushed back, so we did a test patch of each on the side yard. Two weeks later the hard trowel patch was slick as glass and his dog was sliding across it every time it rained, which is basically never in Phoenix but still. The broom patch had grip even when I sprayed it down with a hose. What made the difference was the texture, plain and simple. A hard trowel looks cleaner in photos but it turns into an ice rink when wet, and out here the sun bakes it so hot you can cook an egg on it either way. We ended up doing the whole driveway in a light broom and he thanked me after the first monsoon rolled through. Anyone else getting more pushback from homeowners who saw a polished slab on Instagram and want that look on a driveway?

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Broom finish vs. hard trowel on a driveway in Phoenix, and the homeowner was right to push back | Concrete Finishers - The Community Guide