Finally got a broom finish right after 5 tries on a driveway in Eugene

I kept seeing guys leave the broom lines too deep or way too shallow, like there's no middle ground. Last week I did a 300 square foot driveway and finally figured out the trick is keeping the broom handle parallel to the surface the whole pull. My foreman just nodded and said "took you long enough" but the owner of the house said it looked better than the last crew's work. Anyone else struggle with getting consistent lines or is it just me?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaretshah1mo ago

Oh come on, "keeping the broom handle parallel to the surface" - that's the basic stuff they teach you on day one. I actually prefer a slightly steeper angle on purpose (about 15 degrees off parallel) because it gives the lines a bit of texture that catches the light better in Oregon's gray weather. Did a job in Springfield last month where the homeowner specifically asked for that look after seeing it on a neighbor's driveway. Flat broom lines look too perfect, almost fake like someone used a machine. You want those subtle variations that say "a human did this" not "a robot stamped it out.

terrywilson1mo ago

Flat broom lines looking too perfect is an interesting take. I spent three years doing commercial flatwork before I switched to residential, and the guys who shot for that "machine perfect" look got paid more, not less. The light in Oregon is tricky for sure, but I've seen plenty of driveways where that 15 degree angle turns into a rough texture after a couple winters with salt and freeze-thaw. The old timers I learned from always said shallow lines last longer because there's less places for water to pool and crack.