How to pour a flat concrete slab - Texas Barndominiums Episode 14 

You seem to pour a flat slab. Bump cutter was clutch and throttle cable adjustment brought back memories/made me chuckle. Totally jealous of your crew size. I wonder what you charge/pay your guys. Cold weather tip: Depending on if air temp is colder than concrete temp, aluminum screed boards will warp. Figured it out pouring a 20' wide driveway on a 30 degree morning w a 20' 2x6 screed. And I learned that depending on air/mud temp/screed size, that basically a 16 footer will start warping around 50 degrees. Solution is to keep flipping screed every pull until both sides are same temp as mud., then flipping occasionally. But believe me , any aluminum screed over 8 foot can and will bow and crown in cold weather. I've seen 16 footers bow from 1/8 to over an inch depending on conditions. A good striker should feel it. You truly seem to care about about quality. And as a 15 year pour/finish foreman, I wish you the best.

"Well... let's just say I modified the clutch..." 😂 Great content, very informative, quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Liked and subbed.

This is the BEST finishing video I have ever seen! Thank you!

awesome crew, they all know what they were doing it makes the day easier nice jobs thanks for sharing walter

Local 780 NY fellow here. I'm 60 years old. Been out of the union for some time now. Loved being a finisher, keeps you in great shape. I troweled blind after building floor after floor. I have seen that bump cutter you call it. Look real good definitely makes it flater looks like you have to pour wet and maybe ever a retarter on hot days to manipulate that surface. Pretty cool. ;- )

I've been finishing for 21 years. And you get a 👍🏻 from me!

you are a Quality Human, Thats why i subscribed...And You are a great Mentor...

I've worked beside alot of concrete crews but I've never done that work myself. Every concrete guy I know is a solid dude that work is hard

You guys look like you’re really good at what you do. I know a little bit about concrete, but not as much as you. Good job

Great job, video, and an honest realistic attitude towards the rule of one crap that almost always happens. Your passion and commitment to a quality job is admirable. Well done.

Job well done! Also, great people’s skills. That is how you conduct yourself as an owner and or job supervisor when problems arise and problems will arise. Professional crew as a whole...and don’t blame the drivers for plant issues which from what I seen you have not. Hat off to you sir. I am a redi mix driver from Canada.

Erik - Great videos. I love the balanced approach: sharing knowledge, showing challenges, explaining some of the 'why's'. I think 'barndos' are a really novel concept as well. Best wishes to Texas Barndominiums!

Thank you for your videos!!!! Evidently getting stuck and slow plant deliveries escaped the peanut gallery!!!!! You executed the job perfectly....bravo

You kept your cool and smoothed out the dispatcher some too. Great concrete work also. Thanks for sharing.

this was impressive as hell!! what a great thorough job!!

Aloha I am a 5th generation concrete finisher from Hawaii. The slab turned out great, good job. With that said I would like to point out a few things I would have done differently. First let the dispatch know how many trucks are going to need and tell them 30- 40 minutes apart. second Either get a pump or set it up where you can drive your truck around the slab. If you got the pump they could pump it from the road eliminating any chances of stuck trucks. Raking mud like that is brutal. And when you spread a bunch of mud out and let it sit and then pour some more on top of it you might create a cold joint. Never used a bump cutter never will a good guy on a Bull Float is all you need. I like the float pan and the high-speed whirlybird. Good job

One of the best how to concrete videos. Appreciate it!

Very impressive job. Most importantly you did not shout or scream at people or speak the F word when you are frustrated. It is good to learn from you. Thanks for the video.

Nice job!!!!! Thanks for the lessons good work!!!!!

Awesome work ethics. I certainly learned something by watching you all work. Ill be watching more of your videos.

We call that "wet screeding". Also, I spent a few years as a sales/qc rep for a ready mix outift- in his free time the full time dispatcher made up a list of 50 reasons why the contractors delivery was delayed- the most honest one was that it was waiting on a train. Thumbs up to the bump cutter and float pans for truly flat floors.

Great video and step by step explanations. Lots of great information that would take someone years to learn without your videos... Thanks for sharing your professional expertise.

I learned a lot from this video! Thank you very much for the professionalism and for caring about your trade enough to be the best you can be for your customer.

Good job, class act. Way to go! 40 yrs in the trades :)

It had been a day or three since I have seen concrete poured...even longer seeing it on the ground (did high rise rebar and post tension in my younger days). Very cool how the crew does it. Look forward to the next video!

👍🏻 Nice work. Never seen bump cutter before, that was impressive.

Very proffesional, that's the craftsmanship that customers expect, not to mention the other trades that will judge your work, framers steel workers etc...

Damn impressive work! And not only a great concrete crew, but a badass marksman as well. That is extremely impressive highlights you have Erik!

u really have top notch forms and slab workers,all i used to see was the huge developments pouring in a hurry in west conditions and the slabs crack,driveways and sidewalks crack

Another great video. I[ve poured some slabs in my time including post tension, and your crew definitely know what they are doing. Pleasure to "watch" quality work.

I'm not a pro finisher but have projects of my own and I'm definitely getting a bump cutter.

After 20 yrs in the trade I think these guys are the most professional I've seen. They should have an extra bar at the bottom of the outer side in my opinion, but that is the contructors problem.

The bump cutter worker has the most important job ever

Iam Lupe from Carlsbad Ca love concrete good job 👍 I know Sakely how you feel I do it every day I love the adrenaline rush after getting good job well done keep up the good work

respect to you and your crew from Canada

You put out a beautiful, quality product. Well done sir!

Well done bro. good job. First time viewer, I liked the idea of knocking down the bumps and filling the hollows, don't see it with others! Hard working gang too! Thanks for the vid. and subbed.

Very informative, thanks for doing these videos and for your explanations.

11:50 I thought that guy was hitting the PVC plumbing pipe like oh shit he just broke a piece... Then he started pulling it out and I was like OH NO DONT DO THAT! Then I saw it wasn't lol.

Nice video man, good job, I hate late trucks

Excellent workmanship guys

It must be an absolute pleasure to built atop one of your slabs! So square, so level! Keep up the good work I always learn something from your videos.

Well done man ... good job you have a great work team I can tell good for you 👌👌

I am impressed. you do good work.. the trowel at the end was really cool. we just bought a MQ 36" with 8.5hp 155 RPM

Great video...Thank you for putting this out.

Great job! Love flat concrete!

Man you are really prefesoonal ,your videos are helping me because I do framing and siding Cornish but I want to learn how build the house from 0

Nice work man!

Your right about truck driver's not listening nothing like pouring hand curb and the driver gives a hard shot that was a punch in the face for him

Nice video and very informative. Thanks for posting.

The concrete companies need to make a answering machine that says "I got one on the road it will be their shortly" 😂 I've heard that 100's of times..

Great work. I been around new construction for over 30 yrs and had never seen a bump cutter. I have a slab being poured this Wednesday and I'm going to ask my finisher. Great information thanks for sharing

Awesome video!

Good video. Thanks for all the tips.

I work for a concrete plant..Driven and batched concrete...Their is a lot of shit involved in batching concrete and dispatching mud...Everything is recorded on phone..One simple mistake can cost Thousands $$$$...

You be calm about it might just be the reason why you got deliveries. Cheers

Very interesting! Great video.

good clean job! you guys are pros

18:47 Wow that camera quality is amazing

Thank you for a very informational video.

That Bump Cutter does serious work.

Im a residential concrete guy i always learn from videos alot of things other guys wont teach me

Great video!

Love watching

do you know anyone (recommend) in the chandler Arizona area (20 miles south of phoenix)

IV'E BEEN DRIVING 22YEARS IN LOS ANGELES AWESOME VIDEO

Nice work!

I drove cement trucks for 10 years. And a lot of contractors don't won't to use pump trucks just to save them money. And most of the time the cement trucks get stuck and a pump truck is called to the job. I know a fully load cement truck with 10 yards depending on the mix's. Weights in around 70,000 pounds on 3 axis. Am not sure what all sizes pump trucks weigh? For there's big ones and small ones. And a lot of contractors like to pour very wet so its easier to drag the mud. Adding to much water can and will weaken the cement. A contractor should only order a pump truck when it is necessary not because it's muddy. But when cement trucks can't reach the slab or it's a different work site. And what a lot of contractors won't tell you about using a slide? They will wet the mud pretty wet. But it really depends on how far they are trying to drag the mud? Keeping the mud between a 5 and 6 inch slump is good. Many do a 7 inch slump. Higher the number the wetter the cement or mud gets. A man hole is like a 2 inch slump and curb mud is around 3 or 4 inch slump. And most slaps are around a 5 inch slump. A retainer wall you see on a highway is like 1 inch slump being thick. But I have seen a lot of contractors pour soupy and you don't want that. You would save on concrete but in the end you would regret it later. And its common for a cement plant company to over book jobs and make some contractors wait for trucks. And when it's hot you got problems. And the contractors can also be the blame for spacing out load times in between trucks pouring out. But from what I seen or what they were showing in the video this looks like a good pour on the thickness of the mud.

I would hire your crew in a heartbeat, very thorough and courteous.

Lol...dude the machine looks like its about to take flight.thats fast..that bump cutter tool is nice...crazy how much diffrnt shit is with other companys...

We use the bump cut boogy since the beginning--. We use them here on highway. Work,,,,i. Like. Them. They are a must

Nice quality job well done.

you do awsome work sir

Love the bump cutter!

Solid job! Nice use of Venier for your forms. A fully loaded 9m concrete truck weighs more then a pump truck but you would have went broke having a pump truck sitting there all day waiting on trucks lol

Two thumbs up 👍🏼👍🏼 Nice work

How you doing Eric. I have a question or more so a thought to think about. Depending what part of Texas you’re out of. I pump cement in LA but my brother in law has been in Fortworth for a little. You ever consider using a pea gravel concrete pump?

I’ve been working concrete a while now and I worked in Texas at Dallas now I work in Minnesota and its different on pouring and finishing but my thing is I see you guys pour wet and I understand why but you think pouring a little thicker might help with bumps and dips and also maybe screening twice instead of the one pull the walk we do three to four time on a spot and they usually turn out fine no need for a bump cutter but I know how it’s done in TX and usually a rider takes care of bumps what you think

I live and pour in wyoming about every day dam sun goes down at 430 hallways waiting finishing with head lights I like your vids though you guys do good work and smart work freaking love pouring concrete

ok were out of the hill country around the fredrìcksburg area yall do good work

Nice job and great group coordination without it that job would be impossible

Great job,

SALUDOS to all the workers great work my brothers keep it 100 nice video 💪👏👏👍👍

Job well done. Finisher since 1983 so I've poured a few yards. Love seeing your guys drag mud with that jitterbug.....been there done that! 40 degrees, did you add any calcium chloride? 1% maybe? Didn't look like it though.

Good quality job 👍

Great job Sir.

Man that stand up screed is an instant winner for me youll never even find those low spots without hitting it like that again

I see you site is clean, very good when I was building the truck drivers loved my jobs because it was alway clean , less chance of accidents.

Awesome how you explain very clear

Your guys are badass!!

Great video. Interesting!!

Just watch your send video but I like how you do work. Nice video and very informative

Great vid! Just wish sound track was about 50 dB softer...

Your guys done a good job

Excellent job , do you pour in Houston tx ? I'm building my home in a few months and would like to may be hire you for the foundation driveway and the back patio

Also can you a few more videos on screeding , some times I got young guys who want to learn how but really can’t find any good videos on it , and while on the job site you just can’t stop to record when your a screed man . Keep up the very informative videos love all that detail .. feed me more please

Ever thought about expanding a branch to dallas Fort Worth area?

Great video

Wow, you guys pour concrete so different to us here in Australia.

So did u shoot a laser after ? What tolerance did you reach ? What would u say is the most variance you think would deem reasonable? I've heard anywhere from an eight to a half inch !