Vent: Been finishing concrete for 12 years and just learned I was floating wrong

I was working a driveway in Austin last week and a veteran finisher walked over and watched me for a minute. He said I was pushing the float instead of pulling it across the surface. Turns out I been doing it backwards since day one and nobody ever corrected me. The finish was always a little uneven and I'd have to go back over it, costing me time and extra passes. He showed me the right way and the slab came out way smoother on the second try. Has anyone else had a basic move that someone called you out on after years in the trade?

2 comments

2 Comments

jake_owens17d ago

Whole twelve years man? Thats rough. What gets me is not just doing it wrong that long but that nobody took two seconds to say "hey try it this way." Especially in concrete work where the old timers are always watching and ready to correct you. @wyattrobinson I can see why your mind is blown because it kind of makes you wonder what else people are doing backwards without knowing it.

wyattrobinson17d ago

Wait, you were doing it backwards for 12 years? That blows my mind. Nobody said a word the whole time?