The remark about anxiety arriving with that first load of concrete is spot on .From that point all your planning (or lack thereof) will be quite literally set in stone. All members of the crew have to know their parts in this strange dance and be able to improvise when weather or other circumstances add complications, because the concrete has its own timetable. Great video.
If anti priduction contunurs in america, someone should I insist on making certain class of machine tools, with good steel ways, but with a heavey, thermally expansion comparable concrete made with stri gy stainless steel chips i side, like I said, for emergency exploits, cause all the tree humping libs won't let USA have any serious iron refineries or steel foundries.
@@tannercox4537 Not with the rebar running through both the footing and the stem wall. In this case, they are going block on top of the footing with redar tied into both. It isn't going to move. Ever.
KnightsWithoutATable only way for it not to move ever is a key way. 1/4 rebar isn’t bullet proof. 5 bar maybe. But I’ve used a lot of poly fixing bad foundations jobs.
Great point about playing them immediately and a little bit more than they are expecting - you will have skilled and reliable guys that will enjoy working for you!
Exactly! Pretty much no actual workman is overpaid. Your budget should reflect your respect for the people you hire. And then if you need to ask a favor - like fixing a problem that arises late in the work day - they’re totally willing to cut you the slack.
I only poured concrete for 30 years been out for 9 yrs. Now and I miss it sometimes, but I NEVER saw footings sick finished, mag it off flat and your done! Very good video keep em coming!
One of my first experiences with concrete was pouring close to 5 yards from the truck All By Myself, all wheelbarrowed for a long walkway on a 98 degree day. It was a base to be brick mortared over, so it didn't have to be finished. Thank Gawd😂.... when I finished the concrete truck guy said, "Man, You Look Like You're Gonna DIE."😂
Nice job with the pour Scott. A lot of wisdom there my friend. I loved your comment about the cement truck delivering anxiety and and not just concrete. that can be oh so true! Great work as usual, from you and the guys on the job!
Excellent as always! I really enjoyed watching the older gentleman " I assume is Scott's father" in the chair overseeing the job. He might not be able to join in on the work, but can still be included as a valuable member of the project.
These guys that no one thinks about, everyone takes for granted, these "deplorables", you make them seem like heroes and the work they do seem almost romantic. And you know what, you convinced me. It's amazing the work being done by so many heroes every day that goes almost completely unappreciated. I can't just drive under a bridge or by a building or a retaining wall any more without thinking about it. Every time now I take a moment to appreciate astonishing work that went in.
Hi, For your next Q&A, I would love to hear about a time you were "screwed over" or when a contractor or company tried to take advantage of you and your team. I think it would be a great lesson to the young guns out there to explain how you (probably, based on what I've seen of your personality) remained calm, kept a level head, and approached the situation. Also, knowing when to cut your losses and the stress of dealing with a swindler/braggart isn't worth it. Best, Tim
Just wanted to echo this. I work in construction and I think you would be a perfect platform to explain what happens when things go wrong, in any and all senses of the word. I am sure you can fill at least a few videos with that kind of content.
@@markweisbrot8005 When you are working or hiring pro's not much goes wrong that they can't work around or figure out. Unless something like the pump breaks then it's time to scramble or get another pump on the job ASAP...
I might go out on a limb here... BUT... along with that "how to stay calm and keep a level head... I think it might be nice (kinda probable, too) that we get to one of those incidents that taught Scott to find his calm and keep (or get back) his level head... Kinda probable? Yeah... I have the distinct feeling there might've been a time when Mr. Wadsworth wasn't all together as easy to get along with as he seems just now, particularly when looking forward to some net loss that he can't just "magically recover in court"... ...and I've known a few too many loggers to think he was just born as sage and mellow as he is today. The sad reality is that there just ARE some things you can't possibly change. There are some losses that even if you did seek to rectify, you'd only drill your own financial hole deeper and Deeper and DEEPER... ...and losing control, getting violent, making threats or taking horrible actions physically will ONLY exacerbate that financial problem... I have my doubts it was necessarily Scott doing it to himself, if we're being honest. BUT the logging and outdoors hard-labor industries in general are rife with quick tempers, short fuses, and occasionally outright physical criminality... so it's likely he found his "life lesson" through some concerning personal relationship, or a nearby "catastrophic failure of diplomacy" that caught his immediate attention. Either way, though... I'd like to hear that story. I'd like to hear another perspective of what to do when you've just lost "X" and can't possibly ever recover it... rather than physically beat it out of the guy you KNOW just took it and walks away... Sure, I have my own methods, coping mechanisms, etc... and "Karma is a b***h", though once in a while I've found a necessity to plant a size 13 half up her deified backside... BUT... I'm always game to hear someone else's perspective. It makes me feel a little less alone in the anxiety. ;o)
Over here by us,the pump trucks are the real McCoy. The advantage of them over a pull behind grout pump are: handle larger aggregate,a stiffer slump,easier to handle (no hoses to drag) all resulting in a stronger mix. Your last truck of the day was the only one with a respectable mix. The others were much closer to a six inch slump than a four. Also,if you want to increase the workability experienced with a "looser" slump,use a super plasticizer. You can order the concrete slump for example at a 1 inch and with the correct plasticizer behave like a six. The plasticizer will not cause aggregate segregation as wither will + it works like "grease" with the pump.
Glad to see you use those caps on the exposed upper ends of vertical pieces of rebar. Many of the "professionals" here in France don't bother and it makes me wince every time I go past a site. We were absolutely obsessive about using them throughout our project, and yep, on one occasion I slipped and landed with my chest on one. Hard. Hate to think what that piece of rebar would have punctured if we hadn't put what we called a "mushroom" on it.
As a construction inspector for 20 years and currently a QC manager for a concrete producer for another 12, I really enjoy watching your content! Contractors in my area would shit a brick if they saw that many crew on just a footing pour... it's usually the pump guy & 2 crew. And, one "don't" you didn't mention... do NOT schedule the concrete for the same time your inspector is due to arrive for your final subgrade/rebar inspection... nothing stinks of presumption more. Remember... Arguing with the inspector is like wrestling with a pig in the mud, after a while, you begin to realize he enjoys it! 🤣🤣🤣
I couldn't do any of this work anymore, too old and crippled, but I sure would've liked to be setting out of the way with a tall cool drink and watching.! 😊 Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍 👍
I always enjoy watching when people pour and finish concrete work. I'm not a cement worker but I can see working with cement is an art but back-breaking work due to constant bending over reaching out to smooth and finishing the cement. Cement workers must take pride in their work in order to have a good even, smooth surface, and the correct grading as required.
35 years forming Concrete in NYC , the best video and demo I have seen , people do not realize how strenuous this work is days I'll erect 150 foot of 8 foot 80 pound Symons Forms sometimes stacked 40 ft high that's close to 7000 pounds plus hardware At 58 years old I still do form work , this is hard. Rewarding work Excellent video
An outstanding thorough presentation and overall job. The best I've ever seen! And I'm close to 70. Keep up the good work Scott. Thank you for all your outstanding videos.
Retired school teacher, here. I have never done work like this before, but find your documentaries mesmerizing. I see the skills of the craftsmen (experience), and the pride they take at the project (self-expression). Thanks for posting this.
Whoever the lucky homeowners of this house end up being will be able to go on youtube and see the whole painstaking process that went into building their house. Bravo Scott and crew.
As I sit here and watch this, I had the thought of people putting their handprints and dates in pours. It occurred to me it would be neat for these guys to do just that. Then I got the idea of some sort of time capsule for the house. Maybe you should have something that every contractor, every person involved int his project could sign his or her name to, and put it someplace in the house, along with copies of these videos in this series. So later down the road, years, whatever, someone could find it and understand what this build means. The signatures shown at the end would show the viewer of just how many tradesmen and artisans and hands it takes to get a project like this done. Just a thought.
To do such long spans of concrete, you need some SERIOUSLY true 2x4’s and 2x6’s, and an incredible amount of patience. Square, plumb and true has never been a bigger pain than in concrete forming. Huge props to you guys, that foundations goin no where 150 years+
Immensely satisfying to watch such experience and teamwork to effect a perfect pour. Like you said, the footings will be hidden, but the knowledge of what underpins the house will be with you forever.
A salute to a professional job executed so precisely. One suggestion for a video. I think I would be quite informative to do videos on the inspection processes you have to go through on each phase of your project. Whether it be an inspector from your municipality, the engineering firm or a special inspector hired by the customer. I bet it would be an eye opener for many viewers. I have found that building relationships with these elements served me well throughout my years in the business.
I was helping Dad pour foundations & floors using small 1 barrow mixers instead of Transmix concrete. I spend many years concreting but I was younger man then. Your Vids are bringing back memories of times spent as my Dads right hand man, but all changed when he died 43 yrs ago at 52yrs of age.
"Anxiety in the form of a chemical reaction....it is certain, and relentless, and it gets faster as the day warms up and you get more tired and if you don't keep up with it, it will beat you up without mercy." Voice of experience.
I used Jeff to pump a slab at my house and he took care of the mix design, the scheduling, and made everything so simple! Brother's Concrete Pumping is the best...hands down.
From 2000 to 2009 I was a masonry foreman for the world’s largest masonry contractor McGee Brothers Inc. In one year I laid 120 full brick houses and around 50 crawl spaces and around 10 basements. Our footings were “great” if they were within 1/4” but normally they varied about 1/2”. Your footing looks perfect I bet I could spread one trowel of mud 3 three! It would slide on those perfect footings. I could leave my brick saw at home! You do great work and unfortunately that’s not as common these days as it should be. Keep it up!👍🏻
Sir you got the philosophy of concrete down .anxiety is allways what you feel when the truck rolls up.and as the man in charge its all on you.thats a long hard day.i like the tip on overpaying the guys.thats golden.best show on RU-vid.thank you
Higher water to cement mix makes the concrete harder but more brittle. Lower water content makes the concrete softer but more flexible making it last longer and more resisting to the tensional forces.
Having worked plenty of manual labor jobs I can tell you first hand that when someone surprises you with a couple bucks or a free lunch or a beer at the end of the day, it can make your whole week
We call that paying a 'bonus' rather than a tip. Even haying workers get a bonus if they come on time, work hard to do the job and work well with the team. That isn't easy for teenagers but when they get paid more for doing a hard job well, it is motivating. We benefit by hoping that next year when they choose who to work for, they might remember us. Good workers are a treasure no matter what they are doing!
I just had an addition built onto the back of my house and always went out of my way to make sure the workers had water, I set up shade for to take a break, and when there was a small crew and we had enough we would also offer to feed everyone. A little kindness goes a long long way when you are working in labor. One guy threw out a nice pocket knife in my trash and my son found it and brought it to me. I saw that it was a CRKT and they have a life time guarantee so I had the parts needed sent to my house, fixed it for him, and put a knew edge on it. Then I found out who it belonged to and gave it back to him. The guy tried to tell me to keep but I told him that it was his and he should keep, I also told him what to do if he needed to fix it again. After that the guy told me he was from Puerto Rico and other than his boss no one had ever shown him such kindness in the states before. He said he felt that people looked down on him because he was a latino construction worker. I'd like to think I made some what of a difference for him and yet no one ever tried to take advantage of me. I truly believe in rewarding a job well done, whether it is with cash or some way it can improve the work environment. Even though they get paid there are some that take the time to the job EXACTLY right and not just good enough.
I used to work for a concrete testing firm. And lemme tell ya... I have serious respect and admiration for concrete contractors. And you really feel everyone’s eyes on you when you’re pulling the slump on their concrete
I watch EC to see how it all should be done. And to learn why, from a man who knows how to explain it. But then i also watch Jamie Manzel to see what _can_ be done, when you trade technology and some know-how for pure elbow grease and patience. Now, I know some folks have a problem with the way Jamie does things, and maybe they're right, but I just love the dichotomy. Both have real value, to me.
As an English builder I don’t always agree with you build methods, but what I can Agee with wholeheartedly is your in-site and your knowledge and understanding of our industry. I love your channel, I love you knowledge and I totally love your passion. I hope this is a fair appraisal and a show of respect to our American counterparts. Keep up the fantastic work
Great video. I've only been in construction since 2006, but I always appreciate the little tips. Instead of crisco grease to remove screws that have been topped off with concrete, any silicone/dap/whatever works great as well. I liked the point about manpower. I used to be responsible for calculating the balance on slab pours on a job where a normal pour was 350 m. My supervisor would give me.a hard time if I was over by 3 m... As you pointed out, what's cheaper? Buy 2 or 3 more extra meters when it's available or pay 20 finishers to wait an hour for your balance to show up? And then pay additional finishing hours on top of that... Thanks for your videos
I don't recall ever seeing a footing finessed to a slick finish . Usually it's left somewhat rough to help bond the bed layer of mortar under the first course. Slick finish is nice for the pony wall framing though. These progression videos are nice. Thanks for allowing us to follow along!
Your statement about having all the man power you can get when pouring concrete is something I learned as a teenager building a slab for a shop. A friend's Dad paid he and I one summer to form a slab for his new shop. Apparently the Dad underestimated the dry time himself, cause on the day of the pour, the truck showed up and dumped a whole load of cement at once in this form and my buddy and I at 15 years old with our lack of experience lost control of the situation and the finished product looked horrible! I am still friends with that guy nearly 20 years later and I still get to look and laugh with him at our horrible foundation. Though it doesn't look pretty, it has done it's job since the day we poured that slab on a scorching hot summer day in 2003.
It is a very satisfying feeling to have a hand in creating a home where once there was only dirt. One imagines it would be even more satisfying to to be able to afford such a home as the result of one's labor.
I absolutely love your videos!!! They are so packed full of knowledge that I find myself watching them multiple times, so I can absorb as much information as possible. These videos are such a wealth of information. I am a outside salesman for 84 Lumber Company in Ohio and I see the things that you talk about on job sites every day. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us and helping me to better understand how to service my builders (customers)!!! Keep up the great work!! 👍🏽
I've said it before but this series is fantastic. Probably be another 20 years before I get to use any of these skills bit your presentation and attitude are second to none.
Finishing tonight w the mud pour was SOOOO satisfactory! I love your commitment and true love of your craft which shines through so true and authentically. Thank you for demystifying the house building process!
I worked for a guy one summer twenty years ago who used to absolutely panic when a mix truck appeared on the horizon. But considering the crew he had, he wasn't wrong.
What a great production. Morgan Freeman watch out. You're narrating is amazing. Awesome voice, full of passion and confidence. Just brilliant. Thank you so much for this series Scott.
Sir, You are a wealth of construction and concrete knowledge. I enjoy your videos. I have learned a lot from you. You are worth your weight in gold !!! Dave
Really appreciate your video. Not much different as we work here in my country Argentina. Would have been nice to have a clock on the video showing the hours as they passed by, and the amount of concrete being poured. I tried to figure it out watching the shadow length of the workers. “Pay the people immediately and a bit more than they expected”. Pure wisdom from experience comes out of your mouth. Thanks a lot for this video, which is not only educative but most important, a true acknowledgment of hard working values and craftsmanship.
Loving this channel! I am currently in the midst of watching all the house build videos 🙂. - I am a little surprised to hear you say that 'lower water to cement ratio = harder concrete'. As I believe the opposite to be true (I'm a danish mason). We always keep the concrete as wet as possible, for as long as possible (covering the finished job in plastic to avoid evaporation), in order to strengthen the chemical process as much as possible; I have been taught that the amount of moisture, as well as the duration of time it takes for that moisture to evaporate, increases the effect of the chemical process. It is, after all, water that is the catalyst for the cement to change behaviour. But hey, I'm not a chemist 😉. By the way in danish, we call the concrete vibrator: 'the virgin consoler'. Thanks for premium content! Kind Regards from Denmark 🇩🇰
I love how concrete guys all look the same in my neck of the woods too. Blue collar,hard working, get up early and do more before most people eat breakfast guys.
I imagine somehow with a little too much belly weight and haven't done squats in years wouldn't last long on a pour like this. I'll keep my desk job and leave the blue collar work to these guys, and be sure to pay them extra for their time and effort.
As I stay up to date on your house build, we are erecting a new building on the grounds of my place of employment. I have the pleasure of seeing these things in practice! Thank you for the excellent videos!