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Unpopular opinion: trowel machines ruin more slabs than they save
I was on a job in Austin last month for a 2000 square foot warehouse floor. The foreman insisted we use a power trowel for the whole thing. By the time we finished, there were burn lines and uneven spots everywhere. I told him a hand float would've been better for half of it but he just laughed. Three days later the owner called us back because the finish looked like crap in the sunlight. Now I always push back when someone wants to power trowel everything. Has anyone else dealt with a foreman who won't listen about hand finishing?
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troy4391mo ago
The power trowel might not even be the real issue - bet the concrete mix was too wet or the timing was off, and the foreman just blamed the tool instead of their schedule.
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evannelson1mo ago
Same story everywhere you look. Had a buddy who managed a kitchen and the new hood vent was getting blamed for smoke buildup. Turned out the filters hadn't been cleaned in months and they were running the fryers way too hot. People would rather point at something shiny and new than admit their process is just sloppy.
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