#324

[@douglasmcmillion]

I've been following your videos and progress. It's men like you who built America, and will ultimately save it. God bless you, your family and your home.

[@tthinker9897]

I am getting so much joy from watching your progress. Thanks for inviting us all along.

[@maggiesue4825]

Seeing your family put their names and prints in the cement took me back to 1963, when my father poured a cement floor in the circa 1920's garage, which he turned into a workshop. My mother broke up housekeeping about 10 years ago, and I remember looking at my name and date and saying goodbye, crying my eyes out. But the memories are good, and even though the next homeowner removed the garage, the slab is still there, and the reminder of that moment frozen in time, so long ago. Family is precious, and you remind me of it over and over as I watch your videos. Thank you so much for taking such time and effort to produce these videos and allowing us to share in your hopes and dreams.

[@medtech1a]

Great video. But doing it yourself and having the pride in your work is priceless and knowing that its the way you want it.

[@quilterjanet]

Watching those storm clouds was great viewing! I prefer a deeper broom mark by the doors... no one wants to slip on rainy cement. Thanks for your example of hard work. Genuinely a great person.

[@marcryvon]

"Genuinely a great person." I could not agree more. I would just add **a so decent human being**. The kind of guy everybody should have as a friend.

[@katherinebragg9704]

You're such a hard worker, and you try anything, most successfully I might add. God has blessed you my friend. Job well done. Can not wait to see your family living there, enjoying the fruits of your labor. God bless!

[@johnnydrac]

The dog jumped in as well :) LOVE IT!!! what it's all about .. love your channel .. keep up the good work sir

[@susiestokely3811]

Nice concrete porch! Your family’s prints are precious, especially your handsome pup’s!

[@terijohnson3110]

Cleaning the yard up and pouring the porch makes that space look so nice. Great job, great video!

[@AMG63]

If everyone worked as hard as you the world would be fixed 👏👏👏

[@sharonbyers3982]

What a GREAT comment!! Well said...Oklahoma Grandma is smiling at 'cha, God Bless.

[@AMG63]

@@sharonbyers3982 thanks 😃

[@triciasklodowske5653]

Great Job !!! When you tackle the retaining wall, get old used tires from the junkyard, their free. When packed with rock and dirt their around 400 pounds each. They wont move ! And they become your stairs to the solar panels . Your doing a wonderful job for your family. God bless

[@traceelewis-alexander5618]

Your dedication to working all on your own...truly amazes me. I get exhausted just watching you...lol.

[@WildMountainGarage]

Seeing your hard work pay off and a beautiful house in the place of where there was none just a few short years ago gives my wife and I a ton of satisfaction on your behalf and inspiration. Thanks for sharing it all.

[@walted55]

Loved it when the rain started. I've never touched concrete without at least the threat of rain!! I've mixed 60 bags without a mixer. So I feel your pain. LOL

[@b1g1lz]

I alway like to make the broom marks a bit heavier as I'm always surprised with a bit of wear how soon the high points flatten out. Tt'll be perfect.

[@ROSEMARY1925]

So great!!! You are almost at the finish line.👍👍😘👍👍

[@bikerchic7938]

I did this stuff with my dad 40 yrs ago. Brings back lots of memories

[@toddmiller8216]

Looking good Sir! Continued success. Now I know why my rear patio cracked and moved. Lesson learned.

[@bluebird5100]

I mixed 2 pallets of concrete 1 time and said never again. I will order 1/2 of a yard of concrete even if it costs me 200 bucks. You just don't save anything by mixing it yourself when you view the job as a whole I found. Time and effort are worth something. Great job on the pour. Really liked the video.

[@lindanichols7296]

As usual another great job well done. You definitely are a man of many talents and for sure you are not afraid of hard work, you’re a good man and God has blessed you in so many ways. The house is looking great and before you know it , you all will be settled in your beautiful home. Great job Heath👍 God Bless you and your beautiful family.

[@kathyleach3744]

your are amazing. your family is very lucky to have such a talented man. you deserve a long rest. I bet you back hurts.

[@sickmannduane633]

So glad you made up the drive with your load. I remember my Dad repeatedly healing scrap metal and one time the springs broke, but he made it to his destination and home anyway. I think that was about the time he retired that pickup and went with something newer. Great job with the porch.

[@jamesrose1974]

Awesome! Glad you guys arent still covered in snow so you can get some things done! Great job, as usual!

[@grayeagleswolves]

Congratulations on getting the concrete finished I have sure enjoyed the entire process of the Building from start to finish so proud of you

[@bobbailey4954]

I miss the 90# bags good job old man.

[@sulebo2153]

What fun and satisfaction to do a project, start to FINISH in one day :) !

[@steveniemyer9288]

Back in the late 70’s my dad poured a 20x20 garage floor in four sections with bagged concrete mix and a mixer. He didn’t have rebar but he used chain link fence a neighbor was throwing out. That floor had a few cracks in it but it is still going strong 40 years later.

[@mandbhomestead]

Looks awesome, another ✔️ off the whiteboard list. Thanks for sharing

[@The58stupot]

Great job Heath. As soon as you started laying that concrete down I thought to myself it would be great if the kids came up and laid their hand prints into it.

[@maryblaylock6545]

Ditto. Something your grandchildren will look at and smile. 🤠

[@bridgieoh9326]

We did that with our feet almost 50 years ago at my old family home. My parents moved 10 years ago, the footprints were still there, but had worn thin overtime.

[@m60hein]

Looks great. A tip on sakrete is to dump a few dry bags down first where you'll pour the concrete. The dry pulls the water out of the mix and speeds up the process pretty well. Love your videos keep them coming

[@johnnylgulledge6899]

Man, your a worker for sure! Great job!

[@yosheyoshe9767]

This video brought a tear to my eye, we pour a concrete back porch a few years back and had the kids put there hand prints in the wet concrete but, our German Shepard Sam (Samantha) wanted nothing to do with it, she past a year or so later.

[@michaelc.3812]

Looks great Heath, well done. I chuckled when you spoke of Rhett having plans as he IS 15 now... yes, as good of a kid as he seems, he does have his own friends. Nice that you didn’t make a negative comment on that. It’s fun to watch your progress, and I say that out of my experience in building several homes with my brothers. We are building one that will finally stay in the family and that’s in Salida, Colorado, and on the grid. Keep up the good work and be safe (don’t get hurt).

[@mikeoxbig4705]

I received the 'Red Poppy Ranch' hat two days ago and it looks better in person. Thank you!!

[@mattterk753]

Beautiful house...Be proud of yourself not many people can do what you are doing!

[@markmortensen4341]

Yep that was a lot more than I would want to do. Glad it worked for you though and your back held up‼️

[@marianewman3187]

Thanks for sharing.Loved it.

[@Squarehead45]

I had a part time welding business and put up some 250 Steel building of different sized and MILES of pipe Fence. Entrance ways, stables, horse walkers, etc.. One thing I would advise you do,,,ALWAYS wear a dust mask when mixing concrete...Inhaling that Cement dust WILL Damage your lungs as it did Mine. At 73 I am paying for it now with Asthma and other breathing problems. Please use PPE whenever it is needed. I know it's a pain but what you Suffer later is MORE of a pain. Be safe, work hard, love the family. It's what makes like worse living. Herman

[@petewellon]

I’ve been watching your channel for a while now and I applaud the attention to details. The fact that your doing this all yourself is impressive and that might be what the focus is (lone Wolf). But the fact is in my opinion your family especially your 15 year old son needs these values your portraying and step up and help. One of my fondness memories about my father was his willingness for hard work, and that did not shelter me from helping. In fact it helped me grow into who I am today. I’m not saying I’m better than anyone just my view and values my father instilled in me

[@adrielrowley]

Heath and Cedar, when doing mission work in Mexico during Easter vacation, we poured a whole house slab using a mixer and was not a small house. About 115 degrees F, dry, and in the sun. We had about a half dozen of us and kept the wheelbarrows moving, everything a fast pace. A Volkswagen Squareback weighs about 3,300 pounds, think that is incredible the truck could handle basically a small vehical on the back.

[@RavenJCain]

Good idea to step away from the sheet rocking to win a few small battles before digging your heels in for the home stretch.

[@roberrtbiniaszewskijr.4501]

If we were ever a little short , we would put a couple rocks or bricks , or stone , on the base to take up space and stretch the concrete .nice job looks good !!

[@popmccoy3454]

👍👌 Champion mate, well done.

[@dovetailup8916]

I'm a doer, not a watcher, but for some strange reason I keep looking for your next video--- Just don't forget the golden rule though, work hard, play harder... Even your truck works harder.

[@bobpickard1]

There were times on our homestead when we poured much bigger areas, using up to 3 pallets of sakrete at a time. We just worked diagonal squares about the same size as yours, and then came back the next day and filled in the voids using the already poured slabs as our forms. Being remote, you do what you have to do. A good cement mixer is as much a vital tool on a homestead as a hammer in my opinion.

[@mikehors7351]

Well sir job well done. Keep up the great work.

[@JamesCouch777]

Those little jobs are hard. My wife and I have done a couple about that size but we didn't have a mixer...double hard! Looks really good.

[@mgfarmer1]

Hello from Oregon; Always enjoy watching your videos. Great work.

[@sleepy03]

What a small world, I just picked up a pallet of concrete mix as well this weekend. 42 80lb bags from the blue big box store, with all the discounts I ended up just shy of 120 bucks. Sagged my duramax' tail a bit but she didn't notice the weight otherwise.

[@grannybee6805]

Great job.

[@rodfair5698]

Heath, regarding the Rat Terrier.... we have one. Without a doubt, he is the smartest dog I have ever come across. But, they are very happy! Everything that moves outside, he will bark. He also knows NO fear at all! When I had to remove an intruder that came into our house, he was right there wanting a piece of him. But, in his enthusiasm to bite the intruder, my wife got in the way, so she got bit too! There are vids on You Tube about the “Rattie” patrols in NYC. He does get on well with other dogs. Hope this helps. Rod

[@mowilson5588]

Another job well done and off your check list! 👍🏻🧡

[@avonleanne]

fan tastic!!!! you are soooo close to movin now, I am amazed at your abilities!

[@renoflames]

EXCELLENT WORK.......

[@karengossett564]

Well done young man. God bless you 💕

[@mianusmanarjmand6306]

excited to see finished product may Gad give you health and power to finish it

[@brendasas8440]

You are a hard working man💪! Good job sir. Thanks for sharing!

[@waltstrait5807]

Ahh 15 ,I remember and now wish I had done the things I could have if I didn’t have other plans !

[@donbright3340]

As always inspirational with your work 👍

[@jamesappello386]

Hardest working man I know on KZbin! Love my hat also, thanks!

[@Beecozz7]

Have you watched Nick Fouch? @FouchFamilyOffGrid OMG

[@jamesappello386]

Beecozz7 Yes! But last time I checked, they hadn’t made a video in months. I feel they have left KZbin?

[@inglis7086]

I like that the finish on the concrete is slightly proud or rough than you though you wanted - in the middle of winter if they rain comes in there and it freezers then it would prevent one of your family hurting themselves falling forward or backward onto the cement - for conditions in the middle of one of your winters its perfect

[@glenngoodale1709]

Great video of your homesteading odyssey. I enjoy watching that Lil' dog run around and play

[@landfillrat7286]

Nice pour that will really help keep the dirt and sand out of the house !!!!!!

[@Beecozz7]

Very nice!!!

[@AFellowBrother]

Amazing to see how you just do everything and succeed...

[@jmac88022]

Not too bad of a job. You can always beautify it with tile. Bam!

[@ronwhite6719]

Looks great Heath! Hello from CT. Keep em coming. God bless you and your family.

[@quaide78]

80# bags! Geezus! Good for you! BEAST MODE!

[@linnsoltwedel]

I love these videos so much! Been watching for a long time, and its so exiting to se the house grow to a home! :D

[@blackcloud8487]

Great job well done.

[@hvnfun8601]

Broom finish is something that changes as people walk on it. My "broom finish" is now rather smooth.

[@markchirillo5083]

my have times change,if my dad was doing something like this,& I told him I had plans,he would have said your right your helping me.

[@donnajakubos4249]

Another job done!!

[@jmunsamy]

Enjoyed the shot of the grass.would love to see some animals roaming about.

[@RANDALLOLOGY]

My old mixer only holds 2 bags at a time. Did a big patio,one sections at a time, then removed the forms and filled the other connecting sections. It puts a toll on your back at 80 pounds at a time. Me and that old mixer has done a bunch more projects through the years. To old to do that stuff now. Lol.

[@elishevaquick6650]

Well done Red. Keep going the way you DO, but please look after your HEALTH also xxx Aunt Eli

[@terrihulm873]

Great job having that porch done means less mud to deal with moving in... I love my concrete mixer...Those bags are heavy though get some help...

[@zippythechicken]

seriously.. kid has plans... well unless its going to a concert with tickets already bought then you're coming up to the house and working.. bring your friends.. cook some hotdogs .. but you're coming and working

[@RenaissanceThinking]

Looks good. Concrete is an artful dance everytime. I've found having a small mixer to be a back saver for the 1/2yard to 2yard pours. I would recommend using a trailer next time to carry the pallets of sakcrete or just buy the components (sand, gravel, and cement [the ratios are easy]) and mix as needed. Keep at it. Really enjoys the videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@dws098]

Who doesn't love to be independent hats off👍

[@DIYMechanic1]

Haha, just couldn't stay inside could you? I don't blame you a bit. When the weather breaks, I'm always running for the door!

[@slamsshenanigans2296]

I just bought 42 bags from my big box two weeks ago, it was ok on the truck but sketchy coming off with the tractor(half at a time). for us if we buy 42 we also get a cost break.

[@et5222]

Great work on the slab. A yard+ is no easy task. With you talent, think about designing two firewood carts that could sit side by side on porch. Less messy, easier on the back (you handle wood one less time) and cuts down on critters next to house. Also easier to get teenagers to load a cart than load and then unload something else : )

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

He should buy a step stool first for the dry wall work instead of standing on 5 gallon buckets.

[@maryblaylock6545]

@@JohnDoe-np3zk My stars! Yes, he SHOULD get a well balanced step stool. Seeing him climb up on that is enough to make a mom very nervous! Which reminds me, I need to invest in a ladder. 🌞

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

@@maryblaylock6545 more people get hurt by falling off ladders than a lot of things. I took a small fall a while back it happens fast and can leave a mark.

[@kathrynsaunders3098]

Great job as always!! God bless from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺🐨🤗👍

[@BBMH80]

You are amazing! 👍

[@martyvanderhelm7774]

I have a mixer as well, I buy the gravel/sand mix from the local gravel supplier and Normal Portland which I mix 5 to 1. I get an excellent job out of it and it costs much less than buying premix bags or redi mix. One bit of advice. Do not skimp on the Portland.

[@lindafitzgerald4461]

Great job! Looks good!

[@73Shakes]

Green green grass, looking good.

[@budwoodman1716]

I think you usually place control joints every 8 to 12 feet in a slab that is around 4 inches thick. Given the size of your slab, I guess that wasn't necessary.

[@gcockrum1]

Great job Next time you do this buy a couple of bags of cement and add a shovel full for each bag of concrete. It will set up faster and it's easy to finish.

[@MRuby-fb3yz]

My Favorite Channel. Love the Stories you tell. And watching the building occurring. *Note: Glad to see your eating.

[@CapnCrusty]

Install a couple of after market air bags on that truck and you'll be able to deal with situations where you need to carry more weight than the truck was designed for.

[@josephburkhalter5105]

Red, I would have used the ready mix concrete with fiberglass choppings added to the mix. It would be 4000 psi mix without the rebar. Should be more than adequate. Unless trucks will drive across the slab. Also it appeared your rebar was on the ground. It is normally on chairs. Also for this small pour and very light loads I would have used Mat in lieu of rebar., unless I had rebar going unused. Just a comment. Manually mixing that much concrete by 3 bag mixer is a daunting task. I am now 84 and a retired Civil Engineering grad. Keep on trucking, you are an amazing man. GOD bless you, your family and your build. JoeB

[@desertdanblacksmith1394]

Good Job! You can always mix your own for cheaper? Buy some bags of Portland and haul a load of gravel mix up in the truck?..... 3 to 1 mix or 4 to 1 mix.....I poured a basement and many slabs that way.....pour workable slabs at a time then put some expansion joint between the slabs....but that is old school....when we didnt have a ready mix company around....Cedar can make her own stepping stones for certain places......I do that a lot....then kids imbed stuff in the stones or draw pictures....I use a plastic round oil pan as a form ......Persevere on Pilgrim!

[@donaldloos2049]

I like how you compacted the first half and then dug it up ,hmm

[@ustinman8446]

Another great job Well done!👀😁✔👍

[@annamaybeekman5152]

As usual you did a great job

[@reginalawson8008]

15 and Friday, LOL. Utilitarian use don't need to be beautiful, safety first when going out to bring in wood. I have slipped and fell too many times to count. Wood pile never said a word. Deeper broom finish won't hurt anyone. Thanks for sharing! 😀

[@daversj]

Nice job on the slab. 👍 I have mixed similar amounts by hand as well. I use a poly tarp to mix bags of concrete. It can be mixed in about 30 seconds per bag but you need two people......One hand on each corner of a 6x6 poly tarp. You just empty the bag in the middle of the tarp and add 7/8 gallon of pre measured water for 80lb bag. Mix by lifting one corner of the tarp at a time, alternating diagonally and it folds the concrete like a mixer. Then cary the mix in the tarp and dump. It sound crazy but once you try it you will be amazed. No dry spots and you can make a very dry mix if desired. Once you find the rhythm it only takes 15 seconds of mixing for a uniform mix. And when you are done just let the tarp dry in the sun. No wheelbarrow or mixer to clean up.Thank me later🙂

[@liljthedude]

Yes!

[@skwyrz1]

That rough finish is perfect for thin set and laying 10x10 Spanish style Patio tiles.

[@dovetailup8916]

Can't cover those priceless signatures etched into the slab though...