Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 386 Section 5 Concrete of the slab after steel troweling. See Figure 18-18. The concrete must be hard enough so that brooming does not damage the edges of tooled joints. Coarser textures for steep slopes can be produced by using a stiffer bristled broom. Brooming is usually perpen- dicular to the traffic to provide the most resistance. Form Removal It is generally best to leave forms in place as long as possible for better curing. However, it is some- times desirable to remove the forms as soon as possible. In either case, leave them in place until the concrete is strong enough to support its own weight and any other loads that may immediately be placed upon it. The concrete should be hard enough to resist damage from form removal. Alice Scully/iStock/Thinkstock John Sarlin/iStock/Thinkstock Ari N/Shutterstock.com Figure 18-17. Finish troweling produces a smooth, hard surface on the concrete. A—Workers are finishing the job using hand trowels. B—This worker is finish troweling the concrete surface. He is using two trowels to be able to put extra weight on the the finishing trowel and for added balance. The rounded edges of the finishing trowel reduce the chances of the trowel catching the fresh concrete surface, which would leave marks. C—Final troweling is being done with a power trowel to create a smooth and hard finish on the concrete floor. A B C Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 18-18. Brooming produces a slightly roughened surface that reduces the danger of slipping on a smooth troweled surface.