i am in Zimbabwe and constructing a boiler house for a hospital the architect require an off shutter finish on all concrete surfaces. i am using a plywood for shuttering and due to high skills flight in Zimbabwe i have very inexperienced carpenters executing the works. i have noticed i m having leaking shutters and after stripping a few blemishes ie honey combs especially on joins. i m looking for a way to remedy honey combing while concealing that there is any extra grouting or or color blemishes. the architect is insisting on knocking off the columns due to very small blemishes on the joints (however the project is funded by very scarce public funds and i work for public works department and we may fail to finish the project as funds will run dry). I have analysed the columns and i feel they are structurally sound and i may just need to find a nice way to cover up blemishes

All off-form concrete has blemishes. Honeycombing is typically due to leaky forms, and there are several ways of decreasing that problem, e.g. better fitting forms, tape, sealants. Most projects that I have been involved with have one or two hard plasterers whose job is to patch blemishes. Maybe the architect is the problem. What does his specification say about blemishes? Test panels prepared prior to construction are often used to demonstrate an acceptable standard of finish.

To be honest i think the architect is the problem as you put it. I have two hard plasterers an have also noted that using rubbing stone on the setting cement plaster has made the Architect very happy ! Thanks again for your advise i think i will also use tape sealants to reduce leakages.