Beginners Concrete Sidewalk DIY (Part 1)

#EverythingAboutConcrete #MikeDayConcrete
This is how to make a concrete sidewalk. I'll show you how to pour your own concrete sidewalk. If you want to try a diy concrete sidewalk, this is the video that shows you all the steps to pour it successfully.
In Part two I'll show you how to finish a diy concrete sidewalk.
This size concrete sidewalk is a good beginner size to start with if you have no experience. It's a rather small concrete sidewalk so easy to pour and finish.
If you want to learn how to form, pour, and finish concrete from me, you can join The Concrete Underground. This is my private training for learning how to work with concrete. Link is below.
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[@UserName-ip9lw]

Mike Day: the Forest Gump of concrete finishes

[@trafficsignalman]

Mike, haven't seen vibratory compaction on a sidewalk, till now. Typically only see that on structural work. Nice to see how serious you take the craft. Always learn something from your videos.

[@albertstrong5516]

Man you are the real deal. Love watching a pro work. Thanks for your time.

[@Userxyz-z2d]

I poured a 5'X11' 4" thick patio by dumping all the bags in, adding water & adding metal mesh, & tamp/mix and finish the top. Came out great. If I didnt like the finish I would have tiled or bricked on top. Ive had concrete poured many times, last time it was 2500sq ft (RV driveway, circle drive & courtyard.)

[@christophermontoya9963]

I’ll be tackling a pour of about 3.5 yards tomorrow. I’ll be on my own at first until my help can arrive to help finish. But this will be my first time leading a job - and meeting the concrete truck on my own. Main thing I’m concerned with is not allowing the concrete to set too quickly before I’m able to put a decent finish on it. Hopefully I’ll have my help tomorrow, otherwise I’m doing the whole thing by myself

[@lukejohnson432]

What we got here is a pro doing a concrete job with a concrete truck.... Hardly a DIY job. In my area no concrete truck will even come out. 😂

[@Sault195]

Hey Mike, would you be able to find some time to talk about the finishing the air entrained concrete? I heard that smooth finish (bull float, mag floats, steel trowels, etc) is not recommended for this type of concrete and I am wondering what kinds of other finish could be available for this type concrete. Air entrained is said to be very good for freeze-thaw enviornments and that's the main reason why I prefer this type of concrete, although maybe you would know better options for really harsh winters like we get here in Canada.

[@geneduclos4003]

Hey Dave, every use self leveling concept? We're hoping to put in a 28' x 36' garage slab soon, and someone suggested using self leveling. Any thoughts?

[@onjofilms]

Hey Mike, how do you pull out the form stakes? Is there a trick to that? (Will be buying your course soon, because I figure you cover most in these free vids, but one little piece of info more from your training vids would be worth $97 in my book)

[@AM-lw5su]

Hi nice video / what should be minimum concrete grade that is used for sidewalk / minimum thickness of 4 inches was very helpful / From India

[@martinmercerjr8615]

What kind of PVC board did you use for the curve? Also how you prevent concrete walkway from, falling down a hill? I have a sunroom and want to put a walkway around it. But one side is on a hillside. I was going to drive some rebar down into the ground and also into the sunroom concrete on the side

[@mikemuniak4711]

What about making a screed board out of aluminum? Does it have to be magnesium ?

[@TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

That looks like a low slump. What was that mix?

[@kevinkwiatkowski7197]

Where would you put expansion lines?

[@1sttigertiger426]

Why is the polystyrene insulation under the concrete, since this outdoors? The insulation will cause the concrete to freeze more often because there is no warmth (50°) from the soil.

[@mrdedlund8354]

Hey Can you do a sidewalk like this with use a concrete mixer? Or is it to much. Here in Sweden were a live it is very expensive to order a concrete truck, so I like to know if it is possible to do it by myself Thanks Sorry for the spelling..

[@99cachorro]

Concrete trucks are very expensive here also. The cost is just passed on to the consumer, as is all the higher costs. Thanks to massive government spending, that's the life we have now.

[@MAGAMAN]

You can do this by yourself. But, It would be a lot of work and you would definitely want to have some help because you will need to have someone constantly mixing up concrete for you so don't run out and cleaning your buckets and tools. You also want to make sure you do your homework and know how to screed and trowel the concrete correctly and have all the tools you need, including your corner trowels, the right kind of broom for brooming the concrete, etc. As he said, if you screw this up and it cures before you have it done, you are going to have to smash it all back out. One option would be to do the concrete in sections. Basically you would build your forms the way he did here and then you would put some cross pieces in. Fill every other section and let it cure enough to where you can take you cross sections out, then fill in the empty sections with concrete. The trick here would be to measure your segments so that the segments you start with are the same length as the segment with the cross pieces in it, or you will have different length sections, which may or may not be a big deal for you. I have seen people pour slabs like this and it has come out great for some and absolutely terrible for others. It all comes down to knowing what you are doing and not trying to pour more than you are capable of doing by yourself. I would definitely say it would require at least two people and buying or renting a cement mixer would be a huge help. If you have never worked with concrete before, I would recommend making some large concrete pavers for your garden or other places around the home. I would make them as large as possible to get a feel for the curing time and finishing, but not so large that you cant easily smash them up and throw them out if the come out terrible.

[@beaukneaus]

Mixing and pouring concrete isn't high science. Pretty straightforward. That said, it is HARD work, and you DO need to be very organized before you start. For a job like this, you're gonna need at least one helper. Preferrably two. MAGA MAN said it best in his reply when he said "You can do this yourself. BUT"!!! lol Depending on the size of your project, and the weather in your area, dry pour could be an option. There's a REASON why this video has the words "dry pour" in the title. Dry pour concrete has become a very popular option for DIY folks doing smaller projects with only one or two people. The channel owner realizes this, and is trying to capitalize on the 'dry pour' search phrase in his own videos. Smart! The main BENEFIT of dry pouring, particularly when it comes to a one or two person job is, no racing to beat the clock! You don't have to worry about dry poured concrete SETTING before you are able get things just right. And while concrete is pretty straightforward work, if you're NOT experienced at techniques like screeding and floating and finishing, trying to do those things before the concrete sets can be tricky! This is not an issue with dry pour. Of course, if it rains, you're screwed! lol So any dry pour concrete work should definitely be done when there's NO CHANCE for rain! I'm guessing windy weather would also be a no-go for dry-pour. Another benefit is you don't need some of the tools that are required for wet pour. The mixer, floating tools, rubber boots, etc. Make no mistake. Traditionally mixed concrete will be stronger and more durable in the end, but it's one of those things where slight differences probably won't matter. I have a traditionally poured 4" foundation under my house, but where we added a room, we used dry pour. This was 15 years ago, so the whole 'dry pour' thing is definitely not a NEW concept, though many of the videos on youtube showing how to do it certainly have come up with new techniques that I wish we would have known back then! Instead of trying to 'build up' the ground to the same level as the rest of the house, we created our addition as a sunken room. It only has a two inch foundation, but it was created with a crude dry pour method. That room is carpeted now, so I can't say for certain if that foundation has suffered any cracking, but the traditional four inch foundation has a couple! Granted, it's ten years older than the thinner, dry poured slab, but, you know, wet-poured concrete cracks too! You know better than anyone what your competence level is. If you're able to follow directions, and are good with your hands, don't shy away from trying the sidewalk yourself. Just educate yourself first. Watch plenty of videos! Watch people doing wet-pour. Watch people doing dry-pour. Don't listen to JUST ONE person, especially if that person is trying to sell services in the same industry. Those folks have skin in the game, and they might well mislead you as they try to protect their bottom line.

[@cakkuridipump5751]

👍

[@brentpearson4877]

I like the title also. The dry pour process is getting out of hand imo. I think it’s okay for something like a little pad for ac unit or whatever. But I can’t help but think that it’s for people being lazy and not wanting to mix it properly.

[@jeremyhuggins8796]

Love the title Mike. 😂 Who in the world would dry pour?

[@MAGAMAN]

Only stupid youtubers pandering to a lazy and ignorant audience. I can only imagine how much money these kinds of people have cost viewers who try this stuff and have to have it removed. All the terrible advice I have seen on youtube over years must have cost people millions of dollars. Unfortunately the rabid fans of these kinds of channels will shout anyone down about how great these techniques are without ever having tried them. I have figured out that if it is a husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend doing the construction work, there is about a 95% chance they are doing it wrong and giving out bad advice. Unfortunately these tend to be the most popular videos.

[@1kory883]

A lazy person

[@jacklabloom635]

Everyone would prefer to hire professionals, but not everyone can afford the best options. Many people, trying to improve their living environment, often try different methods they can afford or think they can do themselves. I’ve traveled to over twenty foreign countries. I’ve seen the worst and I’ve seen the best. I never criticize people, who are doing the best they can to improve their lives or living environment. Dry pour might work for some people, who otherwise would have to walk on mud, grass, or gravel.

[@1kory883]

@jacklabloom635 if you can afford dry mix concrete, then you can afford a bucket to mix it in.

[@mikeonthebox]

He did, and was an Epic fail.

[@vary8114]

Never heard of dry pours until like a cpl weeks ago and now it everywhere. Dry =trash. ^sidewalk

[@mikeonthebox]

Interesting how you had to title the video "Not Dry Pour" after your epic fail.

[@charlesviner1565]

👍