Watched a crew pour a patio in Boise last week and they were totally botching the broom finish timing.

They waited way too long to broom it, like the concrete was almost set. The finish came out super rough and uneven, and you could see the aggregate pulling up. I've found the sweet spot is about 45 minutes after the bleed water is gone, when your boot leaves a 1/4 inch print. Any longer and you're fighting it. What's your go-to timing trick for a clean broom finish?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_moore9d ago

Ever tried to broom concrete after a big lunch? That's about how slow I was last time. Missed the window and my finish looked like a gravel road.

clairebaker9d ago

I saw a crew in my neighborhood last year do the same thing, waited forever to broom. The patio still looks fine to me though, a little rough but it's just a patio. People get really worked up over perfect finishes but most homeowners never even notice.