<p>Texture is the cheapest safety feature in flatwork and one of the easiest to get wrong. The broom technique depends on moisture, timing and a consistent stroke more than on specialised tools.</p> <p>The parallel brush-textured surface of the concrete, created by a stiff-bristled broom, helps to improve traction and slip resistance. Whether it is a walkway, a pool deck or a driveway, broom-finished concrete is a viable surface option for diverse outdoor spaces.</p> <p>Broom finish concrete, like any surface texture, has a unique set of advantages and disadvantages that you will want to know before you decide if it is a good option for you.</p> <p>Broom finish types are similar in style, but there are some variations of the finish that you can use for aesthetic or practical purposes.</p> <p>Standard Broom Finish</p> <p>The standard broom finish is the most common and basic type of concrete broom finish. This involves dragging a broom with stiff bristles across the surface of partially set concrete in straight lines. This finish looks like small parallel grooves across the surface of the concrete.</p>
Broom Finish Concrete: Pros and Cons
Concrete Broom Finish Variations
When you use a broom with stiffer and thicker bristles, you can achieve a more distinct pattern. This creates grooves that are deeper and wider, which offer better slip resistance. This is useful in commercial or residential applications like ramps or sloped surfaces.
Rather than using straight lines, you can employ a swirling motion with the broom to create a circular or spiral pattern on the concrete surface. This provides a more decorative rather than just practical look.
Using this method, a contractor can apply broom strokes in two directions, typically at right angles to one another. This creates an attractive crosshatch pattern on the surface, which provides both traction and visual interest.
Create a checkerboard effect using strokes in different directions to create the distinction in squares. For this effect, measure out your slab and divide into it equal square parts in both directions. In some squares run the broom in a horizontal direction, in the alternate squares apply a vertical direction.
Contractors with experience can help you decide which finish might work for your application. Often, they will have personalized techniques for broom finishing the concrete using variations in angle, pressure, direction, or spacing of the broom strokes, which will result in a custom look.
How to Achieve a Broom Finish on Concrete
Creating a broom finish on concrete involves a multi-step process. Read through these steps to become familiar with the workflow of broom finishing your concrete. This is meant to be an overview rather than a step-by-step guide.
Ways to Enhance Broom Finish Concrete
Broom-finished concrete is not the most aesthetic finish option, but there are ways to enhance its style appeal. While this will increase the cost of the finish, it is still cost-effective overall.
