Showerthought: Watching crews pour a patio in St. Louis last week, I realized most guys are still screeding way too fast.

They were dragging that 2x4 like it was a race, leaving a wavy surface that needed a ton of extra bull floating. I learned from an old-timer to take three slow, steady passes, and it saves at least 20 minutes of cleanup later. What's the slowest part of the pour you see people rush through?

3 comments

3 Comments

abbyg601mo ago

Is a wavy patio really that big of a deal? Most homeowners just want it flat enough for a grill and some chairs. That extra bull float time sounds like a contractor problem, not a customer one.

scott.drew1mo ago

Honestly it's a huge deal long term. Water pools in the low spots and ruins the slab. That extra time is them doing the job right so you don't have a cracked mess in five years. Tbh a wavy patio looks cheap and feels awful underfoot. Paying for a flat surface is the whole point of hiring a pro.

susanm5626d ago

Tell that to your ankles, abbyg60. A wavy slab is a trip hazard waiting to happen. It also makes any patio furniture rock like a cheap diner table. That contractor problem becomes your problem the first time you spill a drink because the table won't sit flat.