Back in '19 we'd finish a whole driveway with just a bull float and a hand trowel in Phoenix heat.

Last week I watched a crew use a power trowel on a patio that size and they were done before lunch. It got me thinking about how much the gear has changed even in a few years. What's one old school technique you still find yourself using even with new tools around?

2 comments

2 Comments

ericp677d ago

Ever catch yourself using a tape measure when the laser is right in your bag? I do it all the time. My excuse is I need the workout, but really I just trust the click of the lock more. Feels like I'm getting a real number, not just a dot on the wall. Probably looks pretty dumb to the new guys.

thomas1057d ago

Man, that's it exactly. It's not just tools, it's the whole pace. We used to HAVE to slow down for certain steps, and that slowness built in a kind of quality check. Now everything is so fast, the biggest skill is knowing when NOT to use the faster tool. I still mark my cuts with a pencil and a speed square instead of a laser for simple stuff, because setting up the gadget takes longer than just doing it. The old way keeps you connected to the work in a way buttons and batteries just don't.