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I was overworking the surface on garage floors for years
A client in Phoenix pointed out the hairline cracks in his 6-month-old slab, and I finally connected it to my heavy trowel passes. Anyone else have a hard time knowing when to stop on a power trowel?
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rowan_butler933mo ago
Man, it's so easy to do. You get in that zone trying to get it glass-smooth and you just keep going. I did the same thing on a driveway last fall, and the homeowner called me back in the spring pointing out a spiderweb of cracks. It was a real wake-up call. Now I watch for that sheen and make myself walk away after the last pass, even if my brain is screaming for one more. You almost have to fight the instinct, right?
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cameron6841mo ago
Watch for that sheen and walk away" - nah, I'd argue you're leaving work on the table. A few more passes seals the surface up tighter and keeps it from dusting later on. Half the battle is knowing your mix, not just stopping at some arbitrary shine.
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hannah_williams3mo ago
Yeah I read that too much troweling can bring up too much water and cause shrinkage cracks. It's a tough habit to break lol.
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