Finally concrete steps poured correctly.! Nobody else online even takes off their forms to finish the face. They just go back and put a coat of two of type-s, and call it a day. What they don't know is most likely, in a week or a year, the coating will crack a little, or the steps will have condensation, then chunks will come off over time, then you can never match your concrete colors. I like using liners, they save a lot of rubbing, especially with about 10-20 stairs. Good job
J Stevens, question: 1.Can I frame, concrete and then add copping? Or 2.Frame, concrete, wait..let concrete set then add more concrete and add copping? Please help. Thanks
There is actual vibrator tools instead of using a sander....looks like a sander but it's called an external vibrator and of course the immersion type with the rod and flexible hose
Jigsaw without the blade, makes a good concrete vibrator for small work, like steps and such. For small stuff there's no need to go and get/buy a dedicated tool. Cut cost which is very important in DIY. ;-)
Thanks. Single purpose tools drive me right up the wall. We need community tool sheds for just such things, instead of taking up my cellar space. Only seeing 1 library taking on tool shed, with library card used to check out a tool.
form your own public works or civil engineering group with some friends and businesses and start off doing that until you can afford your own or use them on rent or lease
How long should you wait before pulling the forms so you don’t get any slump yet still wet enough to finish? Unfortunately I’m using bagged Sakrete so I know that may be different or vary, but I would appreciate any advice. Thank you!
So that was impressive. Ended up looking very nice. If you wanted extremely accurate dimensions would it be enough to measure the width of the liner and add it to the width of your frame? Or does the liner compress with the weight of the concrete?
I like to bevel the bottom of the riser form to allow me to finish the entire tread. I always seem to end up with an oddball riser height like 7 11/16" do you have to buy an 8" strip and rip it down? that could get expensive.
Any issues with going straight to using the trowel on these steps instead of a float? You mentioned in the video you were using a 1ft wide square trowel. I'm a beginner and I've been reading that troweling could close up the concrete early.
maybe use a release agent or used motor oil on the pads to make it easier to remove..Also, why weren’t the pads flush with the outer form board to make it easier to trowel?
Concrete burn is a pretty major deal. It can be majorly debilitating. So I think its worth mentioning the importance of staying very well protected when working with concrete. When he is pulling forms his hands and arms are fairly covered in concrete. Getting this stuff on your hands, for some people, can really mess you up for a few weeks or more. It's a form of Contact Dermatitis, just like Poison Oak, and with similar effects like the blisters and of course the itch. I'm not trying to be a hater, this work looks legit. Naturally they do make proper, usually expensive, vibration tools, but he's just showing people some easy ways to get it done. I dig it.
Great video! Ive been experimenting with a couple of ideas at my house but cant get the cement to look smooth like that. What cement mixture/recipe are you using? Any advice would be great.
