How long to broom concrete

Find concrete contractors near you to help with your project. Broom finished concrete is popular for patios, driveways and more. Sometimes called brushed concrete, a broom is used to create a slip-resistant texture on the surface of the concrete.

Concrete finishers have been broom finishing for about as long as there has been concrete. Broom finishes have been used for many years and provide a durable, high-traction surface. Broom finished thin overlays add skid resistance and upgrade a deteriorating concrete surface. It must be done while the slab is still soft, but after the bleed water has dissipated. Depending on the weather, this can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours. Each contractor has a trick for determining when to broom concrete.

A good broom finish is something of an art. Dyes and stains can be applied very successfully to broomed finishes. You can even create decorative effects by running the broom texture in various directions. Typically the broom should be run from side to side of the concrete without stopping.

The beauty of the system is that you only need to take one pass to get what you want. A damp, stiff- bristled broom, for instance, can produce a coarse texture, perfect for heavy traffic areas and sloping surfaces. Dry, soft-bristled brooms are best suited for creating medium to fine textures. Generally, if the water bleeds off the top, the concrete is ready.

Whether synthetic or horsehair, the bristles should be rinsed frequently to keep the tips clean. Rouse recommends dipping brushes into a 5-gallon of bucket of water, then shaking off the excess moisture, between each stroke. That can be done by misting the surface of each section before brushing being careful not to use too much water or can be a byproduct of dipping the broom in water to clean it before each stroke. Johnson, too, cautions against adding any dirt onto the concrete.

In brooming, timing is everything, contractors like Johnson and Levig maintain. You want the whole slab to look the same. You have to use your eye and be aesthetic. In cold weather, for example, adding calcium chloride to the pour can speed the hardening process, allowing contractors to get on the concrete faster and coordinate the timing with the second pour.

An edger tool not only comes in handy with broom finished concrete patios, but we also use it for pool decks, stamped concrete patios, walkways, etc. It is a tool all concrete workers should have in their toolbox.

I like to mag float the surface of the concrete right before I broom it. Mag floating the concrete will fix any imperfections like filling small holes, removes bull float lines, and smooths any rough areas. Another thing mag floating does is it gives you a fine, moist cement paste on the surface that leaves a nice looking broom finish. If you try to broom the surface without mag floating, you'll either have to broom it early which will give you a rougher finish. Or, if you wait, the surface will be dry in some areas and moist in others, giving you an inconsistent looking broom finish.

Click here to purchase a Marshalltown Mag from Amazon. Again, a mag is another tool you will need on every pour and all concrete workers should have in their toolbox. You want to set the broom down easy so it doesn't leave a divot, then pull it back in one slow, straight, consistent motion. I also like to clean the cement past out of the broom bristles every few passes. Dip it in a pail of water and slide the bristles back and forth across the top of the bucket to remove any excess water.

If the bristles have to much paste in them, they will leave little "cement balls" behind as you pull the broom across the surface. Again, ugly.

Click here to purchase the type of broom we use for broom finishing concrete. Now, after the surface has a broom finish, it's time to leave the "finished" edger tool mark.

Re-run the edger tool in the same fashion you did earlier. The broom finish process usually involves the following steps: Pour the concrete slab Strike off the concrete with a screed Level the concrete using a bull float a. Trowel a. Some finishers skip trowelling altogether. They just bull float and broom. It is also recommended that you broom right after the second trowel.

Keep in mind that the more you trowel, the harder it gets to broom finish the surface. Broom the concrete surface. If there is a slope, you want the broom running perpendicular to the slope. If there is a drain, have the broom running towards the drain. Cure the concrete a. Concrete curing is recommended for broom finished concrete. Cure the concrete by spraying a curing compound or using polyethylene sheets.

Seal the concrete. This step is for broom finished decorative concrete only.