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Stesso

Install Concrete Pad Foundation

3:55
16:23
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At 3:55 in

The Strategy that Beats Bigger Contractors

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What happens here

Install a vapor barrier (like a heavy-duty plastic sheeting) at the bottom of the excavated pit to prevent moisture from rising into the concrete. Lay out a grid of rebar within the pit, lifting it slightly off the vapor barrier using rebar chairs or small stones to ensure it's embedded within the concrete. Construct formwork around the perimeter of the pit using wooden boards, securing them firmly with stakes to hold the shape of the concrete pad. Use a concrete mixer and pump (like the Sleepwalker) to pour the concrete into the formwork. Use shovels and rakes to evenly distribute the concrete and then a screed board to level the surface. Perform initial floating and troweling to create a smooth finish, removing any excess concrete.

Goal: Pour and finish a concrete foundation for the decorative feature.

Tools and materials

  • Concrete Mixer and Pump Sleepwalker — Pouring concrete efficiently into the formwork
  • Rake — Spreading and leveling concrete
  • Rebar — Reinforcing the concrete pad
  • Screed Board — Leveling the surface of the wet concrete
  • Shovel — Distributing concrete
  • Skid Steer Caterpillar — Moving bulk materials like gravel or soil
  • Stakes — Securing the formwork
  • Trowel — Smoothing and finishing the concrete surface
  • Wooden Boards — Creating the formwork for the concrete pad
  • Concrete Mix — Creating the structural foundation
  • Vapor Barrier — Preventing moisture intrusion into the concrete

What they say

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[music] >> Here's something else to think about. A lot of times the money that we're able to save a customer over here just gets reused somewhere else. And in this case, we're prepping the pad for some custom artwork that the customer wanted. >> [music] >> So, although we were able to compartmentalize the project, >> [music] >> we really weren't hurting ourselves in any way, shape, or form uh from a financial standpoint. And even if we were, it wouldn't make any single difference at all because the overall, what we're really trying to do is meet the [music] end vision of the customer. And when we can say, "Hey, look, you know, do you want seed or sod? We can get this ready for you to this point." A lot of times, they have other things that we're not even aware of that they want done. And in this case, this is a great one, and that allows them the freedom to tackle other things and to have us do things that their skill set doesn't allow them to do. [music] And that's exactly what you're seeing right here. They were able to invest the money that we saved them on other parts of the project into getting something very custom [music] for the very front of their house. And it's a matter of pride. It is so cool to be part of that. I absolutely freaking love that. When I see that happening and I realize that we've empowered them to make their dream come true even more, it's just [music] absolutely exciting to me. I don't know. I just like that.

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