Tried a broom finish on a driveway in Calgary and it came out way too rough

Last Tuesday I poured a 30 foot driveway for a client in Calgary and used a new magnesium float I just got, but I think I pushed the broom too hard while the concrete was still wet. The finish looks like a cheese grater and now the homeowner is upset about the roughness. Any tips on how to fix this without tearing it all out?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowanbennett1mo ago

My buddy in Airdrie had the same problem last summer and he used a light acid wash with a stiff brush to knock down the peaks, worked pretty well.

park.tara19d ago

My neighbour up in Chestermere tried a similar thing with a 15:1 mix and it worked good enough that he didn't even need a second coat of sealer. @rowanbennett I always thought acid would eat too much off but it's surprising how controlled it is if you go light on the ratio.

troy_adams1mo ago

Honestly I'd try the acid wash thing but go really light with it. You can always do a second pass if it's still too rough but you can't put that material back. Mix it weak like 10:1 water to acid and scrub with a stiff nylon brush not wire. Rinse like crazy and make sure you neutralize it good or you'll have more problems than just a rough driveway.