Remember when you had to hand-trowel a whole driveway? I did one in Spokane back in '99 that took me and my partner two full days. Now with a power trowel, I can knock out the same job in about six hours. The finish isn't quite the same, but you can't beat the time saved. What's one old-school method you still use sometimes, even with the new tools?

3 comments

3 Comments

Honestly, that power trowel finish is a dead giveaway. I still hand float the last pass on any porch or step I do. You just can't get that same burnished, closed-up surface with a machine, it always leaves a little orange peel texture.

quinn_nguyen12d ago

Whoa wait hold on, you hand float the FINAL pass on every porch? That's wild, dude. I mean I get the logic behind it, but that's some serious dedication right there. I feel like most guys just hit it with the power trowel and call it a day, especially on bigger jobs where time is money. But now you got me second guessing myself, I bet the surface does feel way different under bare feet or in the rain. Honestly, props to you for sticking with the old school method, that's a level of craft I don't see often.

iris_green842mo ago

Totally agree about the orange peel. That machine texture also holds onto dirt and water way more over time. A proper hand finish sheds water almost like glass and stays cleaner for years. It's one of those small details that separates a decent job from a truly good one.