Part 2 to this video is here: Deck Build & Mother-in-Law’s Reaction! th-cam.com/video/zD0X9J7bn6I/w-d-xo.html Thank you all for the kind words & support! You can support me on Patreon: patreon.com/mateostabio If I can do this, I think that you can too! Before attempting this, I must say I did do a lot of research, and I've been watching TH-camrs like: @dirtmonkey for a few years, and other hardscapers and concrete workers. So if you are going to do this, do your research, maybe talk to local contractors or experts in the field. But remember, don't trust them when they say "you can't do that alone" or "you should leave that to the professionals". Remember that TH-cam is free education taught by random people around the world. There will be some people that tell you something doesn't work, and other might say it does work, and some might say to use something else. As viewers, we need to do our own research. So look at the pros and cons, come up with a game plan and tackle it head on! Good luck! P.S.: I see a lot of comments about renting a skid steer. Looking back, I should’ve gone that route. I had 5 hours of mini-excavator experience and thought it was the safer choice. In hindsight, I would’ve learned the skid steer in a day. Thanks for the comments!
Looking forward to seeing the steps demo'd and installed. You probably should've sprayed something to ensure that weeds wouldn't grow through it and mess up any parts of it (unless that's what the matting does).
I did this professionally for 7 years. I love the quality and detail, you did it right but speed comes with time and experience. A crew of 3 would have this edged, leveled, and sodded in 4-5 days when everyone knows what they're doing. Good work brother.
Did I click on this video realizing it was two hours long? No. Did I stay and watch it all while I did some other things on my machine? Yes. Did I subscribe 30 minutes in. Also yes. Damn dude, this was epic. Massive props.
Did i click on the video realizing it was two hours long? No. Did i realize it was two hours long after your comment? Yes. Did i subscribe 10 mins in? Yes. Did it make me want to redo my drive way? Yes. Will I? Def not, I'll ruin my property because i can't DIY. lol
@@SwxyzeI rarely watch YT videos for more than 20-30 minutes, but I was glued to this - watched till the end. Involving your little humans was great to see - keep them away from cell-phones and teach them hard work.
My sentiments precisely! Videos like these are a pleasure to watch - especially when you admit to feeling overwhelmed, as this is how we all feel when we take on a project bigger than ever before. Getting your truck stuck, check. Feeling like 'oh my god how will I get out of this mess?', not realising the vehicle has 4x4 mode.... normal! Great job. Great outcome. Having someone else help is ALWAYS appreciated!
I have locked in this for myself😂😂😂 WAIT!!! I am a professional engineer and I do go to the field with the crew to build to make sure I keep my connection with the guys and increase morale as not many like me do that.
How funny would it be if someone said " ya gimme all the dirt you can , just dump it in the driveway " and gave someone they don't likes address lmao .
if shes one of the kids sitters, its a fair trade! my mother-in-law got a new deck a few years ago so ive made that exchange. right angles wouldve been easier but the extra time was worth it - final product looks great!
Bro I shed tear of joy watching how well you did from start to finish. Having the family help was what did it for me. I’m a landscaper 3years of experience and this is easily a 60-80k job in some areas. Proud is an understatement fr fr. You deserve a cold beer from our community for getting the job done better than some hardscapers I’ve seen. 💪🏾💪🏾
The common theme for all of us DIY'ers is totally underestimating the time involved in new projects...especially when it's another first experience at a new skill. I have to say, GREAT JOB! You made yourself and this fellow DIY guy proud! My wife always makes fun of me researching stuff on TH-cam. I tell her, "If I've never done this, how am I supposed to know how to do it?" Research and planning is the best way to start. All these projects we get ourselves into, there's only one way out...FINISH! Awesome attitude and perseverance until "The End"! 👍
If a job needs doing my wife always asks me if I think I can do it first, as builders in the past have told my wife ‘you can’t do that’. Not because it’s illegal or against code but because they can’t be arsed to do something that’s either time consuming or awkward. With TH-cam’s help , I think I could build a friggin’ house from scratch. Anyway, this guy has saved himself Thousaaaaaands doing it himself. I tip my hat to you sir. As a child who had parents who could never make it to my events and now a father of 4 boys, please, if absolutely unavoidable, never miss your child’s events. I have video taped everything they’ve ever done, from sports days, rugby games concerts, nativity plays I filmed it all. Their ages are spread between 30 and 19 and now they all play for the same rugby team.
I watched this like a movie. I am so impressed how you just kept showing up. Your Mother In Law will never let you go 😊 😊 I can't imagine how hard you worked. You should be very proud of your work!
I own a Hardscape company. Hopefully you don’t ever have to do this by yourself again but if you do or anyone does. Look for recycled concrete in your area it’s much cheaper then stone or crushed stone. Also it’s better to use a drainage rock for base and 89 stone to lay pavers. ABC and screening is an old school way to lay pavers and requires really really good compaction. Drainage rock and 89 will drain well and is by far less likely to settle over time. Great job on the polymeric sand most contractors don’t even install that correctly and you nailed it. You should start Hardscaping.
Eyyy thanks man!!! The truck driver told me that i should have used recycled concrete as a base actually instead because it was cheaper and most do that. Im not sure what 89 stone or ABC is. can you elaborate?
@@mateostabio ya man, we use a clean stone for our base. Like 57 or 67 stone and we screed with 89 stone which is a pebble size rock. Doing it that way is more sturdy and allows the patio to breath better and water to flow more freely. I do use recycled as much as I can it’s much cheaper. I pay about $450 per 18tons vs $900 for quarry rock.
Please clarify something about the pavers. 2.5" pavers are certainly fine for a walkway and patio, but aren't they thin for a driveway? All the driveway pavers I've seen were 3-3.5". I suppose with light traffic it'll be fine.
Mad respect to you, you did a great job. Not only on the pavers but even taking the time to film, update us on the progress and show your mistakes. This felt like I was watching a movie!
Hey Mateo, I'm a diyer from the Netherlands. Your channel is the first channel i found that actualy shows the work from a diy standpoint and actually delivers quality, truly inspiring!! Its heart warming seeing your family help out. I am currently building our own home as a diy-er and i can relate somuch to your fysical and metal struggles (and undying optimism about the timeline😂). I've watched a couple of your video's and im probably going to watch the rest over the coming weeks. Looking forward to more content!
The kids were awesome... I'm glad to see a father teaching his kids to be the next generation of skilled people in the trades... Mike Rowe would be proud.
He's dripping sweat & doesn't stop. Freaking hard work! This project would take me exactly 52 weeks straight. 49 weeks of physical conditioning, 3 weeks to install it. Forget returning the excavator, I'd get the next size up.
These DIY projects are a labor of love brother. You gotta not put time restriction on it within reason n follow your body's natural time table. If ya tired, go rest n every little bit a day makes progress. You got a beautiful family, stay blessed. Great video, thanks for sharing your passion with us!
really good job. I've done this twice myself as a homeowner DIY, but 30 years ago when I was your age. My buddy was a landscaper and told me to go down 2 feet (!) so I did, with huge stones, then road base then screenings under the bricks. That driveway and patio still looks like the day I installed it in 1995 (though I can only see it on streetview now lol). I guess the geofabric helps control the sand so don't need such a deep stone base? Now the pavers I used were antiques, 80 years old huge oversized super-hard pavers that were under the main street of my city - the city was digging up the main street and hauling these away so I offered the dump truck guys some cases of beer and got 5,000 sf of them dumped in my driveway - mixed in with dirt and broken pavers lol. I sorted it for weeks before getting to the excavation stage. 549 Grant St in Woodstock ON where I used to live 30 yrs ago (I did the concrete stairs, fence and current house painting colours too), seen on streetview now, mostly unchanged. the energy of youth lol.
The algorithm pushed this video to me and all I can say is not only am I subscribed and liking the video but I have so much respect for your dedication and attention to detail you put into this project. Amazing job 🔥
The fact that you made a 2 hour long video on installing a driveway interesting is massive props to your storytelling skills and that i watched the whole thing, nice job
I would love to help you, but I'm 64 years old lady who loves DIY, I'm in the UK. I lost my husband 4 years ago, I used to work with him on projects. I'm no good with the maths. What you have done is BRILLIANT, FANTASTIC. I love it, it's just perfect. I like the way you work. I've enjoyed watching. Love your family 💖👍🏾
You’re among the hardest and dedicated workers I’ve seen!! And all for your mother-in-law!! If you and your family ever vacation to Maui it’d be cool to meet you! Radius corners were the right choice!
That driveway and walkway completely changed the curb appeal of the house. You did a fantastic job and seeing something at this scale definitely increases my confidence in working on on a small patio next spring.
After watching how well you built that beautiful gazebo with all the fine attention to detail, I just knew you would do this project to a high degree.Your MIL must be thrilled to have you with your family working to create something useful and attractive.
I've seen 2 guys lay a whole road in 3 days, it's all about the preparation, he took out way too much dirt to start with,....End result is good, I;ve not seen what he has done before, but it seemed like this was his biggest job yet of laying block and he did good,......If it was to make money,, he would need to get faster and use his head a little more,
@@MyCracker1234 “… I’ve not seen what he’s done….” Seeing as he said multiple times this is a first in many ways, not sure why you would bother adding here. I suggest watching him build a gazebo pergola.
@@MyCracker1234 I'm not sure you watched and listened to the video. I know some people watch without the sound, suspecting you missed some things that would have dealt with those issues.
An Australian here.I have done a lot of paving jobs in my life & Concreting & Blocklaying & Landscaping.I watched you do this job & was amazed how much you actually got done in the time allowed.Here in Australia we would use a base gravel to bring the ground to a level.Then use whats called 'crusher dust' which is small gravel crushed & then coarse sand to finish for the pavers to be sat on.Then fine sand on top of the pavers & vibrated again then swept.Finish.You on the other hand did it the hardest way i've seen ever done.Trying to scrape all that BONEY stone must have been exausting m8.Hats off to you go have a beer. Great job & video.Much love from Australia. You asked at the end about the slurry problem on the edges.Here in Aus we use a table saw that cuts the pavers to shape,so we dont get that problem cause they are cut a few meters or so away from the job.
You don't always use traditional methods, but you take the time to find solutions regardless. You learn while you work hard. We need more people like you.
Seriously, I'm impressed. The result is fantastic, but even more, the tenacity, dedication and positivity despite the challenges! A great lesson for the sometimes lazy DIYer that I am. Bravo, je te lève mon chapeau et je vais écouter tes autres vidéos à titre d'inspiration ;) Lâche pas!
@@derekstotler5085 💯 for sure. But you know, someone offers you a free excavator, you take it. I also thought it was the right tool for the job but now I know!
@@mateostabio You are welcome. it was a great deal of work for one man for sure. Looking back. Did you enjoy the process and journey to get to that point.?
Matteo, you and your beautiful wife made two ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS boys, and young man…that labor of love you created called your mother-in-law’s DRIVEWAY/WALKWAY COMBO? WHAT A THING OF BEAUTY, MY FRIEND! WOW! I was headed out to the grocery store and I had TH-cam playing on my television. When I heard you say what you were setting out to complete “..in 7 days!”, I said to myself “Let me watch a little bit of this video for a minute before I head out…🤔”. Here I sit, having watched the entire video and dang near in tears at what your, with the help of your wonderful family, have created! YOU WORKED SO INCREDIBLY HARD, and MAN…did it ever PAY OFF!!!! Congratulations on accomplishing such a BEAST of a DIY!!!! It turned out SOOOOOooooo GOOD!!!!! I could only HOPE to have a driveway as beautiful as the one you created for your mother-in-law!!!! And if I were her, what would make it even MORE SPECTACULAR is knowing that MY SON-IN-LAW, with the help of my daughter, sons and grandsons, created it for me and all the backbreaking work it took to do it!😭💕🫂💕 Okay! Let me dry my eyes of these happy tears🥹and get to this grocery store! Beautiful work, young man! You should be VERY PROUD of what you’ve accomplished!😊👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I am so very happy that you enjoyed this movie. And I am very sorry to have made you get late to the grocery store by 1h30 :D We really are proud of the work we put into this. I appreciate your comment.
Almost the exact same thing happened to me only I was leaving to pick my kids up from school so had to tear myself away-just finished it now, absolutely stellar job! I’m inspired to put in a paver patio with small walkway, I had wanted to try it a few years ago but am in school finishing masters degree… the amount you saved doing it yourself is insane-definitely worth the sweat and struggle to keep 30-40K in your pocket!!!
I'm glad you made it random. Mine was supposed to be random, with two color/styles (75%/25% of two colorways) mixed. But they came in pallets separately, so the installer "randomized them" manually, making sure to never have the minority color adjacent to its own color. I ended up with something that was clearly not random--more polka-dotted. In real random, sometimes you get clusters. They did my job extremely professionally and fast (3 days), like a well-oiled machine. The prep crew and the paver crew were different. Delivery was another specialist. There may have been over 10 different people working over the three days, and they had to remove racoon and opossum prints each morning. It was DIY projects like yours, done with my Dad that I remember. I earned my first "paper" money at age five by helping Dad mix concrete for a sidewalk. I worked past my point of enthusiasm for free, but then he paid me more currency than I had ever had (if only he'd paid me in silver quarters and I still had them). I really felt appreciated and it kept me out of Mom's way for a few hours, too (she was busy with my sister and new brother). It is 65 years later and I still remember the feeling of being valuable, and appreciated. I wanted to earn more money! We got no allowance because chores aren't paid--they're a responsibility, but extra work is paid--and I could spend it as I wished. Patience with one's helpers at that age will certainly pay off over time! As a babysitter, I would make my parents short-term loans! This job was for grandma, so I would have done it for that reason ;) not for pay.
Wow! Your persistence and attention to detail is impressive. You are a sweet son in law using your energy and skill to help your mother in law. It was a joy to watch you complete this project.
I must say you're an amazing son-in-law 👏... I do with for my wife's parents myself hats of to you and the with you put in for your family💪👏 Amazing work 👏 🇩🇲⛳️
Do yourself a big favor and get some cement grout and let it seep into all the gaps. The polymeric sand will not last long, and it will trap seeds which will grow weeds everywhere. The grout will help structurally and also stop most of the weed growth.
I had weed killer sprayed then a membrane laid, then MOT followed by grano dust and then pavers with polymeric sand. I've had one small weed grow through since having it laid 6 years ago. Polymeric sand is just fine, so long as you install it correctly. Also it's easier to remove using a hot water pressure and easy to re-lay.
“I could do this in 7 day” said every DIY person ever lol great drive way!! Looks amazing!! Can’t wait to see the deck it really bugs me see seeing the path lead up to a hand rail 😂 but I know there is more to come!
@@Douglas-iz4de thanks for the comment! That is the theme here lol, I underestimated absolutely everything haahaha. It bothers me even more that I didn’t include the deck and the landscaping but I might only get around it in a few weeks. More to come for sure. Cheers!
Bravo! What a huge undertaking for a one man/2 kid/1 wife DIY project...very well done, and executed. That would have taken me forever!!! Fantastic results!!! Your wife, kids and relatives and friends now all know your abilities!!!
Wow! Awesome job! Your meticulous attention to detail as well as your tenacity to finish the job is manifest in the beautiful, properly done driveway & walkway! MY RESPECT! KUDOS BROTHER!
Amazing job for a DIYer my friend! For anyone wanting to tackle a project like this here are some suggestions from a paver veteran. 😂 1. Always always always compact your sub base(dirt) prior to laying your base material/fabric. 2. If you don’t have good free draining sub base you absolutely need to put a daylighted drain across the lowest end of the patio/driveway/walkway that rests on your geo textile fabric. If you don’t you are creating a pool for water to build up in. 3. If you live in a heavy freeze thaw area always use only 3/4” clear base for pavers. It allows water to permeate back into the soil below the patio and or free flow to a daylighted drain. 4. Stay away from plastic edge restraints especially on driveways! The perimeter pavers should be set on a 3-4” thick concrete base. If that’s to extensive for your diy project then do a 3” thick concrete edge restraint using a product like EdgeBond. 5. If you are doing 6” or more of base you should definitely do a layer or 2 of geogrid in the base. 6. Make sure your paver base is extended 6-8” further out than the edge of your pavers all the way around. It’s like a shoulder of the road, if you build your pavers right up to a dirt edge you will see edge failures relatively quick! Just some tips for anyone watching this that wants build something that will last a lifetime!
@@isaiahguerrero9929 wow amazing! Thank you for this. Appreciate it. I guess I’ll have to do a video on how its held up next year, and the year after. And the year after… 😅. Cheers!
You spent approx. 20% of the time or 37 hours filming this absolutely fantastical project, and then another 2-3 weeks worth editing this video. This MOVIE is very well done and It has been an absolute blast watching this. I appreciate you laying this out for us, as every DIYer can appreciate the notes you've made after the project, as well as the comments under this video providing even more insight BEFORE they might start their own. Thank you very, very much for making this video.
Dude! Not only did I like this video, but I subscribe to your channel without even seeing if I was interested in any more of your videos. If I could afford to join, yours would be the first channel I joined. The love you showed to your in-laws, the damage I know you did to your body doing this, and the love your family showed to you helping when they could. Sir, I wish I could mandate 4, 1 hour massages for you at 1 a week to help your body recover. Job well done!
C'est à s'y méprendre avec un travail de pro! Fantastique, j'adore suivre tes projets extérieurs. Quelle labeur! N'oublie pas de nous faire un vidéo pour le reste du projet!
This was a huge project to take on yourself, much respect!! I’m with you on grossly underestimating how long a project takes but you can’t beat how rewarding it is to see the finished product
Kudos to you for doing it yourself, even though it seemed like an impossible task. And, for dedicating yourself to showing your kids that things don't always need to be hired out to get done. Really well done!
Thanks for the awesome content. You did a great job. Bet you had some sore muscles. I watched all these videos as they came out and just had to watch the hole 2 hours again. Thank you.
You must feel like a Boss after this project. Bravo! Done so well and looks amazing. Thanks for the step-by-step. I have never watch such a long project from start to finish in a single sitting. Very engaging project and video work!
Great job, Mateo! You missed your target timeframe, but what really matters is that you kept going and finished the job. I just bought a house myself, and I'm getting into the same DIY spirit. Thanks for the inspiration!
That's "the way". Thanks for sharing Helped my father since I was 8, and today, what he've accomplish toghether, still reminds me of him, and it's a mix of reward/sadness because I miss him/joy of all we could build! If we paid to do it... meeehh
Pavers look nice but they suck in Canada. Shoveling them is a complete pain once they start shifting and moving even the slightest bit. I redid all my walkways myself with new concrete and it only cost me about $1200. (125 ft, 3ft wide plus two 6x8 spots in front of shed and garage door.) To do it myself.
Nice job, sir ! You duked it out and stuck it out without anger or frustration. This is hard work and praise the lord you are still young in order not to feel the pain 🙏
Epic...Very impressed. No complaining, you just got on with it. I almost felt your aches and pains. You did make me laugh a few times. I'm a DIY novice too. Kudos from the UK
Dude everything about this channel awesome. The edits, the angles, commentary, personal touches, music, the story, everything. And for only having 27 videos with less than 40k subs. Keep it up
WOW!!!’ Good old fashion hard work!!!! Stick-to -it tivemess!!!! Don’t quit and finish the job!!! What a great example for your children!!! Beautiful result…quite a gift for your family!!! Well done young man!
Part 2 to this video is here: Deck Build & Mother-in-Law’s Reaction! th-cam.com/video/zD0X9J7bn6I/w-d-xo.html
Thank you all for the kind words & support! You can support me on Patreon: patreon.com/mateostabio
If I can do this, I think that you can too! Before attempting this, I must say I did do a lot of research, and I've been watching TH-camrs like: @dirtmonkey for a few years, and other hardscapers and concrete workers. So if you are going to do this, do your research, maybe talk to local contractors or experts in the field. But remember, don't trust them when they say "you can't do that alone" or "you should leave that to the professionals". Remember that TH-cam is free education taught by random people around the world. There will be some people that tell you something doesn't work, and other might say it does work, and some might say to use something else. As viewers, we need to do our own research. So look at the pros and cons, come up with a game plan and tackle it head on! Good luck!
P.S.: I see a lot of comments about renting a skid steer. Looking back, I should’ve gone that route. I had 5 hours of mini-excavator experience and thought it was the safer choice. In hindsight, I would’ve learned the skid steer in a day. Thanks for the comments!
You have got to be so proud!!! It didn’t go as planned but the finished result looks amazing and professional!!!!! 😊
Looking forward to seeing the steps demo'd and installed.
You probably should've sprayed something to ensure that
weeds wouldn't grow through it and mess up any parts of
it (unless that's what the matting does).
Looks beautiful!! You and your little helpers did a wonderful job 😊❤❤❤
Your wife gave the wrong answer. "Yes dear, I believe in you. You can do it. You can do anything" said the supportive wife.
too bad you didnt rent a small skidloader instead. like a t20 o something.
I did this professionally for 7 years.
I love the quality and detail, you did it right but speed comes with time and experience.
A crew of 3 would have this edged, leveled, and sodded in 4-5 days when everyone knows what they're doing.
Good work brother.
Thank you! Cheers
Curious what job did ya get after the 7yrs?
And that is the $43k difference?
You must have made insane money, seeing those quotes at the end for it being 49k and such.
Ya well you are a drunk moron who lost his business due to all the lawsuits, does your opinion really mean anything?
Did I click on this video realizing it was two hours long? No. Did I stay and watch it all while I did some other things on my machine? Yes. Did I subscribe 30 minutes in. Also yes. Damn dude, this was epic. Massive props.
I absolutely love this comment! Haha glad you enjoyed it! Respect 🫡
Did i click on the video realizing it was two hours long? No. Did i realize it was two hours long after your comment? Yes. Did i subscribe 10 mins in? Yes. Did it make me want to redo my drive way? Yes. Will I? Def not, I'll ruin my property because i can't DIY. lol
@@SwxyzeI rarely watch YT videos for more than 20-30 minutes, but I was glued to this - watched till the end. Involving your little humans was great to see - keep them away from cell-phones and teach them hard work.
100%
My sentiments precisely! Videos like these are a pleasure to watch - especially when you admit to feeling overwhelmed, as this is how we all feel when we take on a project bigger than ever before.
Getting your truck stuck, check. Feeling like 'oh my god how will I get out of this mess?', not realising the vehicle has 4x4 mode.... normal!
Great job. Great outcome. Having someone else help is ALWAYS appreciated!
“I got the technique down”…to forget by the next time I need to use it or perhaps never again in my lifetime😂
The bane of us DIYers
@@rrb79 😂 itll come in useful in the future in some other way. Either from the skill or the common sense or some other random way lol
Never listen to a Canuuk!
I have locked in this for myself😂😂😂 WAIT!!! I am a professional engineer and I do go to the field with the crew to build to make sure I keep my connection with the guys and increase morale as not many like me do that.
So true.
not this guy, because its all on tape!
Your MIL must think you are the BEST Son-in-law EVER. What a crapload of work!! You are brilliant! Thank you for these videos. This gives me hope!!
Wow, thank you!
Couldn't pull myself away from the video the entire time. Crazy amount of work, and it turned out great. Massive respect.
@@mChav34 thanks!
How funny would it be if someone said " ya gimme all the dirt you can , just dump it in the driveway " and gave someone they don't likes address lmao .
@@EclipseJay hahahahaha
Karen messed with the wrong neighbor..
So hilarious and then no companies will give dirt because of liability. Think a little
Inspirational dude!! Well done.
@@dillong9231people like you take the fun out of life.
Best son-in-law she should even imagine having! Wow! That's awesome! Love the finished project.
@@ROBSOLUTELY maybe not the best. But I think I’m alright 😆
if shes one of the kids sitters, its a fair trade!
my mother-in-law got a new deck a few years ago so ive made that exchange.
right angles wouldve been easier but the extra time was worth it - final product looks great!
@@jimmyconway3814 thanks! Yes indeed!
What a slap in the face to his mother-in-law's sons, hardly any support from them.
🎉 I feel a great sense of accomplishment. I dedicated myself to sitting on my couch, and I finished this entire video in 1 days 🎉 You can DIY, guys 💪
@@delxinogaming6046 😂😂😂
It took me 4 days to get through the video! 😂 Great work Mateo!
the most impressive part about this is how he was able to juggle all of his other commitments while doing this
Awesome! Thanks!
All while his wife and in laws just chill haha
A lot of back breaking labor, and patience saved 10s of thousands. Your mother in law must be awesome! 😎
Bro I shed tear of joy watching how well you did from start to finish. Having the family help was what did it for me. I’m a landscaper 3years of experience and this is easily a 60-80k job in some areas. Proud is an understatement fr fr.
You deserve a cold beer from our community for getting the job done better than some hardscapers I’ve seen.
💪🏾💪🏾
@@lensmoise4886 thank you for this comment. Appreciate it and glad you enjoyed it! Cheers my friend
The common theme for all of us DIY'ers is totally underestimating the time involved in new projects...especially when it's another first experience at a new skill. I have to say, GREAT JOB! You made yourself and this fellow DIY guy proud! My wife always makes fun of me researching stuff on TH-cam. I tell her, "If I've never done this, how am I supposed to know how to do it?" Research and planning is the best way to start. All these projects we get ourselves into, there's only one way out...FINISH! Awesome attitude and perseverance until "The End"! 👍
Amazing, love this comment. Thanks for watching and taking the time! See you in the next project!
The best way to have a happy life is to ignore most of your wife's criticisms
I now estimate what I think it will take, then double it. I add 25% to that and anything less is a win.
If a job needs doing my wife always asks me if I think I can do it first, as builders in the past have told my wife ‘you can’t do that’. Not because it’s illegal or against code but because they can’t be arsed to do something that’s either time consuming or awkward. With TH-cam’s help , I think I could build a friggin’ house from scratch.
Anyway, this guy has saved himself Thousaaaaaands doing it himself. I tip my hat to you sir.
As a child who had parents who could never make it to my events and now a father of 4 boys, please, if absolutely unavoidable, never miss your child’s events. I have video taped everything they’ve ever done, from sports days, rugby games concerts, nativity plays I filmed it all. Their ages are spread between 30 and 19 and now they all play for the same rugby team.
bro, the amount of work, then having to edit the video and everything else. really inspiring. haven't skipped a second of the video.
@@kingpinn13 thank you! Appreciate the watch!
Wow! Great job! Your Mother-in-Law is a very fortunate lady to have this done for her.
I watched this like a movie. I am so impressed how you just kept showing up. Your Mother In Law will never let you go 😊 😊 I can't imagine how hard you worked. You should be very proud of your work!
@@eztravels9809 thanks! Appreciate it
I own a Hardscape company. Hopefully you don’t ever have to do this by yourself again but if you do or anyone does. Look for recycled concrete in your area it’s much cheaper then stone or crushed stone. Also it’s better to use a drainage rock for base and 89 stone to lay pavers. ABC and screening is an old school way to lay pavers and requires really really good compaction. Drainage rock and 89 will drain well and is by far less likely to settle over time. Great job on the polymeric sand most contractors don’t even install that correctly and you nailed it. You should start Hardscaping.
Eyyy thanks man!!! The truck driver told me that i should have used recycled concrete as a base actually instead because it was cheaper and most do that. Im not sure what 89 stone or ABC is. can you elaborate?
@@mateostabio ya man, we use a clean stone for our base. Like 57 or 67 stone and we screed with 89 stone which is a pebble size rock. Doing it that way is more sturdy and allows the patio to breath better and water to flow more freely. I do use recycled as much as I can it’s much cheaper. I pay about $450 per 18tons vs $900 for quarry rock.
👏👏👏 beautiful job. You just increased your mother-in-law’s property value by thousands :)
Def will keep this in mind for upcoming project
Please clarify something about the pavers. 2.5" pavers are certainly fine for a walkway and patio, but aren't they thin for a driveway? All the driveway pavers I've seen were 3-3.5". I suppose with light traffic it'll be fine.
Mad respect to you, you did a great job. Not only on the pavers but even taking the time to film, update us on the progress and show your mistakes. This felt like I was watching a movie!
@@Chasingtone2 thank you! Well, I guess it if a movie, its 1h50! Haha. Glad you enjoyed it. 🍻
Hey Mateo,
I'm a diyer from the Netherlands. Your channel is the first channel i found that actualy shows the work from a diy standpoint and actually delivers quality, truly inspiring!!
Its heart warming seeing your family help out.
I am currently building our own home as a diy-er and i can relate somuch to your fysical and metal struggles (and undying optimism about the timeline😂).
I've watched a couple of your video's and im probably going to watch the rest over the coming weeks.
Looking forward to more content!
@@gert-jan5573 thanks man! Really appreciate that and glad you can relate and enjoy my content. Much more to come! Just getting started 😉
What a great video . Also, What a weird place for the main entrance door on the side of the house.
The kids were awesome... I'm glad to see a father teaching his kids to be the next generation of skilled people in the trades... Mike Rowe would be proud.
Glad to see there are still some in this generation.
He's dripping sweat & doesn't stop. Freaking hard work!
This project would take me exactly 52 weeks straight.
49 weeks of physical conditioning, 3 weeks to install it.
Forget returning the excavator, I'd get the next size up.
These DIY projects are a labor of love brother. You gotta not put time restriction on it within reason n follow your body's natural time table. If ya tired, go rest n every little bit a day makes progress. You got a beautiful family, stay blessed. Great video, thanks for sharing your passion with us!
Thank you!
really good job. I've done this twice myself as a homeowner DIY, but 30 years ago when I was your age. My buddy was a landscaper and told me to go down 2 feet (!) so I did, with huge stones, then road base then screenings under the bricks. That driveway and patio still looks like the day I installed it in 1995 (though I can only see it on streetview now lol). I guess the geofabric helps control the sand so don't need such a deep stone base? Now the pavers I used were antiques, 80 years old huge oversized super-hard pavers that were under the main street of my city - the city was digging up the main street and hauling these away so I offered the dump truck guys some cases of beer and got 5,000 sf of them dumped in my driveway - mixed in with dirt and broken pavers lol. I sorted it for weeks before getting to the excavation stage. 549 Grant St in Woodstock ON where I used to live 30 yrs ago (I did the concrete stairs, fence and current house painting colours too), seen on streetview now, mostly unchanged. the energy of youth lol.
I went and looked...such a nice lokking house and location.❤
“My son believes in me, my wife doesn’t”. Believe it or not you are far better off this way than the switched version.
The algorithm pushed this video to me and all I can say is not only am I subscribed and liking the video but I have so much respect for your dedication and attention to detail you put into this project. Amazing job 🔥
The fact that you made a 2 hour long video on installing a driveway interesting is massive props to your storytelling skills and that i watched the whole thing, nice job
@@jordanabendroth6458 thanks bud! Appreciate that
Nice job, Mateo. You saved your mother in law a lot of money. You should be proud of what you and your helpers did. Cheers from an ex Montrealer. :)
Thank you! Cheers!
I would love to help you, but I'm 64 years old lady who loves DIY, I'm in the UK. I lost my husband 4 years ago, I used to work with him on projects. I'm no good with the maths. What you have done is BRILLIANT, FANTASTIC. I love it, it's just perfect. I like the way you work. I've enjoyed watching. Love your family 💖👍🏾
@@LCase-wv4my stay tuned for more!
You’re among the hardest and dedicated workers I’ve seen!!
And all for your mother-in-law!!
If you and your family ever vacation to Maui it’d be cool to meet you!
Radius corners were the right choice!
@@crikescrikes2465 thank you! I’d love to go and visit Maui hahaha! 😂
I started to follow when he said that he need to be realistic now 😂 I loved the honesty because DIYs projects are actually like this.
What an incredible task and achievement. Don’t believe you could’ve done it without your immense amount of integrity.👏👏👏👍👍👍🤬
I hope your in-laws appreciate all the work you did here! It looks amazing!!!
@@Littlebit1031 sure do!!
Dude!!!! You are the man. I thought I was a crazy DIY’er. You sir are on another level! Well done!
Great job, your wife and family has to be proud! God bless you all.
Beautiful wife and kids, family values, hard working ethics, DIY nature, etc. -- you're living the dream brother!
@@djdestroyer thank you! Cheers!
Awesome job and perseverance! You are a great example to your sons as they will never forget this experience and will inspire them forever!!
That driveway and walkway completely changed the curb appeal of the house. You did a fantastic job and seeing something at this scale definitely increases my confidence in working on on a small patio next spring.
@@zachary8033 yes! You got this!
After watching how well you built that beautiful gazebo with all the fine attention to detail, I just knew you would do this project to a high degree.Your MIL must be thrilled to have you with your family working to create something useful and attractive.
@@LouieLouie505 thanks for the kind comment! Appreciate it
I've seen 2 guys lay a whole road in 3 days, it's all about the preparation, he took out way too much dirt to start with,....End result is good, I;ve not seen what he has done before, but it seemed like this was his biggest job yet of laying block and he did good,......If it was to make money,, he would need to get faster and use his head a little more,
@MyCracker1234 you must be fun at parties
@@MyCracker1234 “… I’ve not seen what he’s done….” Seeing as he said multiple times this is a first in many ways, not sure why you would bother adding here. I suggest watching him build a gazebo pergola.
@@MyCracker1234 I'm not sure you watched and listened to the video. I know some people watch without the sound, suspecting you missed some things that would have dealt with those issues.
I am absolutely amazed at your diligence, self determination and work ethic!!! You should be so proud of yourself!!
@@olgaholguin6339 thanks!
An Australian here.I have done a lot of paving jobs in my life & Concreting & Blocklaying & Landscaping.I watched you do this job & was amazed how much you actually got done in the time allowed.Here in Australia we would use a base gravel to bring the ground to a level.Then use whats called 'crusher dust' which is small gravel crushed & then coarse sand to finish for the pavers to be sat on.Then fine sand on top of the pavers & vibrated again then swept.Finish.You on the other hand did it the hardest way i've seen ever done.Trying to scrape all that BONEY stone must have been exausting m8.Hats off to you go have a beer. Great job & video.Much love from Australia. You asked at the end about the slurry problem on the edges.Here in Aus we use a table saw that cuts the pavers to shape,so we dont get that problem cause they are cut a few meters or so away from the job.
Haha thanks! Yea definitely was a work out! But I enjoyed the experience and am happy with the results
I thoroughly enjoyed this long form video. No cuts of important details! It looks great and you did an awesome job!
You don't always use traditional methods, but you take the time to find solutions regardless. You learn while you work hard. We need more people like you.
What do you mean non traditional methods this is exactly what we all do still
Mad respect for this.
Seriously, I'm impressed. The result is fantastic, but even more, the tenacity, dedication and positivity despite the challenges! A great lesson for the sometimes lazy DIYer that I am. Bravo, je te lève mon chapeau et je vais écouter tes autres vidéos à titre d'inspiration ;) Lâche pas!
@@lluc328 merci pour le commentaire!
I'm speechless. that turned out amazing, the budget was crazy, attention to detail was A+. Very impressive
Wow, thank you!
You could do SO MUCH MORE with that excavator at the beginning, but the end result is absolutely beautiful! Good Job 👍
@@ruvimx867 tell me about it. Thats what an amateur does with an excavator. He shovels by hand 😂
I was thinking the same thing…..one other thought: A skid steer would probably make much quicker work and would be easier to level the ground.
@@derekstotler5085 💯 for sure. But you know, someone offers you a free excavator, you take it. I also thought it was the right tool for the job but now I know!
Could of used the plow on it to push the gravel from where it was to where u wanted to to go without hand shoveling it all
It really does look good. Every time you look at it, smile with pride.
@@SouthernCharm2025 thank you! I think whole family is feeling like that now!
@@mateostabio You are welcome. it was a great deal of work for one man for sure. Looking back. Did you enjoy the process and journey to get to that point.?
@@SouthernCharm2025i really enjoyed the challenge and the filming challenge I overcame. I learned a lot in the process
Matteo, you and your beautiful wife made two ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS boys, and young man…that labor of love you created called your mother-in-law’s DRIVEWAY/WALKWAY COMBO?
WHAT A THING OF BEAUTY, MY FRIEND! WOW! I was headed out to the grocery store and I had TH-cam playing on my television. When I heard you say what you were setting out to complete “..in 7 days!”, I said to myself “Let me watch a little bit of this video for a minute before I head out…🤔”. Here I sit, having watched the entire video and dang near in tears at what your, with the help of your wonderful family, have created! YOU WORKED SO INCREDIBLY HARD, and MAN…did it ever PAY OFF!!!! Congratulations on accomplishing such a BEAST of a DIY!!!! It turned out SOOOOOooooo GOOD!!!!! I could only HOPE to have a driveway as beautiful as the one you created for your mother-in-law!!!! And if I were her, what would make it even MORE SPECTACULAR is knowing that MY SON-IN-LAW, with the help of my daughter, sons and grandsons, created it for me and all the backbreaking work it took to do it!😭💕🫂💕 Okay! Let me dry my eyes of these happy tears🥹and get to this grocery store!
Beautiful work, young man! You should be VERY PROUD of what you’ve accomplished!😊👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I am so very happy that you enjoyed this movie. And I am very sorry to have made you get late to the grocery store by 1h30 :D We really are proud of the work we put into this. I appreciate your comment.
Almost the exact same thing happened to me only I was leaving to pick my kids up from school so had to tear myself away-just finished it now, absolutely stellar job! I’m inspired to put in a paver patio with small walkway, I had wanted to try it a few years ago but am in school finishing masters degree… the amount you saved doing it yourself is insane-definitely worth the sweat and struggle to keep 30-40K in your pocket!!!
WELL DONE!!!!!! THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT ADAPT, OVERCOME, ACHIEVE!!!!!! LOOKS GREAT!!
@@VivaLaBilliam thanks!
Loved every part of this video - the goal, the meticulous execution, and the lovely family helping along the way. You are a wealthy man sir.
@@Retrobrio thank you sir. Appreciate the comment and glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!
Nice to see kids working, I used to love working with my dad,he was an ultimate carpenter!
💯 Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks
I'm glad you made it random. Mine was supposed to be random, with two color/styles (75%/25% of two colorways) mixed. But they came in pallets separately, so the installer "randomized them" manually, making sure to never have the minority color adjacent to its own color. I ended up with something that was clearly not random--more polka-dotted. In real random, sometimes you get clusters. They did my job extremely professionally and fast (3 days), like a well-oiled machine. The prep crew and the paver crew were different. Delivery was another specialist. There may have been over 10 different people working over the three days, and they had to remove racoon and opossum prints each morning.
It was DIY projects like yours, done with my Dad that I remember. I earned my first "paper" money at age five by helping Dad mix concrete for a sidewalk. I worked past my point of enthusiasm for free, but then he paid me more currency than I had ever had (if only he'd paid me in silver quarters and I still had them). I really felt appreciated and it kept me out of Mom's way for a few hours, too (she was busy with my sister and new brother). It is 65 years later and I still remember the feeling of being valuable, and appreciated. I wanted to earn more money! We got no allowance because chores aren't paid--they're a responsibility, but extra work is paid--and I could spend it as I wished. Patience with one's helpers at that age will certainly pay off over time! As a babysitter, I would make my parents short-term loans!
This job was for grandma, so I would have done it for that reason ;) not for pay.
Thanks for sharing ❤️
Wow! Your persistence and attention to detail is impressive. You are a sweet son in law using your energy and skill to help your mother in law. It was a joy to watch you complete this project.
@@DJ-ce5yi thanks! Appreciate that
I must say you're an amazing son-in-law 👏...
I do with for my wife's parents myself hats of to you and the with you put in for your family💪👏
Amazing work 👏
🇩🇲⛳️
Do yourself a big favor and get some cement grout and let it seep into all the gaps. The polymeric sand will not last long, and it will trap seeds which will grow weeds everywhere. The grout will help structurally and also stop most of the weed growth.
I had weed killer sprayed then a membrane laid, then MOT followed by grano dust and then pavers with polymeric sand. I've had one small weed grow through since having it laid 6 years ago. Polymeric sand is just fine, so long as you install it correctly. Also it's easier to remove using a hot water pressure and easy to re-lay.
This is a labor of love. Clearly you love your wife and her mom to do this. Tip of the hat to you sir!
@@betterwithrum thank you!
“I could do this in 7 day” said every DIY person ever lol great drive way!! Looks amazing!! Can’t wait to see the deck it really bugs me see seeing the path lead up to a hand rail 😂 but I know there is more to come!
@@Douglas-iz4de thanks for the comment! That is the theme here lol, I underestimated absolutely everything haahaha. It bothers me even more that I didn’t include the deck and the landscaping but I might only get around it in a few weeks. More to come for sure. Cheers!
Watched less than a minute and saw this comment and immediately went to subscribe @mateostabio 🤣🤣 "Kind of the theme here..." LOVE IT! 😂😂
General rule of thumb is 2x your guess
Bravo! What a huge undertaking for a one man/2 kid/1 wife DIY project...very well done, and executed. That would have taken me forever!!! Fantastic results!!! Your wife, kids and relatives and friends now all know your abilities!!!
Thank you very much for the awesome comment. Very glad you enjoyed the film
Wow! Awesome job! Your meticulous attention to detail as well as your tenacity to finish the job is manifest in the beautiful, properly done driveway & walkway! MY RESPECT! KUDOS BROTHER!
I think every DIYer watching can relate with underestimating every single thing in the project 🤣
@@MakerMentor 💯. Thanks for watching!
Especially the first time, things never go as planned.
Amazing job! I admire you not only didn’t give up but also did this final round cuts ! 👍
@@Macieek11 i appreciate that! Cheers!
I voted for curved cuts too!
bro's really out here making the rest of us look bad for our inlaws
Amazing job for a DIYer my friend!
For anyone wanting to tackle a project like this here are some suggestions from a paver veteran. 😂
1. Always always always compact your sub base(dirt) prior to laying your base material/fabric.
2. If you don’t have good free draining sub base you absolutely need to put a daylighted drain across the lowest end of the patio/driveway/walkway that rests on your geo textile fabric. If you don’t you are creating a pool for water to build up in.
3. If you live in a heavy freeze thaw area always use only 3/4” clear base for pavers. It allows water to permeate back into the soil below the patio and or free flow to a daylighted drain.
4. Stay away from plastic edge restraints especially on driveways! The perimeter pavers should be set on a 3-4” thick concrete base. If that’s to extensive for your diy project then do a 3” thick concrete edge restraint using a product like EdgeBond.
5. If you are doing 6” or more of base you should definitely do a layer or 2 of geogrid in the base.
6. Make sure your paver base is extended 6-8” further out than the edge of your pavers all the way around. It’s like a shoulder of the road, if you build your pavers right up to a dirt edge you will see edge failures relatively quick!
Just some tips for anyone watching this that wants build something that will last a lifetime!
@@isaiahguerrero9929 wow amazing! Thank you for this. Appreciate it. I guess I’ll have to do a video on how its held up next year, and the year after. And the year after… 😅. Cheers!
You spent approx. 20% of the time or 37 hours filming this absolutely fantastical project, and then another 2-3 weeks worth editing this video.
This MOVIE is very well done and It has been an absolute blast watching this. I appreciate you laying this out for us, as every DIYer can appreciate the notes you've made after the project,
as well as the comments under this video providing even more insight BEFORE they might start their own.
Thank you very, very much for making this video.
@@kendov288 thank you for the recognition! I appreciate that.
Hey Mateo! Here is Gabriel from Hungary! You just made my day, that's how I am going to do my Paver Driveway. Thanks your video.
@@MrSolmyr86 amazing! Glad it came in handy!
Massive respect for the effort and end result was amazing
@@JJustCool thank you! 🎉🍻
Absolute masterpiece and well engineered too.
THANKS!
I was thinking the same thing!
Beautiful job really nicely done video. Really enjoyed this thoroughly.
Glad you enjoyed it! thanks!
Dude! Not only did I like this video, but I subscribe to your channel without even seeing if I was interested in any more of your videos. If I could afford to join, yours would be the first channel I joined. The love you showed to your in-laws, the damage I know you did to your body doing this, and the love your family showed to you helping when they could. Sir, I wish I could mandate 4, 1 hour massages for you at 1 a week to help your body recover. Job well done!
Wow! My mom would love to have a son like you!
You made me feel like I could tackle installing a new paver patio I went outside and took a look I don’t think so…lol good job!
@@jorgeperez-pb4vr hahaha. 😂 you got it man!
C'est à s'y méprendre avec un travail de pro! Fantastique, j'adore suivre tes projets extérieurs. Quelle labeur! N'oublie pas de nous faire un vidéo pour le reste du projet!
This was a huge project to take on yourself, much respect!! I’m with you on grossly underestimating how long a project takes but you can’t beat how rewarding it is to see the finished product
You did an amazing job your mother in law will love it, and you saved her a lot of money .
I got inspiration and confidence by watching this video
Thank you
"I got rain going down my ass crack". - Ah, the DIY hazing ritual. Welcome to DIY, my friend.
You are so very talented! I hope you get lots of subscribers and have a good day, and yes I watched the full video!
Best 1hr50mins on youtube ever! You sir are a legend, fantastic job.
@@johnmiller7067 wow! Amazing! Thank you
Kudos to you for doing it yourself, even though it seemed like an impossible task. And, for dedicating yourself to showing your kids that things don't always need to be hired out to get done. Really well done!
Thanks for the awesome content. You did a great job. Bet you had some sore muscles. I watched all these videos as they came out and just had to watch the hole 2 hours again. Thank you.
@@luckyj9939 wow ! Amazing. Appreciate you!
Looks great! If you’ve got a free 125 hours soon I’m gonna start mine next 🤣🤣😂.
But serious, Great effort! Really paid off in the end!
Hahaha I got more projects coming up! Cheers! You can do it! Thanks glad you enjoyed it
Great job. Well done!
You must feel like a Boss after this project. Bravo! Done so well and looks amazing. Thanks for the step-by-step. I have never watch such a long project from start to finish in a single sitting. Very engaging project and video work!
@@jamessanders6788 thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers to many more!
Great job, Mateo! You missed your target timeframe, but what really matters is that you kept going and finished the job. I just bought a house myself, and I'm getting into the same DIY spirit. Thanks for the inspiration!
@@GolthierSantos epic! Thanks and best of luck!
EXCELLENT !!! I finally finished watching your video in pieces.. this is what we do has MEN !!! good job 👏 👍..
All that work for a Mother in Law? Better man than me
One thing that might have saved you time is renting a skid steer instead of excavator
I am absolutely stunned at how good a job you did
Stunning how much work and how beautiful it is
That's "the way".
Thanks for sharing
Helped my father since I was 8, and today, what he've accomplish toghether, still reminds me of him, and it's a mix of reward/sadness because I miss him/joy of all we could build!
If we paid to do it... meeehh
@@tmstriveon nice to hear that. I agree with always getting them involved.
It looks absolutely stunning!
@@ruthstill169 thank you!
I’d sure want you on my side. You espouse grit, intelligence, and fortitude-virtually non existent in today’s population. Impressive to say the least.
Pavers look nice but they suck in Canada. Shoveling them is a complete pain once they start shifting and moving even the slightest bit.
I redid all my walkways myself with new concrete and it only cost me about $1200. (125 ft, 3ft wide plus two 6x8 spots in front of shed and garage door.) To do it myself.
Nice job, sir ! You duked it out and stuck it out without anger or frustration. This is hard work and praise the lord you are still young in order not to feel the pain 🙏
Epic...Very impressed. No complaining, you just got on with it. I almost felt your aches and pains. You did make me laugh a few times. I'm a DIY novice too. Kudos from the UK
Phenomenal work, I’m inspired, tempted to try my own drive 👊
@@craigallen5469 epic! You got this!
@@mateostabio thank you, not sure I have your stamina, but definitely inspired! 😁
I hope your mother-in-law appreciated all your hard work while she was abroad on holiday.
Good job my dude! Congratulations on getting that done earned a sub!!
@@goddardbenjamin appreciate that! Thanks for watching!
Dude everything about this channel awesome. The edits, the angles, commentary, personal touches, music, the story, everything. And for only having 27 videos with less than 40k subs. Keep it up
Glad you enjoy it! thanks for the comment! I appreciate this! Keeps me going lol
WOW!!!’
Good old fashion hard work!!!! Stick-to -it tivemess!!!! Don’t quit and finish the job!!! What a great example for your children!!! Beautiful result…quite a gift for your family!!!
Well done young man!
@@terribryant9696thank you!
Next time, just rent a skid steer. You're a hard worker...no need to make it harder with an excavator