Great video content! Excuse me for butting in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you thought about - Rozardner Successful Handyman Reality (do a google search)? It is a great exclusive product for how to start a handyman business minus the hard work. Ive heard some great things about it and my cooworker finally got cool success with it.
Appreciate Video clip! Excuse me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you tried - Hanmila Glorious Doshmaker (should be on google have a look)? It is a good one of a kind guide for discovering the trick to have a successful handyman business without the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my mate at very last got excellent success with it.
I love the HONESTY . Most (if not all) carpentry channels don't talk about the learning curve or mistakes they've made. Keep up that honesty and your Channel will go far.
Great job for a first timer, coming from 20yrs concrete finisher. Just a little tip if I may add. Passing a rough edge while its soft and wet will make things easy when giving it a final edge. the first rough edge will push down the stones to shape, final coat will leave it nice and smooth. Keep up the great work.
Just a suggestion from one Carpenter to another. I started out as a teen doing concrete sidewalks all throughout the city. As concrete is being poured, use a screet board ( straight board wood or metal) and slide back and forth while filling in low spots and taking away high points. This will level off the two surfaces. When you get to the end, a little giggle motion will tamp/ level itself off. After that walk away for a coffee. Next rough float and drop your edge lines. After that walk away for lunch LOL. Next float with your finishing trowel and put on final edging if necessary.
Hey man. My first big concrete story further down. The main thing is that you are extending your skills. After your 10th one you'll know. Never give mercy on pricing, OJT learning or not. My 2 cents on concrete mixing. It takes 1 gallon of water per bag. Use a pail, not water hose. That way, your consistency will be perfect for small jobs. Repeatedly grabbing the hose, and guessing, is a pain in the butt. My First B Concrete Job My boss, Chester, took a job to do a driveway. I'm the helper. I've done some small jobs and knew the basics. Truck comes, pours the concrete just right as we push and level. Then we do the trowel work. Chester teaches. As we are waiting for the last section to set right before brooming, Chester goes inside the home. He comes out, with a smile. He says, "I got the check, broom it and let's go." I say, "But Chess, it's not really ready to broom yet." He says, very slowly and deliberately, " I...GOT...THE...CHECK...BROOM IT...AND LET'S GO." My take, never give the check early, and I needed a new boss.
with the rebar. you can drill holes in opposing sides and tie wire the pieces together los easier than trying to bend it in. always a good idea to remove the bad/sunken concrete and or use a diamond blade to square up the openings . use a bucket to gage your water so the mix is absolute. get a small tamper to bring the fines to the surface to aid in finishing. use a wood float first to level the mud . the rest is time behind the trowel...
Good advice. I always suggest using epoxy in the holes and fiber in the mix. A small bag is about $10.00 and can cover about a yard of concrete. Cheap way to add psi to concrete.
Something I might have suggested, to the customer (and maybe you did) is I would have suggested busting out the “sunken” section and doing a larger repair of the WHOLE area. Again, you may have suggested that to them. I would have.
Looked pretty good, Allen. More power to you for putting something out there on the internet you haven't done before and asking for feedback. Keep up the good work.
@@handymanjourney If you get the opportunity please check out these two videos. I started a MTB channel, but realized I like the handyman side more...in regards to making videos and for an income. I'm pretty close to making this a full time gig. I appreciate what you are doing and any feedback you have to offer. Thanks. th-cam.com/video/G3DqCtt0Dtc/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/Y9yiJ9ywdRQ/w-d-xo.html
Lee, not bad for your first rodeo with concrete repair. From my experience, be sure to put expansion board on the inside perimeter of the existing concrete. After the concrete dries, there will be no cracking. Hope my comment is helpful. Best wishes to you, and your business. ~Joe ✌😎
While you were in there you could have jacked up the piece that sung and put some brick, rocks, crushed stone under it to hold it where it needed to be and made your customer twice as happy
That's a great idea! I was going to post that it would have been nice to just take the sunken portion out and redo the the whole thing. Wasn't that much more.
this past week, I had to build a 4in deep, 3ft by 3ft pad for a water heater. Never did concrete myself, but took your advice from this video, and jumped in and did it.
I appreciate the information on the handyperson group. Another resource that many of you can use to learn new skills is your local Habitat for Humanity. I work as a construction crew lead for my local branch and we build new homes in a once crime ridden neighborhood. Our revitalization efforts have helped to reduce crime, increase property values, and created a sense of community among the home owners because they work on each others' homes. We would not be able to do this without the help of our volunteers and retired carpenters/contractors. Most of our volunteers come with no building skills whatsoever but by the end of the day they have framed a wall or laid ceramic tiles. We teach these skills in real time and guide you through the process until you feel comfortable enough to do it without one on one guidance. Most people are in shock at what they have accomplished. We of course do not charge for this and the bonus is that you aren't learning with materials you paid for either. So if you are interested in volunteering with your local branch contact the volunteer coordinator or construction site manager to see when you can drop by and learn. Some larger branches even have workshops you can sign up for to learn from skilled tradespeople. And ladies, please don't feel intimidated, I actually get more female volunteers than males and they are just as productive and easy to teach these skills to. It is quite empowering plus it feels good to give back to your community.
I was asked to replace a wooden ramp to a garage for a customer. The ramp had rotted. When i started taking it apart, I already had a perfect form from the existing ramp. I beefed it up a bit and asked my customer if she would like a concrete ramp instead. First time doing a ramp but not a concrete pad. I mixed a high slump, poured it and it came out great. gave it a nice brushed finish too for traction.
My first time ever doing any concrete work was a few months ago pouring a brand new driveway. It came out fantastic. Only one out of four of us had any experience at all but he was able to guide our team through it. A couple weeks ago I lead another team pouring another driveway...only my third time ever. They all passed inspection. I was incredibly intimidated at first too because it was a couple grand in concrete and I wanted desperately to do a good job. I would say it does take some skill to pull off but it is more labor intensive than anything. As long as you set yourself up for success by creating a solid base, reinforcing, and building a good form then you should be able to pull off most concrete work in residential settings.
Good job man. I would've just threw something under the valve box or in this case clean out box to keep it level and then removed the cover instead of taping it, then poured everything in and used a straight edge that would've gone to get both sides of the original slab. That way you can have a perfect skret for your finish. Also I would've had a bucket and sponge to clean up the broom and tools to make your texture. With the rebar I would've used an epoxy to attach to the original slab and the fallen slab so at least it would've picked up one side of the fallen slab. Also hydraulic cement works well for fixing chipped concrete you just need to use a bonding agent. Hope this helps I love your videos I want to do the same for out here in South Florida.
That cover over the cleanout is meant to be a lawn sprinkler valve cover. It may work for this application, but it may not hold up if a car rolls over it.
1/2 inch rebar will fit in a 3/4 hole but not the other way around just drill a 5/8 hole for your 1/2 rebar the procedure is called doweling, it's a mechanical control joint. I would have also replaced the adjacent piece of concrete directly down the driveway it is going to continue to settle over time.
Great job. I am in the same business. A tip would have been using a 2x4 to screed over the top and it would have gotten your slope perfect to match the existing grade of the concrete. Just a tip nice job. I’ve subscribed
One thing I suggest has to do with the installation of the condensate pump. Always, always, hook up the safety on the pump. There should have been two wires coming out of the cover on the pump. Those wires lead to a normally closed safety switch that opens before the water level reaches the overflow point shutting off the A/C unit so it doesn't overflow onto the ceiling and damage it. The wires from the pump are meant to interrupt the low voltage control circuit on the A/C unit. I interrupt the wire that goes to the "R" terminal. If the safety isn't hooked up, it's an accident waiting to happen. Good video and I appreciate anyone who gets the job done even if it's learn as you go.
Concrete does not dry it cures over time, also use a magnesium float for your initial leveling if you do not have a 2x4 to screed your pour with. then use the mag float, and after the concrete starts to haze over and set up, use your steel float.
Hey Allen, next time you're searching through Lowe's or Home Depot try downloading their respective apps. Search for the part you need and it usually points you to the aisle. Big time saver.
Excellent work! Someone already mentioned it but the only thing I would have done differently is replacing that whole section. Did the customer know that you had never done a concrete job before hiring you? Not sure how I would handle the situation if a customer asked me to do something that I'd never done before. I mean I would want to do the job but I wouldn't know whether to say, "Oh yeah I can do that" or "Well, I've never done it before but I will do my best" My first concrete job: 12 years old. My dad was building a wall around the property to protect it from flood waters. The wall was about 3 feet high on the ends, and ran up to about 7 feet high in between. It was roughly 50 feet long. My brother and I hand mixed bags on concrete for what seemed like months. We poured the footer, he laid cinderblocks (brother and I kept his mud mixed for that as well). After the blocks were all laid, we had the task of mixing up more concrete and filling the cinderblock holes up, creating a solid wall. I don't think child labor laws had been invented yet 😂 Great and fun times though!
Hey, I appreciate the comment, Yes the customer knew that I had never done that before. I was upfront with him but I was confident that I could do the job. If I didn't feel confident I would not take a job on.
Other important things to consider are proper subgrade prep. If grade below isn’t properly compacted your slab will sink in the future as soon as that grade sees any water. Also curing concrete properly. Use curing compound or wet burlap to keep moisture in for 7 days otherwise concrete won’t hydrate well and you’ll end up with poor strength.
I haven’t read all of the comments so please don’t shoot me of someone’s already said it. But can I offer a bit of advice. That pump is called a condensate pump. It receives condensate water from the evaporator coil of the AC system. Anytime an AC system is installed in an attic or above a finished ceiling there should be a drain pan installed underneath of it, and inside of the drain pan is where the condensate pump should be installed, along with what is called a wet switch beside the condensate pump. So that if per chance the condensate line will become plugged up or the pump motor would fail and you had an overflow of water into the drain pan the wet switch would shut off the call from the thermostat to the air-conditioning unit. Before it ruins a ceiling. Not sure what was under you, just thought I’d throw that out there. Otherwise, great video I’m learning something about concrete, thanks for helping to spread some knowledge.
Not bad for a first time. Old concrete got uglier with your concrete all over the place. A clean job is very important in all jobs. Your on the right track.
LOL, I lost count how many times you say “I’m super excited” .......... you’re doing good, I’ve been in the handyman trade 30+ years and you’re vids are fun to watch !!
When I shifted over to SDS plus drilling. It made life so much better. I have the bulldog and the Milwaukee battery SDS plus hammer drill. The speed kicks ass but the holes are much more accurate. How many anchors do we install? So worth having the right tool. Or what about when we run into the aggregate in concrete. I now blow through them.
I’m out on my very first job today Allen. I’m coming out of semi-retirement to subsidize things for the next few years and this is all I can do anymore so I’ve gotta get this up and running fast or I’m gonna be hungry and homeless, lol. About 3 years ago a guy stripped the Master bath down to the studs for a remodel and he finally got Sheetrock up and got part way thru tiling the shower and he quit on it. His wife said after 3 years she’s ready to have her bathroom back so I’m finishing the tile work in the shower and then tiling the floor and setting a new toilet. Pretty easy job if he hadn’t jacked things up with the shower but I spent yesterday getting it all straight and will hopefully finish the shower today and do the floor tomorrow. Thanks for putting yourself out there for us Allen, I really appreciate it and I watch every one of your videos Take care buddy
yeah! I was finishing this edit of this video yesterday and the thought just occurred to me that I should go back and record it so that's what I did! I think it was nice going back to see the end product and actually let you guys see what it looks like! Thank you so much for your comment
I have been doing Home Inspections for a long time now and I must say for your first time looks good! Just the clean-out a little bit lower but still great job!
First of all you did a satisfactory job for your first time, but I can help you and I hope you read this because it’s useful to you, get yourself a plank of wood size of your choice, just the same as a straight edge, no t&g, then once you put your mix in your spread it around leaving it proud of the hole, take your Wooden straight edge and ( tamper ) the concrete, like lift the plank and tap it back down but move it around and slide it left and right as your doing it this can 1 spread it around and 2 get rid of air pockets and 3 it brings the water to the top, but the final thing is to make or buy a wood float ! And tamper it with the wooden float and finally float the water off the top, leave it and go back to it just like you did but with the wooden float, that gives you the none polished rough surface people require. You don’t need to cut a new clean edge as sliding the tamper plank blends it to any edge, in England we use a sand called “ sharp sand “ for concrete’ it’s a courser grade of sand than cement sand, mixed with the cement powder and gravel gives perfect concrete, please try this Allan because it’s the right method, perseverance brings perfection. Well done for getting on with it though.
Forgot to mention the plank needs to be long enough to rest on both sides of the hole to be filled then you automatically get the level of the existing concrete, and when it’s just about dry give it brushing with a broom.
Mr. Lee I have been a plumber for 20 years and I love it. Recently I have been looking to increase my skill set into the handyman field. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have.
You job was fine handy easy and profitable.Dont bother with a wheelbarrow just have a pice of any scrap board ply 16mm cut it around 4×4 5×5 have it beside hole and get stuck in and mix everything on the board and shovel it into the hole job done, and always wash everything after.l did mention before in one of your fence post clips i said keep your mixes dryer and yes you need it to dry a bit before or you can finish.Its catching it at the right time to achieve that depending on the sun.Also try and look at the colour of the Driveway and try and match it by the amount of cement you put in.You didnt need to worry about it here on this job as the Driveway was like an assault Course.But its on these jobs you can practice and experiment for the better Looking Driveways.👍👍👍
Not saying you could have done much about it, you did what you had to do. The AC job was obviously already hacked up before you got there. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Allen, what reference point did you use to price this job considering you've never done concrete before? (pretty great take home for you regardless!) Also, did the client ever know this was your first time doing this, or did you keep that quiet? Just curious how the quote/conversation went. Great content!
Love your outlook. You should do well. Retired plumber with too many years can help if you catch me...or I catch you. Worked in the south west under UPC.
Leave the house broom at home lol your finishes are getting better 👍🏻 . I’m sure all the concrete guys would’ve recommended the concrete finishing broom because of the rougher finish the plastic bristles leave. Nonetheless excellent job Mr.
Hey man. Just found your channel. Great job on the concrete. I kinda wanna warn you about that condensate pump tho. I hope you put some kind of emergency shut off switch on the pump or unit. If that pump fails and the unit continues to condensate it is going to cause water damage over whatever part of the attic that I. Its actually against code to not have a pump on a water pan with an auxiliary drain line. Thanks!!
And in addition to your comment - I'm kind of wondering why a condensate pump was needed in the attic. Generally, a drain line would be put in place and let gravity do the rest. I guess there must have been other factors that we aren't aware of that made the pump necessary - like maybe had to get the water up over an obstacle before making to the discharge area?
What up Allen, good job on the concrete! I actually just had my first experience with concrete too, a customer needed a 3x5 slab for a generator and i nailed it! I actually have a question for you and anybody who can give me some advise, i just replaced 9 old supply lines but a few will not stop leaking! Maybe a drop every 10min but it's still a leak, what to do? Thanks!
I think when you did the edging, you should have left the jagged side alone or edged on that side a few inches in from the Jagged Edge so it would be straight but other than that good job
That’s funny about Lowe’s! I went by one the other day to get a couple joist hangers that were in the lumber section but all the hardware/screws and nails were on the opposite side of the store.😂
@@handymanjourney There are some Lowe's stores that have the screws on aisle 1 too. I work merchandising for Lowe's and it's a complicated process on determining store layouts. You move screws, nails and bolts near lumber, then you have to move the tool boxes, compressors or ladders further away. Too big of a domino effect haha.
IMHO, the settling is more from improper compaction beneath the stone base and concrete. Great you used 3/4 crushed stone. It doesn't really compact further after it's settled. That said, I would have used a hand tamper at least before pouring the stones in. The question I have for you is: So you mentioned you no longer charge by the hour, but by the job. How do you estimate something you've never done? And how do you play that with the client? Are you straight up with them and say "yeah, this is new for me but I'm up for the challenge" ... Or do you just quietly research it and then come back to them confident enough to say you'll do it? Or maybe they get the newbie discount on the first job. I ask because there's a lot I don't know and navigating the learning, estimating, etc seams like a source of stress. Thanks for your mentorship. I love your attitude.
I respect your bravery! I'm starting my handyman business and I would NEVER practice a new skill on a client. Maybe that's something I need to get over though. Good video and great comments. I'm learning just as much from the comments as I am from your video. Keep up the great work!
Right! $5 per bag. Make a 2x2 square form at home and throw 30 bucks at it before you try to get a reference from someone you charged $500. Wanna learn to lay tile? Piece uh plywood, box uh clearance tiles and smear some uh that grey stuff around. Figure it out before you hang your business' reputation on it.
Should you be upfront with the customer and let them know youve never done it? How do you handle this situation to take on the job? Normally I say Ive helped others do it. Am I wrong? After they say yes I do a thorough research on how to do it.
Not bad 👍 I haven’t done concrete but I probably would have tried to not spill so much over on to the existing driveway just because of staining. But it came out great
Well actually the reason I made the comment was because someone did some on my driveway like 6 yrs ago and it never blended where they spilled onto the existing it’s a lot darker JS
Was that a main drain line clean out or was there a lever/valve inside? The drain clean outs around my property look different, but that box looks identical my irrigation shutoff in my front yard.
hey thanks for your comment! Yes underneath that box cover is the main drain line clean out for the home. I guess the plumber came installed this clean out about a year before I did the cement job.
Hey man I love watching your videos! By no means am I a cement expert at all, but I’ve done a few small things kind of similar to that. Anyway the last time I did some cement work I got the blue hawk cement brand at Lowe’s, and it finishes so much easier. It has less gravel in it than the quickrete. Anyway if you ever do some more cement work definitely I would recommend the blue hawk brand, it will make you look like a cement pro. Thanks for the video!
Good job on that. I’ve done a lot of concrete work. One suggestion... watch your audio levels when showing what you’re doing and overlaying your narration. It was tough to hear your narration of over the superfluous sound of the video.
Just one more thing. The clean out should have bin flush with the concrete it could become a trip hazard. If it was me I would cut it down flush. Looks good anyways
No it is cement concrete comes in a truck and cement comes in bags lol. I’m a concrete finisher by trade I would have done just one thing different to the mix I would put a little bit of dish soap to it that adds air to it so your mpa is a lot stronger for outdoors all in all nice job for your first time 👍👍
Another job well done Allen you're the best brother keep up the good videos. Omg just noticed I always see your videos but hadn't subscribed, just did another one to your list all the way from the Bronx NY
HL thank you for your incredible information 💯🎯 How do you justify the cost on the concrete job.... Absolute deserved but just wondering how you costed it... Chs Q
It all depends on the job you’re bidding for. Is it foundation? Slab? Decorative concrete? Etc etc. Concrete jobs are usually charged in sq ft. I usually separate my concrete, material and labor though. If you’re in Southern California a yard costs you about $100-150/yd and about another $100 for a short yard fee for anything under 3 yards . Depending on how big the project is I’ll either go to white cap or Home Depot for rebar. Charge your daily day rate and that’s it lol if you’re not great at finishing I suggest you get someone to do it which will cost you $250-$300 a day . Hope this helped.
okay where to begin? First of all you should have suggested to the customer to raise the sunken slap second you didn't put any visqueen down under the concrete you poured I don't know if you did or not I didn't see any. You should have put bonding agent on the broken piece. That way you could have bled all of it together and made one piece look like one piece if you know what I'm saying then Edge where your lines originally were it would have looked fantastic and I hope you did water cure it afterwards
Your right, there are a lot of things that I could have done differently but it turned out great and the customer was happy because it was done just the way he wanted! I appreciate your comment!
Looks great man. My question is why do you have to make an exact edge around it? Why can’t you just blend it in with the existing concrete? I’m sure there is a simple answer to this. But like you I don’t do much concrete work
I enjoy watching your videos and certainly appreciate your honesty. Get the app for Lowes on your phone, big time saver. It’ll get you close anyway. Like someone else commented, wear a mask around insulation, you’ll be glad you did. Concrete looks good, I probably would have done that sunken section even if it meant doing it on my dime. It’s great knowing that there are still some conscientious hands out in the field. Keep up the good work.
It looked good and it was pretty good for the first try. I would have tried to repair the cracks and level up the slab next to it as you seemed to do a pretty nice job with the slab you did.. Otherwise nice job..
*What’s up with all the know it all comments? The man stated it was his first time doing this and y’all are jumping on him like he said he’s a pro. Always the know it alls but yet sitting at home watching TH-cam rather than out working. Btw Lee how did you refrain from putting your initials in the wet concrete, everyone knows that’s a must j/k but awesome job 😎*
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 85 | คู่เอก "ยอดเหล็กเพชร vs ผึ้งหลวง"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qq_19bnnxEo/mqdefault.jpg)
Looks good Allen better than the rest of the driveway 👍🏻
Hey thanks for that bill! I appreciate your comment!
Great video content! Excuse me for butting in, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you thought about - Rozardner Successful Handyman Reality (do a google search)? It is a great exclusive product for how to start a handyman business minus the hard work. Ive heard some great things about it and my cooworker finally got cool success with it.
Appreciate Video clip! Excuse me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you tried - Hanmila Glorious Doshmaker (should be on google have a look)? It is a good one of a kind guide for discovering the trick to have a successful handyman business without the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my mate at very last got excellent success with it.
The height of the clean out box should be level with the concrete to prevent breaking when someone drives over it.
Yes...very true.
I love the HONESTY . Most (if not all) carpentry channels don't talk about the learning curve or mistakes they've made. Keep up that honesty and your Channel will go far.
Great job for a first timer, coming from 20yrs concrete finisher. Just a little tip if I may add. Passing a rough edge while its soft and wet will make things easy when giving it a final edge. the first rough edge will push down the stones to shape, final coat will leave it nice and smooth. Keep up the great work.
Just a suggestion from one Carpenter to another. I started out as a teen doing concrete sidewalks all throughout the city. As concrete is being poured, use a screet board ( straight board wood or metal) and slide back and forth while filling in low spots and taking away high points. This will level off the two surfaces. When you get to the end, a little giggle motion will tamp/ level itself off. After that walk away for a coffee. Next rough float and drop your edge lines. After that walk away for lunch LOL. Next float with your finishing trowel and put on final edging if necessary.
Hey man. My first big concrete story further down.
The main thing is that you are extending your skills. After your 10th one you'll know. Never give mercy on pricing, OJT learning or not. My 2 cents on concrete mixing. It takes 1 gallon of water per bag. Use a pail, not water hose. That way, your consistency will be perfect for small jobs. Repeatedly grabbing the hose, and guessing, is a pain in the butt.
My First B Concrete Job
My boss, Chester, took a job to do a driveway. I'm the helper. I've done some small jobs and knew the basics.
Truck comes, pours the concrete just right as we push and level. Then we do the trowel work. Chester teaches. As we are waiting for the last section to set right before brooming, Chester goes inside the home. He comes out, with a smile. He says, "I got the check, broom it and let's go." I say, "But Chess, it's not really ready to broom yet." He says, very slowly and deliberately, " I...GOT...THE...CHECK...BROOM IT...AND LET'S GO." My take, never give the check early, and I needed a new boss.
Yeah that's bullshit when somebody only care's about the money & not the quality of the job!!, I've known that type trust me...
That's horrible. People like Chester is what gives us contractors a bad name.
@@joeyd.OEF.2010 yea chester is a dumb name
with the rebar. you can drill holes in opposing sides and tie wire the pieces together los easier than trying to bend it in. always a good idea to remove the bad/sunken concrete and or use a diamond blade to square up the openings . use a bucket to gage your water so the mix is absolute. get a small tamper to bring the fines to the surface to aid in finishing. use a wood float first to level the mud . the rest is time behind the trowel...
Good advice. I always suggest using epoxy in the holes and fiber in the mix. A small bag is about $10.00 and can cover about a yard of concrete. Cheap way to add psi to concrete.
Something I might have suggested, to the customer (and maybe you did) is I would have suggested busting out the “sunken” section and doing a larger repair of the WHOLE area. Again, you may have suggested that to them. I would have.
Looked pretty good, Allen. More power to you for putting something out there on the internet you haven't done before and asking for feedback. Keep up the good work.
Hey Thanks! I appreciate the comment!
@@handymanjourney If you get the opportunity please check out these two videos. I started a MTB channel, but realized I like the handyman side more...in regards to making videos and for an income. I'm pretty close to making this a full time gig. I appreciate what you are doing and any feedback you have to offer. Thanks.
th-cam.com/video/G3DqCtt0Dtc/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/Y9yiJ9ywdRQ/w-d-xo.html
Lee, not bad for your first rodeo with concrete repair. From my experience, be sure to put expansion board on the inside perimeter of the existing concrete. After the concrete dries, there will be no cracking. Hope my comment is helpful. Best wishes to you, and your business. ~Joe ✌😎
While you were in there you could have jacked up the piece that sung and put some brick, rocks, crushed stone under it to hold it where it needed to be and made your customer twice as happy
I agree. I would of lifted it too.
That's a great idea! I was going to post that it would have been nice to just take the sunken portion out and redo the the whole thing. Wasn't that much more.
My suggestion...add sand under the other piece of concrete.
this past week, I had to build a 4in deep, 3ft by 3ft pad for a water heater. Never did concrete myself, but took your advice from this video, and jumped in and did it.
Awesome David! Great work!!
I appreciate the information on the handyperson group. Another resource that many of you can use to learn new skills is your local Habitat for Humanity. I work as a construction crew lead for my local branch and we build new homes in a once crime ridden neighborhood. Our revitalization efforts have helped to reduce crime, increase property values, and created a sense of community among the home owners because they work on each others' homes. We would not be able to do this without the help of our volunteers and retired carpenters/contractors. Most of our volunteers come with no building skills whatsoever but by the end of the day they have framed a wall or laid ceramic tiles. We teach these skills in real time and guide you through the process until you feel comfortable enough to do it without one on one guidance. Most people are in shock at what they have accomplished.
We of course do not charge for this and the bonus is that you aren't learning with materials you paid for either. So if you are interested in volunteering with your local branch contact the volunteer coordinator or construction site manager to see when you can drop by and learn. Some larger branches even have workshops you can sign up for to learn from skilled tradespeople. And ladies, please don't feel intimidated, I actually get more female volunteers than males and they are just as productive and easy to teach these skills to. It is quite empowering plus it feels good to give back to your community.
I was asked to replace a wooden ramp to a garage for a customer. The ramp had rotted. When i started taking it apart, I already had a perfect form from the existing ramp. I beefed it up a bit and asked my customer if she would like a concrete ramp instead. First time doing a ramp but not a concrete pad. I mixed a high slump, poured it and it came out great. gave it a nice brushed finish too for traction.
My first time ever doing any concrete work was a few months ago pouring a brand new driveway. It came out fantastic. Only one out of four of us had any experience at all but he was able to guide our team through it. A couple weeks ago I lead another team pouring another driveway...only my third time ever. They all passed inspection. I was incredibly intimidated at first too because it was a couple grand in concrete and I wanted desperately to do a good job. I would say it does take some skill to pull off but it is more labor intensive than anything. As long as you set yourself up for success by creating a solid base, reinforcing, and building a good form then you should be able to pull off most concrete work in residential settings.
Good job man. I would've just threw something under the valve box or in this case clean out box to keep it level and then removed the cover instead of taping it, then poured everything in and used a straight edge that would've gone to get both sides of the original slab. That way you can have a perfect skret for your finish. Also I would've had a bucket and sponge to clean up the broom and tools to make your texture. With the rebar I would've used an epoxy to attach to the original slab and the fallen slab so at least it would've picked up one side of the fallen slab. Also hydraulic cement works well for fixing chipped concrete you just need to use a bonding agent. Hope this helps I love your videos I want to do the same for out here in South Florida.
That cover over the cleanout is meant to be a lawn sprinkler valve cover. It may work for this application, but it may not hold up if a car rolls over it.
I agree, If a car rolls on it, its toast
Karl Armbrust what he said, you need a concrete box for next time man 👍🏻 good job on your first concrete job though! 🔥
1/2 inch rebar will fit in a 3/4 hole but not the other way around just drill a 5/8 hole for your 1/2 rebar the procedure is called doweling, it's a mechanical control joint. I would have also replaced the adjacent piece of concrete directly down the driveway it is going to continue to settle over time.
Great job. I am in the same business. A tip would have been using a 2x4 to screed over the top and it would have gotten your slope perfect to match the existing grade of the concrete. Just a tip nice job. I’ve subscribed
One thing I suggest has to do with the installation of the condensate pump. Always, always, hook up the safety on the pump. There should have been two wires coming out of the cover on the pump. Those wires lead to a normally closed safety switch that opens before the water level reaches the overflow point shutting off the A/C unit so it doesn't overflow onto the ceiling and damage it. The wires from the pump are meant to interrupt the low voltage control circuit on the A/C unit. I interrupt the wire that goes to the "R" terminal. If the safety isn't hooked up, it's an accident waiting to happen.
Good video and I appreciate anyone who gets the job done even if it's learn as you go.
Mixing with a tarp works too. You just mix water and dry ingredients by lifting edges of tarp thus roll mixing the concrete or mortar.
Concrete does not dry it cures over time, also use a magnesium float for your initial leveling if you do not have a 2x4 to screed your pour with. then use the mag float, and after the concrete starts to haze over and set up, use your steel float.
Hey Allen, next time you're searching through Lowe's or Home Depot try downloading their respective apps. Search for the part you need and it usually points you to the aisle. Big time saver.
I have those, Love them! Thanks for the pointer!
Excellent work! Someone already mentioned it but the only thing I would have done differently is replacing that whole section. Did the customer know that you had never done a concrete job before hiring you? Not sure how I would handle the situation if a customer asked me to do something that I'd never done before. I mean I would want to do the job but I wouldn't know whether to say, "Oh yeah I can do that" or "Well, I've never done it before but I will do my best"
My first concrete job: 12 years old. My dad was building a wall around the property to protect it from flood waters. The wall was about 3 feet high on the ends, and ran up to about 7 feet high in between. It was roughly 50 feet long. My brother and I hand mixed bags on concrete for what seemed like months. We poured the footer, he laid cinderblocks (brother and I kept his mud mixed for that as well). After the blocks were all laid, we had the task of mixing up more concrete and filling the cinderblock holes up, creating a solid wall. I don't think child labor laws had been invented yet 😂
Great and fun times though!
Hey, I appreciate the comment, Yes the customer knew that I had never done that before. I was upfront with him but I was confident that I could do the job. If I didn't feel confident I would not take a job on.
Other important things to consider are proper subgrade prep. If grade below isn’t properly compacted your slab will sink in the future as soon as that grade sees any water. Also curing concrete properly. Use curing compound or wet burlap to keep moisture in for 7 days otherwise concrete won’t hydrate well and you’ll end up with poor strength.
I haven’t read all of the comments so please don’t shoot me of someone’s already said it. But can I offer a bit of advice. That pump is called a condensate pump. It receives condensate water from the evaporator coil of the AC system. Anytime an AC system is installed in an attic or above a finished ceiling there should be a drain pan installed underneath of it, and inside of the drain pan is where the condensate pump should be installed, along with what is called a wet switch beside the condensate pump. So that if per chance the condensate line will become plugged up or the pump motor would fail and you had an overflow of water into the drain pan the wet switch would shut off the call from the thermostat to the air-conditioning unit. Before it ruins a ceiling. Not sure what was under you, just thought I’d throw that out there. Otherwise, great video I’m learning something about concrete, thanks for helping to spread some knowledge.
Your are the bravest guy to post this with all these experts around
Not bad for a first time. Old concrete got uglier with your concrete all over the place. A clean job is very important in all jobs. Your on the right track.
LOL, I lost count how many times you say “I’m super excited” .......... you’re doing good, I’ve been in the handyman trade 30+ years and you’re vids are fun to watch !!
Tanks for talking over video and explaining what was being done.
When I shifted over to SDS plus drilling. It made life so much better. I have the bulldog and the Milwaukee battery SDS plus hammer drill. The speed kicks ass but the holes are much more accurate. How many anchors do we install? So worth having the right tool. Or what about when we run into the aggregate in concrete. I now blow through them.
I think you did great. It looks professional.
I’m out on my very first job today Allen. I’m coming out of semi-retirement to subsidize things for the next few years and this is all I can do anymore so I’ve gotta get this up and running fast or I’m gonna be hungry and homeless, lol.
About 3 years ago a guy stripped the Master bath down to the studs for a remodel and he finally got Sheetrock up and got part way thru tiling the shower and he quit on it. His wife said after 3 years she’s ready to have her bathroom back so I’m finishing the tile work in the shower and then tiling the floor and setting a new toilet. Pretty easy job if he hadn’t jacked things up with the shower but I spent yesterday getting it all straight and will hopefully finish the shower today and do the floor tomorrow.
Thanks for putting yourself out there for us Allen, I really appreciate it and I watch every one of your videos
Take care buddy
Thank you for going back to see the final product
yeah! I was finishing this edit of this video yesterday and the thought just occurred to me that I should go back and record it so that's what I did! I think it was nice going back to see the end product and actually let you guys see what it looks like! Thank you so much for your comment
I have been doing Home Inspections for a long time now and I must say for your first time looks good! Just the clean-out a little bit lower but still great job!
First of all you did a satisfactory job for your first time, but I can help you and I hope you read this because it’s useful to you, get yourself a plank of wood size of your choice, just the same as a straight edge, no t&g, then once you put your mix in your spread it around leaving it proud of the hole, take your Wooden straight edge and ( tamper ) the concrete, like lift the plank and tap it back down but move it around and slide it left and right as your doing it this can 1 spread it around and 2 get rid of air pockets and 3 it brings the water to the top, but the final thing is to make or buy a wood float ! And tamper it with the wooden float and finally float the water off the top, leave it and go back to it just like you did but with the wooden float, that gives you the none polished rough surface people require. You don’t need to cut a new clean edge as sliding the tamper plank blends it to any edge, in England we use a sand called “ sharp sand “ for concrete’ it’s a courser grade of sand than cement sand, mixed with the cement powder and gravel gives perfect concrete, please try this Allan because it’s the right method, perseverance brings perfection. Well done for getting on with it though.
Forgot to mention the plank needs to be long enough to rest on both sides of the hole to be filled then you automatically get the level of the existing concrete, and when it’s just about dry give it brushing with a broom.
Mr. Lee I have been a plumber for 20 years and I love it. Recently I have been looking to increase my skill set into the handyman field. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have.
Did you ever make the jump to be a handyman? If so, how was it and how much do you have to learn on the job?
You job was fine handy easy and profitable.Dont bother with a wheelbarrow just have a pice of any scrap board ply 16mm cut it around 4×4 5×5 have it beside hole and get stuck in and mix everything on the board and shovel it into the hole job done, and always wash everything after.l did mention before in one of your fence post clips i said keep your mixes dryer and yes you need it to dry a bit before or you can finish.Its catching it at the right time to achieve that depending on the sun.Also try and look at the colour of the Driveway and try and match it by the amount of cement you put in.You didnt need to worry about it here on this job as the Driveway was like an assault Course.But its on these jobs you can practice and experiment for the better Looking Driveways.👍👍👍
Improvise, Adapt & Overcome. You did a great job. 👍🏽
Hey thanks man!!
First use a 2x4 to screed, then use a wood float and after the bleed water is gone you can use the metal trowel
Not saying you could have done much about it, you did what you had to do. The AC job was obviously already hacked up before you got there. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Allen, what reference point did you use to price this job considering you've never done concrete before? (pretty great take home for you regardless!) Also, did the client ever know this was your first time doing this, or did you keep that quiet? Just curious how the quote/conversation went. Great content!
Great job. sometimes the best way to learn is dive in the deepend thanks for inspiring me too dude.
Love your outlook. You should do well. Retired plumber with too many years can help if you catch me...or I catch you. Worked in the south west under UPC.
Awesome Steve! Thanks for your comment!
That is a mortar pan for mixing small batches of mortar to set brick or block.
As a layman customer, I would have been happy with your work.
Hey thanks Philip! I appreciate your comment!
My dad taught me how to do concrete at 8 yrs old. and land scaping.
Awesome!🙌
Leave the house broom at home lol your finishes are getting better 👍🏻 . I’m sure all the concrete guys would’ve recommended the concrete finishing broom because of the rougher finish the plastic bristles leave. Nonetheless excellent job Mr.
Awesome videos thank you so much for sharing
I think it was for your skill set and yes the clean should been lower but you do and learn
Hey man. Just found your channel. Great job on the concrete. I kinda wanna warn you about that condensate pump tho. I hope you put some kind of emergency shut off switch on the pump or unit. If that pump fails and the unit continues to condensate it is going to cause water damage over whatever part of the attic that I. Its actually against code to not have a pump on a water pan with an auxiliary drain line.
Thanks!!
And in addition to your comment - I'm kind of wondering why a condensate pump was needed in the attic. Generally, a drain line would be put in place and let gravity do the rest. I guess there must have been other factors that we aren't aware of that made the pump necessary - like maybe had to get the water up over an obstacle before making to the discharge area?
Get the Lowe’s and Home Depot apps for your phone and you can search products and it will tell you the aisle and Bay number.
For what you were working with it looks good.
Hey, thanks for your comment!
Excellent concrete job ! I'd be proud of that "solid" job if I were in your shoes!
Hey thanks for your comment!
Start using Sika Fence Post Mix from Home Depot it's faster lighter and not as messy
I've used it a few times, pretty cool stuff! Thanks for your comment!
What up Allen, good job on the concrete! I actually just had my first experience with concrete too, a customer needed a 3x5 slab for a generator and i nailed it! I actually have a question for you and anybody who can give me some advise, i just replaced 9 old supply lines but a few will not stop leaking! Maybe a drop every 10min but it's still a leak, what to do?
Thanks!
I think when you did the edging, you should have left the jagged side alone or edged on that side a few inches in from the Jagged Edge so it would be straight but other than that good job
It looks good and I think you did a great job.
Hey thank you, I appreciate it!
Looks amazing brother awesome job especially for first time
Think you did a great job considering the surrounding concrete!!!
Hey Thanks Ron, I appreciate it!
Awesome job Allen
That’s funny about Lowe’s! I went by one the other day to get a couple joist hangers that were in the lumber section but all the hardware/screws and nails were on the opposite side of the store.😂
Haha! Crazy right! I don't understand why Lowe's is laid out like they are, they're definitely not laid out for the contractor!
@@handymanjourney There are some Lowe's stores that have the screws on aisle 1 too. I work merchandising for Lowe's and it's a complicated process on determining store layouts. You move screws, nails and bolts near lumber, then you have to move the tool boxes, compressors or ladders further away. Too big of a domino effect haha.
that's done so as your going thru the store you'll find something else to buy.
IMHO, the settling is more from improper compaction beneath the stone base and concrete. Great you used 3/4 crushed stone. It doesn't really compact further after it's settled. That said, I would have used a hand tamper at least before pouring the stones in. The question I have for you is: So you mentioned you no longer charge by the hour, but by the job. How do you estimate something you've never done? And how do you play that with the client? Are you straight up with them and say "yeah, this is new for me but I'm up for the challenge" ... Or do you just quietly research it and then come back to them confident enough to say you'll do it? Or maybe they get the newbie discount on the first job. I ask because there's a lot I don't know and navigating the learning, estimating, etc seams like a source of stress. Thanks for your mentorship. I love your attitude.
I respect your bravery! I'm starting my handyman business and I would NEVER practice a new skill on a client. Maybe that's something I need to get over though. Good video and great comments. I'm learning just as much from the comments as I am from your video. Keep up the great work!
I am learning quite a bit from the comments as well! I'm loving it! Best of luck on starting your handyman business! Thanks for your comment
Right! $5 per bag. Make a 2x2 square form at home and throw 30 bucks at it before you try to get a reference from someone you charged $500. Wanna learn to lay tile? Piece uh plywood, box uh clearance tiles and smear some uh that grey stuff around. Figure it out before you hang your business' reputation on it.
Next time use a wood float to push the rock down, and it’s to edge early so you won’t fight the rocks later
Hey thanks, I appreciate that!
Looks good on the concrete, too bad they didnt have you fix the lower patch that sunk
Yeah definitely! Thanks for your comment Jim!
I to am pro handyman good job l live in MD. We learn everyday
Hey Thanks! I appreciate your comment, Tune in tomorrow morning at 6am PST for a new WLOG!
Great job, I learned something here too
Hey Thanks man! Learning is what its all about!
Amazing job🎉
Thank you!
Wow! Looks great for your first concrete job!
Great channel, Lee, thanks for taking the time.
Should you be upfront with the customer and let them know youve never done it? How do you handle this situation to take on the job? Normally I say Ive helped others do it. Am I wrong? After they say yes I do a thorough research on how to do it.
Not bad 👍 I haven’t done concrete but I probably would have tried to not spill so much over on to the existing driveway just because of staining. But it came out great
It will all get the same soon enough.
Well actually the reason I made the comment was because someone did some on my driveway like 6 yrs ago and it never blended where they spilled onto the existing it’s a lot darker JS
It’s not horrible or a big deal just figured it’s better to avoid as much as possible
Was that a main drain line clean out or was there a lever/valve inside? The drain clean outs around my property look different, but that box looks identical my irrigation shutoff in my front yard.
hey thanks for your comment! Yes underneath that box cover is the main drain line clean out for the home. I guess the plumber came installed this clean out about a year before I did the cement job.
Alan, very nicely done. i could hardly tell it from a good job. :-)
Haha thanks Norm! I appreciate your comment!
Where do you dump extra concrete, mortar, or grout when you work at a home?
In the back of our trucks and haul to the dump
Looking good 👍
Hey man I love watching your videos! By no means am I a cement expert at all, but I’ve done a few small things kind of similar to that. Anyway the last time I did some cement work I got the blue hawk cement brand at Lowe’s, and it finishes so much easier. It has less gravel in it than the quickrete. Anyway if you ever do some more cement work definitely I would recommend the blue hawk brand, it will make you look like a cement pro. Thanks for the video!
Hey thanks Dean! I appreciate the comment!
Good job on that. I’ve done a lot of concrete work.
One suggestion... watch your audio levels when showing what you’re doing and overlaying your narration. It was tough to hear your narration of over the superfluous sound of the video.
Thanks for the comment Rob I will definitely keep an eye on that!
Just one more thing. The clean out should have bin flush with the concrete it could become a trip hazard. If it was me I would cut it down flush. Looks good anyways
There’s a phrase, jack of all trades, master of none.
No it is cement concrete comes in a truck and cement comes in bags lol. I’m a concrete finisher by trade I would have done just one thing different to the mix I would put a little bit of dish soap to it that adds air to it so your mpa is a lot stronger for outdoors all in all nice job for your first time 👍👍
Umm no, cement is pure portland, concrete is the mix of portland cement and aggregate. Bag or truck has nothing to do with it.
Your right. Here in Canada and concrete that comes in a bag we call it cement go figure Canadians lol
Another job well done Allen you're the best brother keep up the good videos. Omg just noticed I always see your videos but hadn't subscribed, just did another one to your list all the way from the Bronx NY
Hey thanks for the sub man! Appreciate the comment!
Anytime
HL thank you for your incredible information 💯🎯 How do you justify the cost on the concrete job.... Absolute deserved but just wondering how you costed it...
Chs Q
Hey thanks for your comment, for the price of this job I really leaned on people in the Facebook Mastermind group and their input on the pricing.
It all depends on the job you’re bidding for. Is it foundation? Slab? Decorative concrete? Etc etc. Concrete jobs are usually charged in sq ft. I usually separate my concrete, material and labor though. If you’re in Southern California a yard costs you about $100-150/yd and about another $100 for a short yard fee for anything under 3 yards . Depending on how big the project is I’ll either go to white cap or Home Depot for rebar. Charge your daily day rate and that’s it lol if you’re not great at finishing I suggest you get someone to do it which will cost you $250-$300 a day . Hope this helped.
okay where to begin? First of all you should have suggested to the customer to raise the sunken slap second you didn't put any visqueen down under the concrete you poured I don't know if you did or not I didn't see any. You should have put bonding agent on the broken piece. That way you could have bled all of it together and made one piece look like one piece if you know what I'm saying then Edge where your lines originally were it would have looked fantastic and I hope you did water cure it afterwards
Your right, there are a lot of things that I could have done differently but it turned out great and the customer was happy because it was done just the way he wanted! I appreciate your comment!
@@handymanjourney hey as long as it's customer was happy that's all that matters. More business😉😉😉😉😉
:)
Looks great man. My question is why do you have to make an exact edge around it? Why can’t you just blend it in with the existing concrete? I’m sure there is a simple answer to this. But like you I don’t do much concrete work
From my understanding, if you leave a hard edge, it will allow the concrete crack and break easier.
I believe without the formed edge the blended edge would crumble unevenly and look bad.
Looks good, did they not want the sunken in piece fixed? Did you ask them if they wanted it fixed?
How much did you charge for this? I have a client that wants the exact same thing done, Fingers crossed you see this!
I think you did pretty good work!
I enjoy watching your videos and certainly appreciate your honesty. Get the app for Lowes on your phone, big time saver. It’ll get you close anyway. Like someone else commented, wear a mask around insulation, you’ll be glad you did. Concrete looks good, I probably would have done that sunken section even if it meant doing it on my dime. It’s great knowing that there are still some conscientious hands out in the field. Keep up the good work.
It looked good and it was pretty good for the first try. I would have tried to repair the cracks and level up the slab next to it as you seemed to do a pretty nice job with the slab you did.. Otherwise nice job..
Hey thanks Dennis! I appreciate your comment!
Can’t beat on the job training
Most definitely!! Thanks for your comment!
Good job !
you should of use a sponge to clean the edge of the old concrete so that it will be clean looking. Any concerete spell should be clean up.
Looks like my trailer. Man it don't take long to get that way. I do good for awhile, then I get in a hurry and throw everything in...
pretty ballsy to "try something new" on a clients home! and for them to take risk that you know what your doing!
Nice job!
*What’s up with all the know it all comments? The man stated it was his first time doing this and y’all are jumping on him like he said he’s a pro. Always the know it alls but yet sitting at home watching TH-cam rather than out working. Btw Lee how did you refrain from putting your initials in the wet concrete, everyone knows that’s a must j/k but awesome job 😎*
He did ask for viewers input and what they would have done.
Yes I understand that but some of the comments are like talking down on him instead of giving advice.
Good job. I do enjoy your Chanel it has helped me a lot. Thanks
Hey thanks for the comment Keith! I appreciate it
Great work for the first time!!
Hey thanks for your comment!