Thanks man. And yeah, I really need to film more of us working. Not only to help others but to have the videos for memory. I don’t know what I’d do without my dad... at age 66, he’s still the hardest working person I’ve ever seen. Incredible, I don’t know how he does it. I’m 36 and can’t imagine doing what he does for 30 more years. He’s an animal!
First thanks so much for sharing your concrete knowledge. Im so stoked i found your video its made me more confident on the concrete wall project that i need to get finished . Thanks for keeping it simple yet still giving the info i need to hear because your technique are above awesome. Great job.guys Be well Mike
Nice work young man I started with my dad around 1978 at 8 years old and I became a 5th generation concrete and stone mason when I turned 14 and could get a work permit I prepped and formed basements and garages porches driveways walks and cleaned all of the finishers tools after every pour at 16 years old I quit school and went full time running a prep crew by the time I was 18 I was running a 5-6 man place and finish crew and never looked back now at 49 years old I run multiple crews and sites but still run chute and pull stick a f w times a week my oldman is 77 years old and still catches a day with us every now and then I can't stand up straight my back has became arched forward from pulling a stick for 30 years but it is one of the best trades that a man can have not many people can pour crete like my nona Michael told me when I was 12 boy you where born with cement in your eyes lol good to see nice old school work
Hello! Nice wall and slap youve poured there! Im also into concrete, read all about concrete and the forms. Even tunnel concrete. Ive got some books on that too. On the about section of my youtube channel on archive i uploaded some tunneling books on concrete. I need to start with doing math on concrete, but not until i finish my engineering books. :) Greetings, Jeff
Awesome video, I appreciate the explanations. I'm thinking about taking on a concrete job (my own flatwork). I have knowledge but not experience would you be interested in being paid for a phone consultation?
Looks good. I have a project I'm planing for my place. When I place the order for the concrete for my wall which aggregate size and type of mix should I order (the psi is 4,000 and slump 4")?
Thanks! We typically order 3,000 psi for walls and aggregate size is always 3/8” (pea gravel). The small rock works best for getting down around any re-enforcing steel (rebar) and into the corners. Bigger rock causes “rock pockets” voids in the wall. And for Slump, ordering 4” is fine, the mix always varies, so once it gets to the job we take a look at how stiff it is and usually add water so it flows better, makes for a smoother wall finish. If you order 4,000 psi concrete that will be nice and creamy due to the added cement in the mix. That’ll be a very strong wall. Hope it works out great! Thanks for watching my video.
Should you have not raised the the rebar off from having direct contact with the ground because of potential rusting that will degrade the concrete strength?
Yes, all the rebar was off the dirt 1.5 to 2 inches. I used rocks to hold it up. You can see the shadows the rebar is casting onto the ground. :) Thanks for your question/concern tho. Appreciate you watching my video!
It’s all in the timing. Once the concrete is stiff enough - do a finger pressure test, if it doesn’t dent too much - it’s ready to get on the foam to start finishing. The 2” rigid foam disperses our weight, like an aired-down wide tire floating on snow.
Ernest Xavier - Thanks! Concrete cost for the first part of the pour (wall and partial walkway) was $747 and used 6 yards. The second pour (parking area and remaining walkway) was 11 yards (full truck) and cost $1,323, for a total of $2,070. Well worth it!! If we were charging a customer, this job would be $7,000+. Thanks for watching.
jkwo2007 - You are correct. We do this often on single sided forming. The plywood holds back any dirt from caving into the form area. Once filled with concrete it’s buried forever and forgotten about. One thing to be sure not to do, is let the plywood stick up past the dirt grade. If you allow the plywood edge to protrude past the dirt, it will cause a separation of the concrete between the “sidewalk” upper area and the “wall” area. You risk having a crack appear in the surface once it’s fully cured directly above the plywoods edge. Hope that makes sense! Thanks for the question and watching!
@@85YotaMan This is a fine procedure if you live in a non-termite area. If it's a termite area like southeast Texas, then you have just put a huge lunch buffet down in the soil. Also, in theory, the wood will decompose over time and leave a void. This might be a non-issue; or it could be a big issue if there is a sidewalk above the wall that cracks due to the soil shifting into the void over time.
jbh77064 - If the wood were to ever rot out or be eaten, the void wouldn’t matter. The rebar adds all the strength to concrete. Think of a bridge. Rebar & concrete are amazing when paired together. We do “floating” stair treads that cantilever several feet. If setup properly with rebar, concrete will span any void or air space.
They are Steel steaks with L-shape brackets made to hold a 2x4. They have a set-screw (bolt), so we pull a string-line across the steaks to set the grade height. Once concrete is placed we use the strike-rod, it has a wooden steak screwed to the top on one end, that rides along on the other set 2x4. Hope that makes sense! Thanks for the question and watching my video.
Troy Seivad - We only use power trowels when the slab is over 2000 ft.² Power trowels take a lot longer to finish a slab. Knee boarding gets us done couple hours quicker. Time is money! Thanks for watching.
Ahh, because you can get on the concrete sooner, gotcha. One more question... What are you using to hold the 2x4 up to the height of concrete to strike off of?
Yep exactly. Not only do you have to wait a while for concrete to get hard enough to use a power trowel, the power trowel also stirs up the surface much more and you have to go over it several times.
EXCELLENT skills, retaining wall planter is a nice modern touch, people pay alot for that sort of thing
Hey great job. Enjoy working with your dad. It’s one of the greatest things I miss. I wish I had done more videos with him talking.
Thanks man. And yeah, I really need to film more of us working. Not only to help others but to have the videos for memory. I don’t know what I’d do without my dad... at age 66, he’s still the hardest working person I’ve ever seen. Incredible, I don’t know how he does it. I’m 36 and can’t imagine doing what he does for 30 more years. He’s an animal!
First thanks so much for sharing your concrete knowledge. Im so stoked i found your video its made me more confident on the concrete wall project that i need to get finished . Thanks for keeping it simple yet still giving the info i need to hear because your technique are above awesome. Great job.guys
Be well
Mike
Michael Cunha I love hearing about my videos helping people. If you ever want to see something specific, I’d be happy to film it! Thanks for watching.
Wicked Job!
You guys make it look easy which is a sign of a professionalism! Thanks for all the tips!
Only Time - I appreciate the kind words! Thanks for watching!
Very cool 👍
Thanks for watching!
That turned out awesome 😎 nice idea 💡
Dylan Frazier - Appreciate the comment, thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing, awesome job!
Francisco Hernandez Thank you! I appreciate the kind words.
Great job! Thanks for posting!
Steve Markovic Thank you for watching!
Nice video brother and nice work 👍🏻
Jeff Andrews Thanks! And thank you for watching. 😎👍🏻
awesome job Dude!
Michael Miller - Thanks for the kind comment and watching my video!
This is the stuff father and son should be doing together.
Clayton Chase I agree! Been working next to my dad since I was born. Thanks for watching.
Nice work young man I started with my dad around 1978 at 8 years old and I became a 5th generation concrete and stone mason when I turned 14 and could get a work permit I prepped and formed basements and garages porches driveways walks and cleaned all of the finishers tools after every pour at 16 years old I quit school and went full time running a prep crew by the time I was 18 I was running a 5-6 man place and finish crew and never looked back now at 49 years old I run multiple crews and sites but still run chute and pull stick a f w times a week my oldman is 77 years old and still catches a day with us every now and then I can't stand up straight my back has became arched forward from pulling a stick for 30 years but it is one of the best trades that a man can have not many people can pour crete like my nona Michael told me when I was 12 boy you where born with cement in your eyes lol good to see nice old school work
Chris Santoro - Thanks for sharing your story and watching my video! Concrete sure is hard work. I don’t know how my dad still does it!
Good work!
Thank you! Appreciate your comment and for watching my video!
Nice job
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching.
@@85YotaMan no problem. It was a really neat job
nice job!
motoputz - Thank you, I always try my best!
Hello!
Nice wall and slap youve poured there!
Im also into concrete, read all about concrete and the forms. Even tunnel concrete. Ive got some books on that too. On the about section of my youtube channel on archive i uploaded some tunneling books on concrete.
I need to start with doing math on concrete, but not until i finish my engineering books. :)
Greetings,
Jeff
Good job
I appreciate that, thanks for watching!
Do this for a living, very nice work
danno8852 - Appreciate the comment! Thanks for watching.
cool, thanks
motoputz - Thanks for watching!
Thanks
FixItStupid Thank you for watching!
Awesome video, I appreciate the explanations. I'm thinking about taking on a concrete job (my own flatwork). I have knowledge but not experience would you be interested in being paid for a phone consultation?
Looks good. I have a project I'm planing for my place. When I place the order for the concrete for my wall which aggregate size and type of mix should I order (the psi is 4,000 and slump 4")?
Thanks! We typically order 3,000 psi for walls and aggregate size is always 3/8” (pea gravel). The small rock works best for getting down around any re-enforcing steel (rebar) and into the corners. Bigger rock causes “rock pockets” voids in the wall. And for Slump, ordering 4” is fine, the mix always varies, so once it gets to the job we take a look at how stiff it is and usually add water so it flows better, makes for a smoother wall finish. If you order 4,000 psi concrete that will be nice and creamy due to the added cement in the mix. That’ll be a very strong wall. Hope it works out great! Thanks for watching my video.
I’m a concreter myself and we do about the same exact thing as you
Alec Brown - That’s awesome! Thanks for watching. 👍🏻
Should you have not raised the the rebar off from having direct contact with the ground because of potential rusting that will degrade the concrete strength?
Yes, all the rebar was off the dirt 1.5 to 2 inches. I used rocks to hold it up. You can see the shadows the rebar is casting onto the ground. :) Thanks for your question/concern tho. Appreciate you watching my video!
@@85YotaMan You’re exactly correct. I can see the shadows you brought to my attention.
How is it you can sit on foam pads un uncured concrete (to do the troweling), and not sink in?
It’s all in the timing. Once the concrete is stiff enough - do a finger pressure test, if it doesn’t dent too much - it’s ready to get on the foam to start finishing. The 2” rigid foam disperses our weight, like an aired-down wide tire floating on snow.
Great job bro! How much did you spend in concrete? :)
Ernest Xavier - Thanks! Concrete cost for the first part of the pour (wall and partial walkway) was $747 and used 6 yards. The second pour (parking area and remaining walkway) was 11 yards (full truck) and cost $1,323, for a total of $2,070. Well worth it!! If we were charging a customer, this job would be $7,000+. Thanks for watching.
Complete Customs, thank you so much for the cost’s details! Just perfect!! I enjoy your videos!! Blessings on you!
At 01:01, on the right, it seems you buried the plywood inside the concrete? Does it matter or not?
jkwo2007 - You are correct. We do this often on single sided forming. The plywood holds back any dirt from caving into the form area. Once filled with concrete it’s buried forever and forgotten about. One thing to be sure not to do, is let the plywood stick up past the dirt grade. If you allow the plywood edge to protrude past the dirt, it will cause a separation of the concrete between the “sidewalk” upper area and the “wall” area. You risk having a crack appear in the surface once it’s fully cured directly above the plywoods edge. Hope that makes sense! Thanks for the question and watching!
@@85YotaMan This is a fine procedure if you live in a non-termite area. If it's a termite area like southeast Texas, then you have just put a huge lunch buffet down in the soil.
Also, in theory, the wood will decompose over time and leave a void. This might be a non-issue; or it could be a big issue if there is a sidewalk above the wall that cracks due to the soil shifting into the void over time.
jbh77064 - If the wood were to ever rot out or be eaten, the void wouldn’t matter. The rebar adds all the strength to concrete. Think of a bridge. Rebar & concrete are amazing when paired together. We do “floating” stair treads that cantilever several feet. If setup properly with rebar, concrete will span any void or air space.
Do you find that a poured concrete retaining wall costs less than a CMU retaining wall?
Probably not much cheaper but a lot stronger and faster... time is money! :)
What are you using to hold up the 2x4’s to strike off with?
They are Steel steaks with L-shape brackets made to hold a 2x4. They have a set-screw (bolt), so we pull a string-line across the steaks to set the grade height. Once concrete is placed we use the strike-rod, it has a wooden steak screwed to the top on one end, that rides along on the other set 2x4. Hope that makes sense! Thanks for the question and watching my video.
Complete Customs - perfect sense, thank you
broom or smooth trowel finish?
Smooth finish. Much easier to blow off, sweep and keep clean. Still has plenty of traction tho. Thanks for watching!
One sided concrete form
Plywood one side
Mother earth the other
40' wall
8"w
Oh....4'
Rookies leave those flat control joints
The dirtiest Players - Not sure what that means but thanks for watching. Haha.
Why not use a power trowel instead of knee boarding?
Troy Seivad - We only use power trowels when the slab is over 2000 ft.² Power trowels take a lot longer to finish a slab. Knee boarding gets us done couple hours quicker. Time is money! Thanks for watching.
Ahh, because you can get on the concrete sooner, gotcha. One more question... What are you using to hold the 2x4 up to the height of concrete to strike off of?
Yep exactly. Not only do you have to wait a while for concrete to get hard enough to use a power trowel, the power trowel also stirs up the surface much more and you have to go over it several times.
Perfect timing. Rain is great for cure!
Bob alloo - Yes! We love it when it rains that night or the next day. Concrete is thirsty!
No puddles? I guess I’m blind
Correct, it’s been almost 5 years and still drains like a champ. Zero puddles. You’re seeing sheen from the rain water. It 100% drains.