It's clear that in the SHORT TERM it is cheaper in NEW construction to simply pour concrete as opposed to using granite pavers, curbs, cobble stone, and tiles. Even though as you point out so well, it costs so much more in the longer term. In the States we have a an obsessive focus on short term costs and profits. We see this in the stock market and in the way most American corporations are run. I suppose it's only natural that this focus would be present in or construction techniques. Excellent video! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights.
Cheeky Monkees cheap isn’t good good isn’t cheap . If you want to make a road way you have to excavate 12 feet to undisturbed ground compact base 0/3/4 6 feet toss Portland on top hard pack 6.5 feet concrete 6 feet bellow grade 6 inches above now top it with blacktop . Poor on 4 inch foam tack tape and seal 35 mpa let’s see
I agree to the that this could save spending that could be used towards local healthcare or education. My particular interest in this is that this could really beautify American towns. Having been on those same streets that Mike was on, I have to say that even little neighborhoods and villages in Danmark actually do look like that.
I from a 'new' town in the UK built in the 50's. All the sidewalks were made from pavers, 50+ years later still there and in good condition. Now when they have to lift them for underground repairs they're being replaced with asphalt which crumble after 10 years, they are patches on top of patches and in the winter they become ice rinks.
Yeah, Thanks for using old school tech. Love ya Mike. Your a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work, Take some more tours and we love the stuff you an yours put up on UA-cam. Oh yeah, have a happy holiday season, an get back to work. : ) signed, your cheering section down in Texas
Mr Mike you are so awesome and I want to thank you again for that simplicity concept in everything you do; for sure that taught me a great lesson from now on. Thanks again.
Awareness (curiosity too), seem increasingly rare today. I've seen early aqueducts in the south of France that date to the early Roman period that are still standing...and are still transporting water...and had no mortar. A real instance of 'do it right,' and forget it. Roads in Germany are bid out just like they are here but in Germany, the winner of the contract has to put up a 50-year bond. Their road beds are significantly deeper, and the surfaces are much thicker than ours. Thank you again!
What a wealth of knowledge Mike. I am in my 20s this is fascinating. Thank you for documenting your travels and explaining the different styles and ways of thinking.
great video.......again! keep up the great work. I just rewired a house and the old wires were still in good shape vs the new romex that was all chewed up by rodents. another example is fuses vs breakers. fuses are more reliable and "break" much faster than circuit breakers. new does not always equal quality. loved the tour! I know it's work to drag a camera around when you just want to chill and enjoy the scenery, but the videos are greatly appreciated.
+otis08 just make sure you don't cheat the fuse size. you can buy irreversible sockets to set the fuse size. We still use fuses in industrial applications because they are like 6 times faster than breakers and that makes a big difference in some situations.
MIke, I hope you are still checking comments to your videos. I love your channel and all the talent and wisdom you bestow in such a straightforward and humble manner. I found your videos when I was looking on how to repair my concrete steps that are disintegrating. I liked your manner so much I began watching your other videos and quickly became a fan. My favorite is your video on making bird baths. I'm definitely going to make a few of those for my yard. Please keep up the great work. May God bless you and keep you in good health.
There's a historic town called New Castle in Delaware and while I was there I noticed all the sidewalks were this very old brick, and in many spots this brick was probably 200 years old. Wherever it needs fixing they just pull up the bricks, level the ground, then put them back. The curbs were granite like you mentioned, and the gutters were cobblestone and probably the same age as the sidewalks. Some of the roads in town even had the same historic cobblestone. As an aside the houses in this town were all brick, and the brick still looked new, even in cases where it was 300 years old.
After a trip to DC I was wondering why we don't use granite curbs more, everything stone looked immaculate compared to where I live an hour away in Virginia. Also lived in Germany as a kid and remember the cobblestone roads being really cool, I was shocked at how well they held up considering it's just a bunch of rocks wedged together essentially.
in australia we are moving from concrete paving to pavers. Pavers have a few problems in areas of high soil salinity. i personally like the use of materials that "breathe", allowing the ground beneath to do what it always has seasonally. In southern Australia we have problems with salt damp, and i belive much of the stress on buildings in urban areas is caused by impervious sidewalks and roadways. I love your vids Mike, and believe that the young should be taught these commonsense things at trade training , as it teaches kids awareness of stuff thats taken us a lifetime to be aware of. I well remember working in my teens and thinking of the parties all week and the thing hanging on the end of my belly took prefdrence over most things hahaha, great times!
the simplicity of pavers is that the upkeep is incremental at low cost while maintaining an always new look and feel. I think the reason why so many sidewalks in our towns are degraded is twofold: 1) concrete is like teeth, you can fill new holes only so manytimes until you have nothing of the original structure left, and then it is just rubble; 2) at that point you have already lived with a degrading concrete slab for years, and it becomes a monumental and hard to afford expense to rip it up and put in all new concrete. So it gets put on the long bench. To go back to the pavers, even after decades there is no giant repair cost, just the incremental paver at a time. As you say, simple and cost effective for decades to come. (sorry for the dated comment, I am new to your channel that I enjoy very much!)
I love these videos. I think i binge watched them all. I have a home in upstate new york that was built in 1812 in orchard park ny. Wild bill donovan ince owned it. Because of your videos im slowly but surely repairing the stone (boulder) foundation inside and out. And im going to put a concrete pad down before i lay pavers n flagstone for a patio outside of a deck im building. Thanks so much your videos have been so helpful! Once i post my videos i will certainly give you credit in them
Excellent, Mike. Used to be, if the Water Dept. arrived to fix a connection under the street in front of your house, the crew would as in your video, dig the hole with pick and shovel, repair the water pipe connection, and then they would fill the hole and repair the concrete surface themselves. Today, in my town, a contractor is hired to dig the hole, the Water Dept. workers fix the pipe connection, then contractors are hired to fill the hole and resurface with concrete. The contractor charges the town for labor and probably extra for a .supervisor, plus hourly rates for the backhoe and the dump truck, and a landfill fee for the stuff they ripped out. Also noticed that the contractors hired are usually good size, work all over the state, the region and some beyond that. So they have higher fixed costs and targets on profitability. The town sacrifices quality control, loses jobs and pays for planned obsolescence so all the companies involved can make their profitability targets.
The city that I live in is starting to put in concrete paver parking lots. The pavers have a space between each paver for drainage. I own a small shopping center every year the parking lot is crack filled, seal coated and stripped. Every 15 yrs the blacktop is completely removed and replaced. I thinking about having it redone in dark thick concrete pavers next time. No more crack filling/seal coating and the strips would be tan pavers. If an area becomes worn I will just have a contractor reset those pavers. There wouldn't be a repair joint to seal and the repair would be invisible.
Hi Meno, it is someting to look into, I would do a lot of look seeing, and some solid research to see what works in your area, I think pavers have a lot more class and are a lot more simple to fix, especially if they have the right amount of base under them, thanks mike
Mike, like your simple but smart method. I have a patio which I put tile. Of course, I like in Florida and that’s is done all over. Now, can I put tile over the tile I have down. Thanks
Pretty interesting video. The one take away for me to think about is the whole granite deal. Seems like a great weather stopper whether it's on a curb or at the bottom of brickwork. Thank you for sharing.
Once again another excellent video and tutorial.We're about the same age and I've been in masonry trades since the late 60's and all your videos really hit home.I live in Chicago so your mentions are also so important as regards to the working circumstances and conditions.Thanks again and wishing you all the best,\.Jim Hayes
facinating ... reallly dig these examples you put together. hope you dont get tired of me commenting all the time. youtube is doin a great job putting your vids in the feed if i havent seen them yet. it's their fault.
Step 1: block traffic.. LOL. Great video Mike! I found your videos while looking up masonry tips and was amazed to see your from Avoca. I have property in Duryea. I think that they don't mind the sidewalks being in such terrible shape because it keeps the skateboarders off em.
My hometown is Petersburg, Virginia. In the oldest section of town there are granite curb sections from 4 to 6 feet long. That took lot's of time to produce but those curb blocks have been there for 350 years.
Mike, thanks for a great video. It was a joy seeing the old school and common sense methods from around the world! Your video was great and well produced, looking for more! During my entire construction career, I taught and "preached" the "KISS" (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method for the work at hand! Like you said "simple" and "common sense" construction are some of the things that we still need to be aware of. It's unfortunate that schools, engineers. politics, etc. appear to overlook these things here in the US....rather sad! ....13
I absolutely love this video and the paver/cobblestone idea. I did catch myself goofing up the simplicity though. I imagined putting heating cables underneath so I wouldn't have to shovel the snow to avoid liability. I hate shoveling snow and always wish for heated steps, heated sidewalks, heated driveways. Heated pavers sounds pretty good to me!
@@MikeHaduck Come on by. I am in South Florida. Stay warm up there in PA. I was born is Syracuse, NY along with most of my other family but a lot of us ended up moving down here.
thx for all the videos. I used them to put up a retaining wall and it came out beautiful. also made some stairs of course they aren't perfect but I'm sure they'll be around a long time. lived in Europe a long time, buildings are/were built to last, sidewalks included.
Mike, I just wanted to say thank you for these videos. I enjoy your perspectives and the opportunity to see how things are/were done in different countries and the your unpretentious authenticity. I do cuss a lot when I am working on projects and they do not turn out to be quick and easy as you always show them to be. But then I do not have 40 years worth of experience. Humph! I am learning and I will stop cursing once I get the hang of all these skills. I figure that will be just about the time I am done. Have a good evening!
Once again mike your are truly the best 😀 you have gotten me so into stone and cement work and haven’t started my first project , but I just love watching your videos .. I wish more people would watch what you have to offer specially for a first time home owner like me .. Stay blessed and wishing for you lots of health
Hi Mike i have you ever done a video on a herringbone layout for a walkway or veneer. And thank you for sharing your talent i really enjoy your videos.
In Israel they used to use limestone curbs but limestone is really too soft for the job and they now use precast concrete curb pieces. They also used to pave the sidewalks in limestone but it got worn away and very very slippery (especially going up a hill in winter), now they use cast paver bricks in most areas (or often they use asphalt as well). They don't use cast concrete for anything but buildings pretty much (concrete is relatively expensive over here).
Hi Unbelted, I been there, Israel is a much milder weather then here up north, but when the concrete starts falling apart they will regret it, thanks mike
I enjoy your bricklayer eye, the thing that more took my attention in Prague was the fine work in the pavements, km And km square meters of stone work!
Top notch videos buddy, you are 100% right about not just being able to do the job, but waiting on inspectors and permits. A lot of that I imagine is the government trying to keep their backside covered because everybody is Lawsuit happy. Everything I do I try to do myself and I get a lot of ideas since I started watching your videos, thank you and keep them coming.
seeing as you were in china, i think it'd be fun to share a quote from chairman mao. "We must learn to do economic work from all who know how. No matter who they are, we must esteem them as teachers, learning from them respectfully and conscientiously. But we must not pretend to know what we do not know." seems like in china and sweden they took that to heart but here . . . i'm not so sure. great vid as always mike.
The thing Mike didn't mention is Portland Cement Association. There's been a strong lobbying group for the use of cement since the early 1900's in the US. Their "contributions" (take that as you like) have helped ensure standards and codes encouraging or insisting on cement products in municipal projects. One of the most visible examples is the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The commission responsible for construction had substantial representation from the region's cement suppliers, so cement was used for every major component in the airport. having one-sided terminals ensured more cement walls and taxiways. The shuttle trains run on rubber wheels in giant cement troughs. They've been rebuilding the 50 year-old runways and introducing asphalt to the infrastructure.
Mike - great video, and thanks for sharing your knowledge about the trade. ive been at it about 7 years and like to learn more however i can. i look forward to your videos and hope for more about the business side of things too. you could do a full-length documentary about old school vs new school, usa vs everybody else, masons vs plumbers lol
we have roads laid in the 1890s called Hassam concrete, lots of basalt chips in it, beautiful crowns curving down to gutter side, most have tar filling joints, but they are just fine. Elsewhere the city wanted to spend money so they laid asphalt that has to be replaced seems like every four years.
Hi Mike. I'm in the UK. I had a look around my area after you mentioned it in this video and the other one about fixing the sidewalks and it seems the Council (local government) have started laying down tarmac (I think you guys in the US call it blacktop) even on the side walks now. I remember in the 80s/90s what used to happen was people would steal the pavers and sell them because they were so easy to lift during the night so the council got sick of replacing them and started laying down blacktop in certain areas. They must have found it worthwhile, because they started laying it down everywhere.
Yeah it is sad. The other thing with pavers was that in today's 'insurance claim culture', if there was a raised or damaged paver, where there was a chance to trip/fall, people would sue the council for injury (which in some cases it was genuine) but I think the Councils must have got sick of being sued.
Great Mike! Here in Kenora On. the city installed paver blocks on alot of downtown sidewalks. Then they had to relevel after a few years. Then all the blocks vanished and back to concrete slabs! wtf...
and the broken pavers are sold dirt cheap for use in gardens as "crazy paving." Heck, I build drystone walls in my garden out of the stuff. It's cheap and looks pretty good. You don't even need to take it to landfill.
Brilliant video Mike you can see what the better option is pavers make more sense for a lot of reasons our streets in U.K and Ireland used to be filled with clay pavers or granite cobbles you don’t see so much of the clay mainly concrete pavers now it’s a shame as clay pavers retain the colour died concrete always fades. Keep the content company I’ve been binge watching 😁
Love the video and your points here. I think you're spot on. I can see some wilderness activists getting mad if we were to go back to quarrying granite saying we're tearing the natural places up (but the same thing happens with concrete through gravel, etc). Anyway, this also reminded me of my experience living in PA for a handful of years...I love the beauty, some good remote untouched areas close by out of towns, and it has some great people, but a lot of the towns (and sidewalks, etc) are really dirty. Dirty, crumbly and weeds growing in, through and around the cracks that owners don't take care of. The old school is cleaner and better maintained, as your video demonstrates. There needs to be a larger scale documentary on this in America.
Mike+ great video as always, thanks for doing this. Im a young mason in NJ, and love the tips, tricks and new (to me anyway) techniques. As for the video we seem to be the only ones who do it this way, everything in concrete. Not sure about Canada, they use a lot less road salt though. In older cities here (NJ, NY, PA) when the potholes are bad enough you can sometimes see the cobblestones underneath but they always put the blacktop back. We've paved over the solutions to our own problems. Not only does concrete and blacktop not last very long but practically 100% of rainwater runs right off it where it becomes somebody else's problem downstream. Preventable flooding happens every spring in NJ and I'm sure elsewhere. I've also seen the "lipped" stones for traction uphill in Italy. Chris + excellent idea for a documentary, Mike should be interviewed in it.
Here in the U. S. it’s a money thing if you sneeze someone wants to get paid I’m so intrigued with your videos for their simplicity really good content
Hi Mike, I live in Germany, and what I don`t like about paving stones is that you have lots of weed and moss growing between them in the gaps, so keeping them clean is not easy. But many stones that are used here are made of concrete, and they don`t fall apart after 30 years. I live in a street made of concrete pavers, that is 42 years old, and the stones are in good condition. We also have some Roads made of poured concrete, that where made in the 1950`s or 60`s, and they are still in pretty good shape, despite lots of winters with snow and salt, hot summers and rain. So maybe the concrete that is used in the US is not the best?
Hi Jochen, I have had bad concrete delivered before so that may be true, but the jobs are done cheap and fast with no thought of longevity, Europe is more practical and simple, so I guess I had to point that out , thanks Mike
Re: NASA and writing in space NASA used pencils too. The issue with pencils is that graphite conducts electricity and it doesn't always stay put so it can cause problems (I don't know if it ever did but going to space is dangerous and it was even more dangerous early on so it makes sense for them to be cautious). Both Americans and Soviets used graphite pencils, grease pencils, and then pens when pens that worked in space were developed. They both agreed that graphite pencils were dangerous to use.
What is your experience with using pavers for a driveway? It seems to me every spring they would heave and sink and what not. But i may try it and see how it goes. None of the local guys have done it before.
Was walking the neighborhood at the 100 year old church where I grew up and noticed the curbs are granite in much of the area; something that meant nothing to me as a kid. No idea what the walks were when the curbing was laid.
The unions play a large role in why we do things the way we do. The more expensive and complicated something is, the more guys you can keep busy. Instead of 3 guys setting pavers, you have 23 guys running the dump trucks, the hammers, the concrete trucks, etc.
good job Mike. in your video paver driveway you poured concrete then put pavers. was that for the weight of the car? I ask because I'm going to put in a path to my wife's shed with pavers. was going to pour concrete then put pavers. simplicity, would I do best with a (washout) crushed concrete base and just run a line and put pavers right on there? here in Texas it doesn't freeze and I can get 12 yards of washout for $300 and I have a small backhoe so I can do the whole job in a couple of days. pouring the concrete, forms a couple of extra guys will be expensive. any advice on this?
Hi James , up here in the north we get frost 3 to 4 feet deep on average winters and it wrecks pavers in driveways and patios, In Texas it might be a whole different story, and up here it keeps out the weeds I would check with the locals in your case, I appreciate it. mike
About roads in UK. They dig it up, lay new tar, lovely when its finished and then utility company comes along digs up a BIG hole , take their time ,and then the new tarred road looks like it always does "a patchwork quilt". And then "sooner rather than later" the asphalt falls apart and back to the start of my story.
By the way, its the same story here. The old concrete curbs and sidewalks all disintegrate after 20-30 years. But sometimes don't even last that long. I've seen them poured only to start breaking apart the next year. No joke.
Hi waldemar, they mostly use modified or 2b, and stone dust, many times I put them on plain concrete ,in some situations just gravel, in europe the base is deep, everything depends on what you are doing , I hope it helps mike
It's clear that in the SHORT TERM it is cheaper in NEW construction to simply pour concrete as opposed to using granite pavers, curbs, cobble stone, and tiles. Even though as you point out so well, it costs so much more in the longer term.
In the States we have a an obsessive focus on short term costs and profits. We see this in the stock market and in the way most American corporations are run. I suppose it's only natural that this focus would be present in or construction techniques.
Excellent video! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights.
Thanks Cheeky, I appreciate it. mike
Cheeky Monkees cheap isn’t good good isn’t cheap . If you want to make a road way you have to excavate 12 feet to undisturbed ground compact base 0/3/4 6 feet toss Portland on top hard pack 6.5 feet concrete 6 feet bellow grade 6 inches above now top it with blacktop . Poor on 4 inch foam tack tape and seal 35 mpa let’s see
Thank you Mike for the wealth of knowledge in your videos! I'm in my twenties, not even in construction, and I love your work
thanks bobbie, I hope it save you some money down the road, thanks mike
OMG! I like working with concrete, but I'll look into using pavers in the future instead. Thanks for the pointers, Mike!
You are right Mike, simplicity would cut our Municipal budgets and save the taxpayers money and possibly not have tax increases.
I agree to the that this could save spending that could be used towards local healthcare or education. My particular interest in this is that this could really beautify American towns. Having been on those same streets that Mike was on, I have to say that even little neighborhoods and villages in Danmark actually do look like that.
Be careful, the unions will firebomb your house for that kind of talk!
@@LegionPrime I'm not nearly as worried about the unions as I am the concrete companies.
I from a 'new' town in the UK built in the 50's. All the sidewalks were made from pavers, 50+ years later still there and in good condition. Now when they have to lift them for underground repairs they're being replaced with asphalt which crumble after 10 years, they are patches on top of patches and in the winter they become ice rinks.
Yeah, Thanks for using old school tech. Love ya Mike. Your a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work, Take some more tours and we love the stuff you an yours put up on UA-cam. Oh yeah, have a happy holiday season, an get back to work. : ) signed, your cheering section down in Texas
Hi C, I appreciate hearing that, it means I am on the right track, cheers from PA, thanks mike
An old timer once told me common sense wasn't common.
good saying, thanks mike
An old timer once told me common sense to a Doctor is different from common sense to a Butcher.
Common sense is elusive as a lawyer who does not lie.
Mr Mike you are so awesome and I want to thank you again for that simplicity concept in everything you do; for sure that taught me a great lesson from now on. Thanks again.
Thanks Dario, I appreciate it, mike
Travels are educational, and you’re a book of knowledge.Thank you for all the educational videos.God Bless.
Thanks Edward, Mike
Awareness (curiosity too), seem increasingly rare today. I've seen early aqueducts in the south of France that date to the early Roman period that are still standing...and are still transporting water...and had no mortar. A real instance of 'do it right,' and forget it.
Roads in Germany are bid out just like they are here but in Germany, the winner of the contract has to put up a 50-year bond. Their road beds are significantly deeper, and the surfaces are much thicker than ours.
Thank you again!
Thanks Paul, I agree,, mike
Mike, Your videos are so educational and informative. I’m a fan of old school too! Seems far more sturdy and last for generations
Thanks Belle, Mike
What a wealth of knowledge Mike. I am in my 20s this is fascinating.
Thank you for documenting your travels and explaining the different styles and ways of thinking.
Thanks Derek, Mike
Very eye opening, I love going back into the Haduck backlog!
Thanks Tyler, mike
great video.......again! keep up the great work. I just rewired a house and the old wires were still in good shape vs the new romex that was all chewed up by rodents. another example is fuses vs breakers. fuses are more reliable and "break" much faster than circuit breakers.
new does not always equal quality.
loved the tour! I know it's work to drag a camera around when you just want to chill and enjoy the scenery, but the videos are greatly appreciated.
Thanks Si, I heard that about fuses from some ppl guys also, I appreciate the comment, thanks mike
Si mclardy Thanks. More reason to keep my fuses.
Si mclardy --- The coatings/jackets for most new wiring system(s) are made from a 'vegetable' base oil...causing the rodent/pest attractions.
+arkansas13 I did not know that about the vegetable oil!
+otis08 just make sure you don't cheat the fuse size. you can buy irreversible sockets to set the fuse size. We still use fuses in industrial applications because they are like 6 times faster than breakers and that makes a big difference in some situations.
MIke, I hope you are still checking comments to your videos. I love your channel and all the talent and wisdom you bestow in such a straightforward and humble manner. I found your videos when I was looking on how to repair my concrete steps that are disintegrating. I liked your manner so much I began watching your other videos and quickly became a fan. My favorite is your video on making bird baths. I'm definitely going to make a few of those for my yard. Please keep up the great work. May God bless you and keep you in good health.
Thanks for the kind words, these kind of comment keep me going on, mike
Thank you for sharing your way of thinking. Old fashion seems to be the only solution for modern sorrows.
Really like your storytelling
Thanks Sebastiaan, I appreciate it, mike
Great insight. Laughed pretty good about the American pen and Russian pencil. Thanks!
Thanks More, Mike
That Russian Pencil vs American Pen story was great.! Thanks.! Keep them coming..!
Thanks John, I heard its myth, but it makes the point, lol, mike
There's a historic town called New Castle in Delaware and while I was there I noticed all the sidewalks were this very old brick, and in many spots this brick was probably 200 years old. Wherever it needs fixing they just pull up the bricks, level the ground, then put them back. The curbs were granite like you mentioned, and the gutters were cobblestone and probably the same age as the sidewalks. Some of the roads in town even had the same historic cobblestone.
As an aside the houses in this town were all brick, and the brick still looked new, even in cases where it was 300 years old.
Hi Wolfy, and they will be there another couple hundred years, but they don't build that way anymore, thanks mike
After a trip to DC I was wondering why we don't use granite curbs more, everything stone looked immaculate compared to where I live an hour away in Virginia. Also lived in Germany as a kid and remember the cobblestone roads being really cool, I was shocked at how well they held up considering it's just a bunch of rocks wedged together essentially.
Thanks MrMat, I agree, Mike
Excellent video. I learned a lot. Thank you for taking the time to post this up.
Thanks Mac, mike
Excellent piece to start the day with- persistence.
Thanks Chad, mike
in australia we are moving from concrete paving to pavers. Pavers have a few problems in areas of high soil salinity. i personally like the use of materials that "breathe", allowing the ground beneath to do what it always has seasonally.
In southern Australia we have problems with salt damp, and i belive much of the stress on buildings in urban areas is caused by impervious sidewalks and roadways. I love your vids Mike, and believe that the young should be taught these commonsense things at trade training , as it teaches kids awareness of stuff thats taken us a lifetime to be aware of. I well remember working in my teens and thinking of the parties all week and the thing hanging on the end of my belly took prefdrence over most things hahaha, great times!
Howdy Greyhaired, its great to hear from Down under, I agree 100 percent, thanks mike
Very well done Mike! A real eye opener.
Thanks, mike
the simplicity of pavers is that the upkeep is incremental at low cost while maintaining an always new look and feel. I think the reason why so many sidewalks in our towns are degraded is twofold: 1) concrete is like teeth, you can fill new holes only so manytimes until you have nothing of the original structure left, and then it is just rubble; 2) at that point you have already lived with a degrading concrete slab for years, and it becomes a monumental and hard to afford expense to rip it up and put in all new concrete. So it gets put on the long bench. To go back to the pavers, even after decades there is no giant repair cost, just the incremental paver at a time. As you say, simple and cost effective for decades to come. (sorry for the dated comment, I am new to your channel that I enjoy very much!)
Thanks ingmar, very well said , thanks Mike
I love these videos. I think i binge watched them all. I have a home in upstate new york that was built in 1812 in orchard park ny. Wild bill donovan ince owned it. Because of your videos im slowly but surely repairing the stone (boulder) foundation inside and out. And im going to put a concrete pad down before i lay pavers n flagstone for a patio outside of a deck im building. Thanks so much your videos have been so helpful! Once i post my videos i will certainly give you credit in them
Thanks Nicholas, mike
Excellent. Very helpful. Thanks. God bless.
Thanks again, Mike
Excellent, Mike. Used to be, if the Water Dept. arrived to fix a connection under the street in front of your house, the crew would as in your video, dig the hole with pick and shovel, repair the water pipe connection, and then they would fill the hole and repair the concrete surface themselves. Today, in my town, a contractor is hired to dig the hole, the Water Dept. workers fix the pipe connection, then contractors are hired to fill the hole and resurface with concrete. The contractor charges the town for labor and probably extra for a .supervisor, plus hourly rates for the backhoe and the dump truck, and a landfill fee for the stuff they ripped out. Also noticed that the contractors hired are usually good size, work all over the state, the region and some beyond that. So they have higher fixed costs and targets on profitability. The town sacrifices quality control, loses jobs and pays for planned obsolescence so all the companies involved can make their profitability targets.
Thanks frank, I appreciate hearing that, it's probably very true, Mike
travel more! and do more of the "thing vs. thing". Thanks for the content!
thanks Vegan, I appreciate it. mike
The city that I live in is starting to put in concrete paver parking lots. The pavers have a space between each paver for drainage. I own a small shopping center every year the parking lot is crack filled, seal coated and stripped. Every 15 yrs the blacktop is completely removed and replaced. I thinking about having it redone in dark thick concrete pavers next time. No more crack filling/seal coating and the strips would be tan pavers. If an area becomes worn I will just have a contractor reset those pavers. There wouldn't be a repair joint to seal and the repair would be invisible.
Hi Meno, it is someting to look into, I would do a lot of look seeing, and some solid research to see what works in your area, I think pavers have a lot more class and are a lot more simple to fix, especially if they have the right amount of base under them, thanks mike
Great stuff. Really cool to see other countries' construction techniques. Thank you
Thanks Nick, mike
Very enjoyable and informative videos. Thank you Mike.
The difference between theory and practicality is experience.
I loved the part with the Pen and the Pencil . I love the info.
Thanks Mississippi, mike
Great video Mike, thank you for your help.
Thanks James, mike
Am doing this as our house entrance! I am not pouring anything either, rather do the pavers like you said. Thank you.
Thanks Mike
Mike, like your simple but smart method. I have a patio which I put tile. Of course, I like in Florida and that’s is done all over. Now, can I put tile over the tile I have down. Thanks
Hi Michael, I could not say, I never did that, thanks Mike
Pretty interesting video. The one take away for me to think about is the whole granite deal. Seems like a great weather stopper whether it's on a curb or at the bottom of brickwork. Thank you for sharing.
thanks Mat, I agree, mike
Once again another excellent video and tutorial.We're about the same age and I've been in masonry trades since the late 60's and all your videos really hit home.I live in Chicago so your mentions are also so important as regards to the working circumstances and conditions.Thanks again and wishing you all the best,\.Jim Hayes
Thanks James, I appreciate that hearing from a pro, It makes me feel I am on the right track, thanks mike
Your videos are a national treasure, sir. Well done.
Thanks Megan, mike
facinating ... reallly dig these examples you put together. hope you dont get tired of me commenting all the time. youtube is doin a great job putting your vids in the feed if i havent seen them yet. it's their fault.
Thanks Thor, I appreciate it, mike
Love your passion , for work !
This is a well thought out video that you put a ton of work and money into. Thank you sir. I totally nerded our on it.
Thanks Grey Eagle, I appreciate it, mike
You wanna right upside down...use a freakin pencil!!! Love it! Old skool till the day I die!
Hi David, some say it's a myth, but good story, thanks mike
Step 1: block traffic.. LOL. Great video Mike! I found your videos while looking up masonry tips and was amazed to see your from Avoca. I have property in Duryea. I think that they don't mind the sidewalks being in such terrible shape because it keeps the skateboarders off em.
Thoughtful and wise;thanks.
Thanks Henry, mike
Well done Mike, common sense and Old School smarts, your comparisons are spot On. Thanks
My hometown is Petersburg, Virginia. In the oldest section of town there are granite curb sections from 4 to 6 feet long. That took lot's of time to produce but those curb blocks have been there for 350 years.
Thanks Robert, very true, and they will be there 300 years more, thanks Mike
Great video and love at the end who your dedicating the video to. God bless Mike !!!
Thanks jermf,, God bless, Mike
Mike, thanks for a great video. It was a joy seeing the old school and common sense methods from around the world! Your video was great and well produced, looking for more!
During my entire construction career, I taught and "preached" the "KISS" (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method for the work at hand! Like you said "simple" and "common sense" construction are some of the things that we still need to be aware of. It's unfortunate that schools, engineers. politics, etc. appear to overlook these things here in the US....rather sad!
....13
I absolutely love this video and the paver/cobblestone idea. I did catch myself goofing up the simplicity though. I imagined putting heating cables underneath so I wouldn't have to shovel the snow to avoid liability. I hate shoveling snow and always wish for heated steps, heated sidewalks, heated driveways. Heated pavers sounds pretty good to me!
Hi Linda, I got a better idea, a sailboat in florida, lol, mike
@@MikeHaduck Hah!!!!! Definitely no shoveling snow there!
@@MikeHaduck Come on by. I am in South Florida. Stay warm up there in PA. I was born is Syracuse, NY along with most of my other family but a lot of us ended up moving down here.
I like the video Mike
I love the dedication at the end!
Thanks,
Thanks for doing these videos. I used the info in another video of yours to fix my front sidewalk and it came out just as you said it would. Thanks!
thx for all the videos. I used them to put up a retaining wall and it came out beautiful. also made some stairs of course they aren't perfect but I'm sure they'll be around a long time. lived in Europe a long time, buildings are/were built to last, sidewalks included.
Thanks Jimmy, I appreciate it. mike
Fantastic video.
Thanks Don , I appreciate it, mike
Mike, I just wanted to say thank you for these videos. I enjoy your perspectives and the opportunity to see how things are/were done in different countries and the your unpretentious authenticity. I do cuss a lot when I am working on projects and they do not turn out to be quick and easy as you always show them to be. But then I do not have 40 years worth of experience. Humph! I am learning and I will stop cursing once I get the hang of all these skills. I figure that will be just about the time I am done. Have a good evening!
Thanks CL, no worries I still do some cussing myself, lol thanks mike
Very interesting video. Thank you for making it
Thanks sikk, mike
Once again mike your are truly the best 😀 you have gotten me so into stone and cement work and haven’t started my first project , but I just love watching your videos .. I wish more people would watch what you have to offer specially for a first time home owner like me ..
Stay blessed and wishing for you lots of health
Thanks Rob, God bless also, mike
Hi Mike i have you ever done a video on a herringbone layout for a walkway or veneer. And thank you for sharing your talent i really enjoy your videos.
Hi Mark, I haven't done a job like that in a while, but If I do I will post it. thanks mike
In Israel they used to use limestone curbs but limestone is really too soft for the job and they now use precast concrete curb pieces. They also used to pave the sidewalks in limestone but it got worn away and very very slippery (especially going up a hill in winter), now they use cast paver bricks in most areas (or often they use asphalt as well). They don't use cast concrete for anything but buildings pretty much (concrete is relatively expensive over here).
Hi Unbelted, I been there, Israel is a much milder weather then here up north, but when the concrete starts falling apart they will regret it, thanks mike
I enjoy your bricklayer eye, the thing that more took my attention in Prague was the fine work in the pavements, km And km square meters of stone work!
Thanks Alfa, I agree, thanks, mike
Top notch videos buddy, you are 100% right about not just being able to do the job, but waiting on inspectors and permits. A lot of that I imagine is the government trying to keep their backside covered because everybody is Lawsuit happy. Everything I do I try to do myself and I get a lot of ideas since I started watching your videos, thank you and keep them coming.
Thanks John, I appreciate it. mike
John Hines --- I think 'Tort Reform' should be on our governments list of "get it done now".....oh I forgot, they don't get anything done....lol
seeing as you were in china, i think it'd be fun to share a quote from chairman mao.
"We must learn to do economic work from all who know how. No matter who
they are, we must esteem them as teachers, learning from them
respectfully and conscientiously. But we must not pretend to know what
we do not know."
seems like in china and sweden they took that to heart but here . . . i'm not so sure.
great vid as always mike.
Thanks Red, Mike
If you ever get a chance to go to Amsterdam check out the curbs there. They have rounded notches that point in the same direction as motor traffic.
Thanks Brian, I would like to see it someday, mike
what an interesting perspective...thanks mike!
keep well and safe from Scotland. Love the videos. 👍
Thanks Ian, Mike
The thing Mike didn't mention is Portland Cement Association. There's been a strong lobbying group for the use of cement since the early 1900's in the US. Their "contributions" (take that as you like) have helped ensure standards and codes encouraging or insisting on cement products in municipal projects. One of the most visible examples is the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The commission responsible for construction had substantial representation from the region's cement suppliers, so cement was used for every major component in the airport. having one-sided terminals ensured more cement walls and taxiways. The shuttle trains run on rubber wheels in giant cement troughs. They've been rebuilding the 50 year-old runways and introducing asphalt to the infrastructure.
Thanks, Mike
Mike - great video, and thanks for sharing your knowledge about the trade. ive been at it about 7 years and like to learn more however i can. i look forward to your videos and hope for more about the business side of things too. you could do a full-length documentary about old school vs new school, usa vs everybody else, masons vs plumbers lol
Thanks covman, i appreciate it. I am working on it, ;lol, mike
LOL!! GREAT VIDEO MIKE.!.. YOU SEE THESE ENGINEERING BLUNDERS ACROSS THE TRADES!
Hi M D, I do like a lot of the old school,, thanks mike
Thank you for another great video, Mike!
thanks Wayland I appreciate it. mike
Hi Mike - Really appreciate all your information. Keep it up!
Thanks Chris, I appreciate it. also, mike
we have roads laid in the 1890s called Hassam concrete, lots of basalt chips in it, beautiful crowns curving down to gutter side, most have tar filling joints, but they are just fine. Elsewhere the city wanted to spend money so they laid asphalt that has to be replaced seems like every four years.
hard to say, everywhere the weather is different, but I do like the old school sidewalks, thanks mike
Great video. Thanks
thanks tony, I appreciate it. mike
Hi Mike. I'm in the UK. I had a look around my area after you mentioned it in this video and the other one about fixing the sidewalks and it seems the Council (local government) have started laying down tarmac (I think you guys in the US call it blacktop) even on the side walks now.
I remember in the 80s/90s what used to happen was people would steal the pavers and sell them because they were so easy to lift during the night so the council got sick of replacing them and started laying down blacktop in certain areas. They must have found it worthwhile, because they started laying it down everywhere.
Hi bitter truth, I never heard that one, sad to see the good things disappear, thanks mike
Yeah it is sad.
The other thing with pavers was that in today's 'insurance claim culture', if there was a raised or damaged paver, where there was a chance to trip/fall, people would sue the council for injury (which in some cases it was genuine) but I think the Councils must have got sick of being sued.
Thanks a lot Mike
Thanks Pablo, Mike
Great video ... really enjoyed your commentary!
thanks DOC, I appreciate it. mike
Hahahaahahaaa!!! The response to the commenter said a whole lot and used no words. Great video, Mike!
Thanks Stock, mike
excellent video. Same story in Holland
Great Mike! Here in Kenora On. the city installed paver blocks on alot of downtown sidewalks. Then they had to relevel after a few years. Then all the blocks vanished and back to concrete slabs! wtf...
Hi Cliff, they got to go to Europe and learn to do it right, I agree thanks Mike
and the broken pavers are sold dirt cheap for use in gardens as "crazy paving." Heck, I build drystone walls in my garden out of the stuff. It's cheap and looks pretty good. You don't even need to take it to landfill.
Thanks, mike
Brilliant video Mike you can see what the better option is pavers make more sense for a lot of reasons our streets in U.K and Ireland used to be filled with clay pavers or granite cobbles you don’t see so much of the clay mainly concrete pavers now it’s a shame as clay pavers retain the colour died concrete always fades. Keep the content company I’ve been binge watching 😁
Thanks Sean, Mike
Thanks Sean,, Mike
Also the pavers are more esthetically pleasing. Improves the look of the neighborhood, increases property values, etc. It's a no-brainer.
Thanks Leon, mike
Amen. Thank you Mike!
thanks Recco, mike
Love the video and your points here. I think you're spot on. I can see some wilderness activists getting mad if we were to go back to quarrying granite saying we're tearing the natural places up (but the same thing happens with concrete through gravel, etc). Anyway, this also reminded me of my experience living in PA for a handful of years...I love the beauty, some good remote untouched areas close by out of towns, and it has some great people, but a lot of the towns (and sidewalks, etc) are really dirty. Dirty, crumbly and weeds growing in, through and around the cracks that owners don't take care of. The old school is cleaner and better maintained, as your video demonstrates. There needs to be a larger scale documentary on this in America.
thanks Chris I agree, thanks, mike
Mike+ great video as always, thanks for doing this. Im a young mason in NJ, and love the tips, tricks and new (to me anyway) techniques.
As for the video we seem to be the only ones who do it this way, everything in concrete. Not sure about Canada, they use a lot less road salt though. In older cities here (NJ, NY, PA) when the potholes are bad enough you can sometimes see the cobblestones underneath but they always put the blacktop back. We've paved over the solutions to our own problems. Not only does concrete and blacktop not last very long but practically 100% of rainwater runs right off it where it becomes somebody else's problem downstream. Preventable flooding happens every spring in NJ and I'm sure elsewhere. I've also seen the "lipped" stones for traction uphill in Italy.
Chris + excellent idea for a documentary, Mike should be interviewed in it.
Here in the U. S. it’s a money thing if you sneeze someone wants to get paid I’m so intrigued with your videos for their simplicity really good content
Thanks Tanya, Mike
Hi Mike, I live in Germany, and what I don`t like about paving stones is that you have lots of weed and moss growing between them in the gaps, so keeping them clean is not easy. But many stones that are used here are made of concrete, and they don`t fall apart after 30 years.
I live in a street made of concrete pavers, that is 42 years old, and the stones are in good condition. We also have some Roads made of poured concrete, that where made in the 1950`s or 60`s, and they are still in pretty good shape, despite lots of winters with snow and salt, hot summers and rain. So maybe the concrete that is used in the US is not the best?
Hi Jochen, I have had bad concrete delivered before so that may be true, but the jobs are done cheap and fast with no thought of longevity, Europe is more practical and simple, so I guess I had to point that out , thanks Mike
Re: NASA and writing in space
NASA used pencils too. The issue with pencils is that graphite conducts electricity and it doesn't always stay put so it can cause problems (I don't know if it ever did but going to space is dangerous and it was even more dangerous early on so it makes sense for them to be cautious). Both Americans and Soviets used graphite pencils, grease pencils, and then pens when pens that worked in space were developed. They both agreed that graphite pencils were dangerous to use.
Thanks, I learned that, mike
What is your experience with using pavers for a driveway? It seems to me every spring they would heave and sink and what not. But i may try it and see how it goes. None of the local guys have done it before.
Hi Sky, here in pa I won’t do driveways but if I did I would do them on top of concrete or have a huge base of modified or gravel, thanks, mike
Was walking the neighborhood at the 100 year old church where I grew up and noticed the curbs are granite in much of the area; something that meant nothing to me as a kid. No idea what the walks were when the curbing was laid.
Thanks , I appreciate you watching that video, Mike
I wonder if I could buy one of those block carriers on Amazon?
I don't know, good question, thanks mike
The unions play a large role in why we do things the way we do. The more expensive and complicated something is, the more guys you can keep busy. Instead of 3 guys setting pavers, you have 23 guys running the dump trucks, the hammers, the concrete trucks, etc.
Hi Ethan, I think they just dont want to keep it simple, thanks Mike
I’m convinced. I will be doing pavers around my house instead of concrete.
Thanks Mike, Mike
In my university we have an annual competition in the engineering program where we make a concrete canoe
Yep, they had concrete sailboats back in the day and barges during ww2, thanks mike
hi mike here in England we have a lot of 3x2 stone paved sidewalks but slowly they are being torn up and replaced with tarmac best wishes
Hi Darren, too bad, the old school is very elegant. I think everything will end up black top sooner or later, thanks, mike
What is the base they set the pavers in? Some look like combo of stone and sand. In S. Fla. we seem to use sand.
Hi Yee Haw, mostly modified and it goes deep, thanks mike
Great video. Hardscaping is the way to go.Thanks Mike
Thanks Robert, I appreciate it, Mike
good job Mike. in your video paver driveway you poured concrete then put pavers. was that for the weight of the car? I ask because I'm going to put in a path to my wife's shed with pavers. was going to pour concrete then put pavers. simplicity, would I do best with a (washout) crushed concrete base and just run a line and put pavers right on there? here in Texas it doesn't freeze and I can get 12 yards of washout for $300 and I have a small backhoe so I can do the whole job in a couple of days. pouring the concrete, forms a couple of extra guys will be expensive. any advice on this?
Hi James , up here in the north we get frost 3 to 4 feet deep on average winters and it wrecks pavers in driveways and patios, In Texas it might be a whole different story, and up here it keeps out the weeds I would check with
the locals in your case, I appreciate it. mike
About roads in UK. They dig it up, lay new tar, lovely when its finished and then utility company comes along digs up a BIG hole , take their time ,and then the new tarred road looks like it always does "a patchwork quilt". And then "sooner rather than later" the asphalt falls apart and back to the start of my story.
Hi hear you Ian, same here, thanks Mike
By the way, its the same story here. The old concrete curbs and sidewalks all disintegrate after 20-30 years. But sometimes don't even last that long. I've seen them poured only to start breaking apart the next year. No joke.
Hi Wolfy, I agree, but they don't want to hear it, thanks mike
Hi mike when you do pavers what’s the best under lament for a base under the pavers ?
Hi waldemar, they mostly use modified or 2b, and stone dust, many times I put them on plain concrete ,in some situations just gravel, in europe the base is deep, everything depends on what you are doing , I hope it helps mike
Love the video Mike. Evan from Boston
Thanks Evan, I appreciate it, like