Another building question - texturing a concrete path

[Digsy]

I'm laying a small section of path in my back garden, which I would like to match up with some existing paths. These have a smooth border about 3" wide but the bit you walk on has a rough texture. What's the best way to create this? Whenever I lay concrete I am always mega-fussy about getting it dead flat and shiny - trouble is its then lethal to walk on it its frosty!

Cheers,

[Rob]

I presume what you have already is done with a "float" which in this case is a timber scaffold board on edge, laying on the edges of your formwork and you then bounce or walk it along the path, up and down pulling all the excess concrete along forming a level but textured surface. You need a stiff mix though, not some watery self-levelling type.

 

I'm sure a buildery type can explain all that in simpler terms

[gaz1]

you need a 3" edging float for the edges, and if you want a rough finish then a light tamp will do it (mix the concrete not to wet) and use a peice of 4x2 on edge to create the finish by lightly tamping across the shuttering

[Digsy]

Yeah I normally level off using a board on the edges of my shuttering but then I use a stainless steel float to get the surface shiny. So I guess if I make sure the mix is stiff (or maybe even come back to it after a little while) and just re-rough the surface with a board and then "shiny up" the edge that would do it?