I am showing how I float finish a concrete sidewalk or patio. All my videos ar my ways and ideas, and I always suggest when someone is building to ask outside professional help.
Hi Mike, pay no mind to this Internet professionals that are commenting based on what they've seen/read but not done. Your method works just fine and the finished product is nice. Keep your great videos coming! God bless you and yours!
God bless you sir .after 45 years in the business, I thougth I was wrong but I must have been mistaken, I,I will try to forget everything I learned and do it your way. thanks for the advice, God bless you. Mike
Thanks Mike! For me, the best part of your video was at the very end. Once the boards are removed I didn't like the looks of the pot holes on my home projects but decided that they would be covered by dirt then grass. I would see other jobs and sometimes they were there and sometimes not... then bingo I watched this and though so obvious but I didn't have a clue. The sponge was the icing on the cake. Thanks for the details and your time to put this together!
Man I so much appreciate Mike's videos, I am doing many concrete works on my mom's home, I read books , videos, and advise by passer bys. It is characteristics in Mike's teaching that he tells u other people may do it differently, another way, or another approach. That makes me feel better so that I am not too hard on myself of un necessarily strict. Mike gently mentions pearls of wisdom from years of experience . He is the All American, and the type what makes this country great !!!
excellent work as always! I am currently taking a 2 year masonry course in college and i'm the top in my class (not to brag) and I wanted to tell you watching your videos for methods help me out a lot! thank you sir!
yes many times we whack it down and over screed it. to get the rocks down. different ways at different times. was in the UK and think you guys are best. thanks mike
I chuckled when you two struggled a bit to get in sinc on rodding off the mud. I've also used the trick of dragging the edger across the slab for a bit of butter for edging. You're showing how I learned almost 40 years ago. :)
I am almost 60 years old and been doing it sence I was a kid. and I know everyone approaches it different,but I am always willing to learn the right way so send me the link of the video you done so I could lean from the master... God bless mike
Mike, if I could afford it I would fly you out to California to work on my place. Thank you so much for being a great teacher and an excellent craftsman.
The fiber mesh is suppose to help with shrikage cracking and doesnt add to structural benefits. Thanks for the video Mike1 liek i said it is alwys interesting to watch other guys and their methods. anyone that pours concrete for a living is a hard working man and earns his money honestly!
When I do decorstive esp stamped I go to a 5 or 6" pour with 3/8 rebar 2' OC. It is always nice to see how other guys pour and their methods. I do swirl occasionally but note to alot of guys out there that act like they are know-it alls, a swirl finish is more prone to wear and tear and chipping bc to get a swirl you are practically ripping the crete open. although a swirl with alot of grooves and picture frame looks nicer than a standard broom. thanks for the Video!
I'll be doing some concrete jobs around the house shortly as well as some mortar work on a few bricks I have issues with. Your videos are very helpful and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge!
I won't use wire in concrete if it is just being walked on. Driving on it is a different story. and all jobs have different reasons for doing things. Hope that answered the question. thanks mike
Everyone has their own way to pour and finish and what kind of mix they use. here in the midwest we always trowel finish then broom it with a light bristle broom. the reason we trowel it is bc it closes the concrete a bit more to make it less pourous than a mag finish. As far as wire mesh goes, all it does is allow for bigger spacing between expansion and control joints, ad when the concrete does crack it holds it together, I am big on the fiber mesh personally.
Nothing wrong with the job, but I still would recommend the mesh regardless of how it is being used. The mesh helps it to last many, many more years, and adds to its durability. You never know what the future holds, and what may have to pass over that patio - let's say they build a pool beside it... that requires heavy trucks. Also, I agree with blackjack - always finish with trowel or broom. You can get creative too and do different broom patterns.
I appreciate the comment. and I agree. I was told by the legal folks from the concrete company that the fiber mesh is only good for one day.and I could continue with a few storys about that, but wont comment on it more. I do use it for certain jobs though. check it out. thanks mike
This video raises all kinds of questions for me. Would it be possible to run a length of string where the joints are going to be before the pouring? If you did this, you would be able to cut the concrete while it is still wet, by pulling the string up. This would save you the cost of a diamond blade drill. Do you think this would work? Next question, some other people have made videos where they use a power sander on the forms to vibrate all of the concrete voids out, while the concrete is still wet. Have you done anything like that before?
Every mason in every area has different techniques, styles and traditions, and they usually do what works for them in that area, I always try to put my expanders in first but the swimming pool guys like (how I brush finish concrete-Mike Haduck) do it while they are pouring, it all depends. that is why I always say in my videos "How I do it". and never tell folks how they should do it. hope it helps. mike
Mike thanks for all your experiance to save us beginners a lot of time and money my question... what would happen if you put the concrete empty bags. and stuffed in the footings before pouring your concrete?
Mike thanks for all your experiance to save us beginners a lot of time and money my question... what would happen if you put the concrete empty bags. and stuffed in the footings before pouring your concrete?
Mike thanks for all your experiance to save us beginners a lot of time and money my question... what would happen if you put the concrete empty bags. and stuffed in the footings before pouring your concrete?
+Natnael Kenaw How does a homeowner vibrate the wet concrete to avoid these voids? Can you just press down and jiggle the float side to side, or smack the float down many times on the wet concrete. Or, poke a stick into the wet concrete over and over? I've heard tapping the form with a hammer works too. I guess the side to side motion of the screed is not enough.
+Nicholas Hoffenpiper when the concrete is going in I will be moving the board back & forth which will settle it and then the long trowel, bullfloat or trowel should take care of the rest. it is something you got to do to get it. I would do something very small first to get the idea. check out my videos on how I pour a concrete slab, hope it helps thanks mike
I'm a uk builder and finishing seems almost identical to our way but I would like to ask if you ever tamp the gravel down with a whacking plate as I've watched a few and it looks like ( or doesn't) that American builders never put this into the videos, I understand that its only a small slab but any time I use gravel or hardcore I whack it down..... Anyway great job on the clip
Nice video man . My father and I have our own small business in northern California , my dad is a contractor , and has his concrete license , craftsman , and masonry license . We do all types of concrete from start to finish , stamped , brushed finished , you name it we could do it , also do retaining walls , brick work , front steps to entrance house , and additions to . Nice video man , I plan video tapeing it and posting it on RU-vid , Facebook and Also Instagram .
How do you know when to trowel ? What does the cement look/feel like to know when to start the different steps ? For example when to use the bull float vs. then starting the edging and cutting. Thanks for the videos. Great stuff
I'm in NJ Mike. My Uncle Tony who was a mason for 50 years used to call the water rising up out of the concrete "fat", he used to say " bringing up the fat" lol, do you use that term? I'm an engineer but like to get my hands dirty, do side work, just enjoy it. Good video Mike.
Its OK, I am having fun with the videos and glad to share my ways. everybody does it different and I try to express that. I appreciate the comment. thanks . mike
The main thing with pouring concrete is that you pour it at a good slump4-5", and drag it off flat and water runs away from house, building etc, and from yuor video it seems you do that. and depending on climate and weather the finish is a big thing to, on a driveway that doesnt have much pitch I want a nice light brush finish, on a steep driveway you need a bit more of a rough finish to ensure traction. however not to rough to where yuo decrese Integrity of crete.
I really appreciate your videos, Mike. How do you know it's time to start finishing? I think you said wait 45 minutes, and it depends on the weather. Some indicators that come to mind... 1. Bleed water (wait until it stops and starts to evaporate, but before it all evaporates?) 2. Firmness (wait until it's a little firm?) 3. Color (wait until it's lighter in color?) When is it too early and when is it too late to finish? Thank you!
+Nicholas Hoffenpiper on my other videos I think I explain it better, but I just keep checking it like making pancakes, you know when they are ready, hard to explain unless you have done it. thanks mike
I was taught to tamp the concrete to push the aggregate down, Mike, but I don't see anything wrong with how you pour concrete. The title of the video clearly states that the subject is float finishing, after all, so the focus here is obviously on the final stages of the process. Anyway, just wanted to counter some of the unproductive comments by showing you some support. PLEASE keep up the good work.
there is a million ways to do it and every contractor I worked for has their own way and ideas,. as long as it comes out right in the end it is fine thanks for the support. mike
LMAO everyone who works with crete bashin on him for the air bubbles, i find it awesome... "hammer those forms!" "get the vibrator on that" ... N im a mason but i just watched this and was like well he did this and this and this differently but the job was still done correctly for a finished product so yeah... Good video... I would have added a mason rake in there tho before the screet board... 1, you can pull the access away with rake access as opposed to shifting a board back n forth a million times (lololol) and 2, you can flip the rake UP and pat the top like you would pat a mag to bring up the cream... I also would have used a finishing trowel as well :P but like he said... Everyone does stuff differently..... O... N im a form tapper fyi lol but i DO check after for pockets STILL cuz ya never know
Mike,I am a small concrete contractor & finisher. I thought about making some videos also. Do you have a guy there specifically w/a video camera following you around the pour. Or do you have the camera on a tripod? Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks in advance,God Bless. Great videos by the way !
Ryan Rall Hi Ryan, sometimes both, they don't always come out the way I want and some I never use, but it is a learning process for sure ,I hope it works out for you, God bless mike
why do you parge the honeycomb(holds in the side of the slab) after you take the forms off instead of vibrating along the form while your placing? also i see that the gravel you are using is not fine nor is it packed with a tamper, is this okay to do it this way?
Camille Simair there are hundreds of thousands of concrete contractors and everybody got their own way, I always say "anything that works for you" vibrating on small jobs can cause more damage than good, you got to feel whats right, God bless, mike
I'm not the best in the world with concrete, but love to learn.. How do you poor and work concrete until it has a slick finish? Almost glass like... I'm wanting to do my garage floor and i'd like for it to have the slick finish, but never really knew how to finish it that smoothly
Hi Dolittle, good to hear from you. I seen you videos and wish you well. I like your youtube site, you are a real american, anyway, check out my videos "How I smooth finish concrete", Mike Haduck , If your garage floor freezes in the winter you might think of putting a few inches of gravel under the concrete, those couple videos should give you food for thought, thanks mike
Quick question, I'll be pouring concrete soon and there will be some tight spots. Do they make magnesium floats that are small? Less than 10 inches? Thanks Mike!
what I can say is every company I ever worked for told me how to do it a different way, I think with time you will develop your own style and own way that works for you, like playing a guitar everyone does it different, the final finish will tell the story, keep it up. thanks, mike
Mike, When I do an overlay/resurfacing to a sidewalk or driveway, Im using 2 sand 1 cement and of course addressing the cracks during my preparation. Is there anything that im missing.
good work...only comments are - why not scrape your forms as you go w/ your edger-- keeps your forms cleaner from hardened concrete- also when saw cutting- instead of a board w/ a guy standing on it-= snap a chalk line then cut w/ a wet saw (concrete cutoff saw) water reduces the dust- finally- the honeycombs on sides of edge from forms don't necesarrliy need to be covered w/ Portland cement- *Esp if you backfill your form areas with topsoil. Overall good video on how to finish concrete! nice job (*I like the swivel *(Swirl) finish the best - I do that on most every patio job we do... it looks sharp if you get a coarse swirl by using a wood float.
the problem is that every mason from every area calls everything different, and has a different way of doing it. you can call it anything you like but mostly the jobs turn out the same. thanks mike
+Noah Ernst it all depends on the job, wire is not always the right thing, experience usually says when it is needed, and sometimes "not" for certain reasons, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Hi Steven, the old times made their own floats out of wood, buying them is a new school thing , but I do not think it matters as long as you get the finish you want, some even use a brush like on my how I broom finish concrete, part 2 thanks mike
Good work Mike, like I said you know what you're doing. My Dad and I built swimming pools for years, in ground gunite pools with a plaster finish, concrete decks. We poured hundreds of yards. Concrete decks around pools are tricky, to smooth and they're slippery, to rough and they tear up the feet, we did a broom finish and like you said timing was everything. Keep up the good work.
Hi Concrete, I got to say I make less money every year and it is because I have become friends with most of my customers and do not have the heart to rip them off, (if that makes sence) so sometimes it is by the hour and sometimes by the day, but as the Lords say, "a labor is work his wages" so at the same time I do not sell myself short, and I am very conservative, thanks Merry Christmas, mike
i feel ya man our wages here in upstate ny are high but on sidejobs depending on who it is family friend or another contractor i get anything from cold beer to 250$ a day. we is buried in snow now so i gotta watch concrete videos till springs comes HAPPY HOLIDAYS
This is all wrong.. First of all you poured it like a noob, and your way too slow for such a microscopic job no offense. You need a rake to place it first then pull it with a 10 foot 2 by 4 with handles never side to side like that, then you step in it and finish it by trowel. And there's no mesh, common bro a job that size should take no longer than 15 min to pour and finish.
