I switched from parging by hand to using a spray rig and it's night and day

The old way I did parging on foundations was all trowel work. I'd mix up a batch of mortar, get it on the wall, then spend half the day smoothing it out. About 2 years ago I picked up a used spray rig from a guy retiring in Cleveland for $400. First job I used it on was a 50 foot foundation, I finished in 3 hours what usually took me 8. The trick is getting the mix just right so it doesn't clog, but once you dial that in it's way faster. Anyone else make the switch and have trouble with the nozzle settings?

2 comments

2 Comments

amy30211d ago

That's funny you mention the trial and error part because I feel like that's how everything is going these days. You spend years getting good at one way of doing something and then someone shows you a shortcut that makes you wonder why you didn't switch sooner. I see it with people who refuse to try new tools or methods and they just keep grinding away the old way and it's like... watching someone row a boat with one oar. The stuff that works isn't always the stuff you learned first, it's the stuff you're willing to mess up a few times before it clicks.

michaelcoleman11d ago

Maybe it's not that deep though. Like yeah, some people get stuck in their ways but a lot of the time the old way still works fine. I've seen people switch to a new tool every six months and never actually get good at any of them. That rowing with one oar thing feels harsh too. Some folks just don't have the time or energy to learn a whole new system every time something shiny pops up. A shortcut that works for one person might just be a detour for someone else.