Clearing some trees and setting culverts

[@gilbertopereira7925]

French drains, land grader, tree trimmer, machine operator, snake trapper, diver, abandoned truck recovery, demolition, engineer, and youtuber. Man what a talented man you are. I live in an apartment in Los Angeles, with absolutely no plans or needs for your services, but boy, you have fascinating videos. Great Job. I love how your videos, its like taking us along and hanging out with you.

[@GCFD]

Wow thank you! I’ve got a bunch of videos that are waiting for rain footage and a couple more personal hobby videos coming soon!

[@Christos_G7]

he forgot that you are also biologist ​@@GCFD

[@jascharl]

When your tench digging channel adds a nature component.

[@GCFD]

Haha 👍Same thing happened on my bike ride this evening. Several people were standing around a banded water snake on the trail. I caught it and showed it to everyone then watched it slither away.

[@RamonInNZ]

That driveway is nicely done.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! Carson worked very hard on it. Check out the other parts of his property.

[@tomthelandscaper]

I can tell you exactly how to fix that pond. I’ve watched all letdig18’s videos and I stayed at a holiday inn express last night. Lol, nice video Shawn.

[@GCFD]

👍 Haha I like his stuff too!

[@iammattjones]

I always appreciate your respect for nature. I feel I'd do the same when I encountered a critter if I was doing dirtwork and destroyed their home.

[@r2k247]

There is a bio and fish safe polymer that sinks to the bottom of the pond dam. It expands and seals the leak. It was designed for pond leaks. Don’t know the name but saw it on Bama bass KZbin channel fix this problem when he was building his pond. I think it was his 3rd or 4th video. I recommend watching the whole process from video 1. Thanks for you video. Great content.

[@99ryanlee]

I feel like Ron and Jeremy could fix that pond - those two can do anything!!! Great stuff Shawn.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@AStanton1966]

A thumb's up for not hurting the snake. They are good; they eat mice.

[@GCFD]

that was a heck of a nice find!

[@FumblingwithFlowers]

Gate City Foundation Drainage videos mesmerize me!

[@GCFD]

Thank you Vance! thanks for watching and commenting - shawn

[@josephj6521]

Removing trees is such hard work. I find removing the stumps much harder than removing the trees. Those roots can really take hold. Good luck with the pond. 👍

[@GCFD]

👍

[@mrc9953]

Thanks for the videos, all are very good and very helpful... regardless of my sarcastic comments!

[@GCFD]

Thank you for commenting! - Shawn

[@MikeHarris1984]

I guess fire moves alot different here in the dry desert... Out here you NEVER burn your brush anywhere there is other trees and such, it goes up like a matchbox in seconds.... You have to light your pile far away from anything and watch it with a massive hose ready to put it out

[@GCFD]

Yea for sure Mike! I lived in Colorado for a few years and I visit the SW every winter to ride mountain bikes. It's dry out there.

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

A leaking pond... Sounds like the PERFECT time for a collab video with Chris from letsdig18...

[@GCFD]

For sure! I'd love to drive his volvo!

[@rfl35]

You have great skills with the excavator! Full bubble boss!

[@GCFD]

👍👍 thank you!

[@leslieclaire]

What a great video! The end result was perfect. The pond situation is interesting. Let us know what happens with that. Have a great day!

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@hollandduck79]

from the Netherlands thanks for the video Shawn

[@GCFD]

Thank you! I'll be heading back to the Netherlands to dive in december! (Bonaire)

[@steverusie6986]

Wow that pipe is a little bit bigger than what you usually work with. Great work on bring the trees down!

[@GCFD]

Thank you Steve!

[@rickb3078]

Everybody gangster with culverts till post 10 parks his car and reaches for the rake. Oh, same with cutting down trees and inbred Jed starts sharpening his chain

[@robertjstrupp288]

“Nice” and ‘snake” are two words seldom seen used together in the same sentence. LOL

[@GCFD]

I like snakes, especially friendly ones 👍 lol

[@edgundlach2811]

@@GCFD Me too, the only problem is I don't know what most snakes are. Rattlers and water moccasins I know. Any snake swimming in water is a water moccasin, at least to me. Lol

[@idontgiveoutname3122]

Yeah, Get post10 to round up his beavers and bring them over. They will find that leak in the dam and plug it! Since he mentioned it was a galvanized pipe, how about a metal detector?

[@edgundlach2811]

I like your subtle sense of humor, the sign at the end. Also the flag cowboy hat had me cracking up. Very good video. The lady screaming at the snake was funny. Reminded me of my wife when we had a mouse run through the house years ago.

[@GCFD]

It was just lucky that the camera was still rolling when she found that snake. I got permission to include her scare in this video. She loved it.

[@dylantrinder1571]

Thanks for sharing Shawn, perhaps you could advise Carson about getting some safety gear/eye protection before he gets injured?

[@GCFD]

👍 Great idea. The best luck I've had with PPE is saying "it's for the video." They don't mind wearing PPE for the video.

[@kennethbean1587]

@@GCFD Carson needs to call Chris at Letsdig18. He could fix it in a hurry.

[@jasonnra1]

Love your videos Shawn. Great work.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@shanewhite499]

Great job Shawn. That looked like a ton of work. You all did a great job of clearing the land. Hope you get to upload another video soon.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Shane!

[@Giles4me]

I have not commented before, but feel that I should say you did a bloody great job , have watched a few of your drainage work videos and love your work ethic and knowledge, keep up the great content... Best wishes from me here in the Isle of Man. (look us up)

[@GCFD]

Hey Ian! Thanks for watching and commenting. Best, - Shawn

[@stevencorley2352]

Interesting video. Good to see different types of jobs. One rainy day when you need a random video you'll have to share your vast collection of "bad" hats.

[@GCFD]

Hahah as long as they keep the sun and rain off me I'm golden.

[@stevencorley2352]

@@GCFD Bad hats are a wonderful thing.

[@schpenxel]

It’s weird being local and knowing where you’re working in Ramseur of all places 😂

[@GCFD]

Yep! I never travel down to the 'seur for work, but I do all the time for Carson.

[@schpenxel]

@@GCFD my name is Carson also 😂

[@Smith.S.E.]

Man. When you first went in with the excavator and a little bit of concrete dust went flying I thought for sure a pipe would be getting broken. I underestimated your power

[@GCFD]

👍

[@bohhica1]

Lady, I don’t blame you one bit for yelling! To me, my opinion is the only good snake is a dead snake! Great videos,ALL of them. Stay safe and healthy y’all !👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@GCFD]

Haha, snakes are pretty interesting to me and I respect most Earthlings. Parasites, that's another story.

[@edpoints1127]

Great video Shawn. So wish I was there for that one

[@GCFD]

Thank you Ed!

[@robl.9758]

what made the tooth on the bucket fall off?

[@GCFD]

Hey Rob! Nice to see you! Pulling on those stumps popped a tooth, which I had replaced when I returned and it popped again!.

[@DigitalIP]

What about using some dye in possible areas to see if it comes out of the hole? or do you already know where the pipe is?

[@GCFD]

That would work for sure.

[@erwinbrubacker7488]

Did you ever hear of granular bentonite, to repair pond leaks ? Good Luck.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@tucobenedicto109]

On tree cutting no one got hurt, and no barber chair! :) For those joints some grout or cement would have been better so you have no leaks. dot stuff is good for the bigf trucks. Go kubota i was suprised by a smaller unit and got a big rock out putting a nds drain in. Use those 15" further back where there is a wet spot or near the dam.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@alecsimages1]

What a mixture of content, great stuff, well done you

[@GCFD]

Keep that in mind for my next video Alec. I'll be looking for feedback. Should be up within two weeks.

[@RC-rg3vz]

The only thing I can think of to find a leak is use some type of dye that is safe for water and drop some slowly till i find said leak. A follow up would be cool

[@ravneiv]

Looking forward to the future post10 video cleaning that culvert out

[@GCFD]

That would be awesome!

[@ricardoernestoguzman9455]

Hello Shawn, I hope you can follow it up since it is a very interesting video, the placement of cement pipes, cleaning the entrance by removing trees and stumps, the removal of the house to recycle the blocks, really very interesting, my congratulations Hopefully we know what happened to the water leak ...

[@GCFD]

I will try to for sure1

[@estherbrown4084]

What good is the wood of sweet-gum trees?

[@GCFD]

I don't think it's good for much of anything. I learned that they have massive tap roots!

[@CenterStarsChannel]

I have a nickname for that tree. The SS Stuborn Trunk 😆

[@GCFD]

That thing is still growing strong. It was a Sweet Gum Nyssa sylvatica

[@tracyrain4941]

Another great vid from Shawn, the "I'll try anything" man! I can honestly say, after watching all your vids on this channel, I am never disappointed by the content you are putting out there. Looking forward to the next one already! Tyfs 😊 PS...forgot to add that I like your new studio set-up 😊

[@GCFD]

Tracy - Keep that in mind. My next video will be drastically different than anything on this channel. I'm considering putting some other content up here because my personal channel isn't doing much....I will be looking to you and other fans to steer me in the right direction.

[@tracyrain4941]

Ooooh! Sounds exciting! Maybe you could mention your personal channel on here to direct the GCFD fans in that direction. Maybe. If you want. No pressure or anything. Just if you feel like it. At some point. 🤭😊 PS...as to the steering, I'm fine going forward but not great at reversing! Just in case you need to know that! 😊

[@Two_Scars]

Put some strategically placed colour dye in the pond and see if you can narrow down the spot.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@Stratos53100]

Good one, Longer footage is always a + She didnt like that snake, that was hilarious...

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@ansiviewer]

Stand one of the concrete pipes around the spout, put dye in the pipe, it will reveal the drain in the pond.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@calvingreene90]

He called that cute little thing big. lol

[@GCFD]

It's relative to my kx018 excavator. that's a cutie.

[@calvingreene90]

@@Mr.Torres831 Low but funny.

[@pulporock]

Greetings Shawn, some great content as always. I'm in Oz, if you ever visit downunder, best to leave the snakes. Cheers

[@GCFD]

Yes for sure! We only have a few venomous snakes here in NC and they are easy to recognize by distribution (most are on the coast) or by coloration/appearance.

[@2wwwilly]

Shaun maybe use red tracer dye to spot the egress of water..n to grout the area surrounding stretch ..

[@GCFD]

👍

[@Hoopsjvl]

Would you happen to know anyone in the Indianapolis area that is as good as you for drainage solutions? THANKS!!

[@GCFD]

Hey Jeff - that's my most common question. I don't know anyone who does what we do with levels and drainage work, which is why I started doing it. I started the channel to try and help people but I never dreamed it would become so popular. Best luck with your stuff - Shawn

[@Hoopsjvl]

@@GCFDGlad you started it! I've learned a lot. I appreciate the reply!

[@jessiperry60]

thats one tough excavator

[@GCFD]

Can't beat Kubota!

[@person_wannabe]

Always looking forward to the vids 👍

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@Tntdruid]

Timber! 😄

[@Bynming]

There's a snayke in that thang!

[@juliehoffman92]

Nice work

[@GCFD]

Thank you Julie!

[@georgelutz8212]

Great job Shawn .Like your channel alot.I saw a gasket system for concrete pipe but sincei its just a water culvert guess its not needed? Stay safe.Peace from S.Philly.Pa.

[@GCFD]

No these things settle in very well.

[@williamhall5087]

Do you ever do any Collabs with Upstate Brush Control? You and John both have great channels! Let us know when you get some merchandise available for purchase. Id love to have a Gate City Hat! Thanks

[@GCFD]

👍

[@rakjy5628]

why do you use hay all the time? why not grass seed?

[@GCFD]

We seed + straw all soil we disturb

[@thicccrusade2302]

Gate City Foundation Drainage and Animal Whisper

[@GCFD]

👍

[@SeanBaker]

This man isn't scared of anything. He just be picking up snakes, wildebeests and such.

[@calvingreene90]

When you know what is safe to touch you can look braver than you are.

[@GCFD]

These are just my fellow earthlings with whom I share the planet. 👍

[@stevesmith-wc2gb]

I would want some traffic cones that is at least 28in tall but I would probably have 36in tall with reflective collars

[@GCFD]

👍

[@firstnamesurname1743]

Great video and interesting to see another owner's project, although I'm getting a bit envious of some of these properties! 😅

[@GCFD]

Carson has an awesome property there!

[@DaveLee83]

Full bubble on the concrete ?

[@GCFD]

it was flying!

[@justinbothwell]

What does your mate have on the back of his tractor/loader?

[@johnclements6614]

Culvert went together well but it would be easier if you had some strops for lifting. You should have compacted the backfill in layers, your machine is not heavy enough to compact more than 100 to 150mm depth (4 to 6 inches). When you placed the excavated material there would be air voids between the soil particles. It is "relatively" easy to compact the soil to remove most of the air voids. Without compaction those air voids will fill with water which will weaken the soil so it is more likely to rut. You are correct that with time the the water will trickle out and the soil will settle but it is likely that the soil will never be as dense as if it was compacted. PS I would have used some of those blocks to build head and tail walls.

[@GCFD]

Good point John. It sat for more than two months before the gravel went in which is why I wasn't worried about compaction during the install. If we are adding gravel the same day I get the gas jackhammer with a tamper and the plate compactor out. 👍

[@AbdicateDotNet]

"Hi, this is Shawn" = Click the Like button, 'cause it's gonna be a great video! 😁👏👏 Very awesome maneuvering of the excavator over the empty culvert!!

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@1976Datsun]

What kind of king snake do you guys call those? When I was a kid they were California King snakes according to my snake book. Caught one in Virginia. Thought it was an odd name. Many years ago.

[@GCFD]

That's an eastern King snake here in the southeast. We do occasionally get california kings but those are pets that escape or are released. California king snakes live out west. Scarlet kingsnakes are my favorite. They live in the pine barrens closer to the coast.

[@TheWolfster001]

The issue with the pond is, the builder, did not dig a deep and/or wide enough core.. Also it could be that there is not enough clay in the dam, too much organic material in the dam, but I would bet money, there either is not a compacted clay core, not enough clay in the core or the builder screwed up.. I have helped build dozens of ponds.. Loved the video.. Great job..

[@GCFD]

👍

[@cliffpalermo]

That Baumalight stump grinder is the best I have one, didn't finish watching the video so not sure if you show it in use :)

[@GCFD]

👍

[@garrettscott9427]

Great video Shawn! Loved that you covered many months worth of footage. Heads up, the audio at the end sounded like you were in a fish tank.

[@GCFD]

I'm trying to figure out how to get phantom power to my external mic...

[@bryanevans111]

I would try a underwater metal detector to find that pipe.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@CosmicStargoat]

That chain saw guy never looked up...Scary.

[@GCFD]

He's getting better. I've watched a ton of chainsaw safety videos and tutorials so I'm always worried when sawing.

[@billbizzo609]

Great video. Did your friend try using vegetable dye to find the leak in his dam?

[@GCFD]

He found a broken overflow pipe that was rotted away. Hopefully he can wait for me to help him dig it up and plug it.

[@matt08015]

miss seeing your videos haven't seen as many

[@GCFD]

It's been dry here Matt. Plus I've been working on the studio background and some other projects. My next video will be completely different content, more that I put on my personal channel, so i'll be looking for feedback on whether you like it or not. 👍 Hopefully within two weeks.

[@cheskydivision]

I understand burning the brush/leaves but why the wood? Even if the land owner can’t use the wood sell or give it away.

[@GCFD]

Wood is a liability here. There is so much that the best you can hope for is to find someone who will let you drop it on their property. We burn when we can.

[@MrLogic420]

I totally enjoy watching your videos and the follow up after a rain is incredible. I was curious why you cut the PVC at a sharp angle right before it daylights? The rip rap type of rocks near the daylight pipe is a nice feature. Is the cut PVC for aesthetics, or does it have a function? Thanks

[@GCFD]

I call it a custom angle but it's just for looks.

[@alexplisko7794]

"so he may be a little ticked off..." And you stick your hand in there???? Mate that's brave. Glad it seemed harmless!

[@GCFD]

Rat snakes are some of the friendliest snakes around. They occasionally bite once and then are fine.

[@alexplisko7794]

@@GCFD That's awesome. It did look very cool. I'm trying to think of the equivalent for Australia where we wouldn't think twice about it. We're told to be really careful around dams. Is there a danger of getting stuck in mud?

[@GCFD]

@@alexplisko7794 yes it’s possible and you can’t move in mud.

[@bigschlomo]

why did you burn these cut trees, you could sell them to someone to burn in the fireplace ?

[@GCFD]

Here we have so many trees that the best you can hope for is a place to dump logs for free. No one is buying logs in our area because we have so much wood.

[@bigschlomo]

@@GCFD it's nice to watch your videos maybe because I work in the same industry: Sewerage, heating, water in private buildings Thank you for your answer Kind regards

[@watchthe1369]

Trail transformation and remake into a driveway entry.

[@joepond9587]

looks like carson was able to get the gum trees out.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@BrianB14471]

If the highway department dug out the ditches every few years like they're supposed to he wouldn't have needed to replace that pipe.

[@GCFD]

Haha yea right! They won't even dig them out when there's a flooding problem.

[@backupaddict1356]

Andrew is laughing saying that not a big tree lol

[@GCFD]

Hahah, same with my "big" excavator!

[@MrBobby781]

Really good video Shawn, hope all’s well….Bobby L……

[@GCFD]

Thank you! All is well here, I hope you are too!

[@naturalcuttie]

You got to get bigger more beautiful machines! Love your vids btw keep them coming!

[@GCFD]

👍 Thank you Gabe!

[@Dario55555100]

is it legal there just to cut down trees in forest with out consulting the forest department...

[@GCFD]

Yes. They have a certain percentage of the area that you can cut before you have to contact them.

[@nickb.237]

Some DAY BREE in there?? Debris lol

[@GCFD]

👍 haha

[@matt08015]

he needs to dig through the center of the dam to find it then try to pack with clay

[@GCFD]

Dam that sucks.

[@matt08015]

@@GCFD that will be best and cheapest way

[@espenbjerke1905]

you need a little bigger digger, just a little bit

[@GCFD]

I'm looking for a KX121 right now.

[@jimbeck6093]

Did the pond builders ever come in and fix the leak? Another great video! Btw, noticed your diploma! App State!! (3rd generation NCSU grad!)

[@GCFD]

Yes! I got a MS in biology from App.

[@Bigbacon]

ugg those black snakes in the blocks. Every fall, those things would invade my garage foundation because it was open on the inside of the garage. Finally had to cover it up and boy did those snake come back and were not happy. Big suckers too.

[@GCFD]

Those are great animals to have around. Rodents do so much damage and these snakes keep them down.

[@anthonyfindlay466]

Hey Shawn I like where you're going with your channel , but you're gonna need a bigger machine at some point, keep up the good work.

[@GCFD]

👍 Thank you Anthony!

[@tiredagain6722]

Sweet gum is junk spelled the long way!

[@GCFD]

Yep!! Plus dealing with gumballs all over the place.

[@Mostafa-vs8bd]

I get upset when I see that in some jobs you have to and orderd cut down beautiful and nice trees.

[@GCFD]

for sure!

[@user-nd3lx1zg9t]

At 29:35, I believe I witnessed a woman's soul leave her body!

[@GCFD]

Hahah

[@danne77sthlm]

That driveway looked really nice, and we got to see 2 snakes, I dont like snakes, but its way nicer to watch on a screen :) I hope the dam situation will get good, best of luck that you find the issue, but why didnt the ones that made the pond take responsibility about it?

[@GCFD]

We found out it's an old overflow pipe that is rotted and broken off.

[@danne77sthlm]

@@GCFD Nice that you managed to find it, hope it worked out well to repair that :) And many thanks for informing us, its these things that makes it enjoyable to watch your channel, we learn a lot from you!

[@craddocraddoc]

I can see people using a chainsaw without ear protection or a helmet, but using a chinasaw without cut protection pants is really, really dangerous. This is a small investment more than worth if things go wrong...!

[@meganm3270]

Wait what they make cut protection pants 🤣

[@GCFD]

I totally agree which is why I invested in forestry helmets, cut resistant pants and gloves for everyone. Safety first! 👍

[@GCFD]

When I handed them out to the guys I told them they had to wear regular pants with the protective pants. 👍 LOL

[@craddocraddoc]

Maybe they are called different in the usa, but you guess the idea - it stops the chain when hitting your legs instead of cutting trough them...

[@edgundlach2811]

Good morning. I had something pucker up. At one point he took his eyes off the tree to look at shawn. Now while shawn may be handsome and all, 🤔 he shouldn't take his eyes off something that could roll out and kill him. Just poking a little fun.

[@abhizylo]

Just in time Shawn....

[@GCFD]

👍

[@jeffreyshier9021]

I see a bigger excavator in your future.🤔

[@GCFD]

I'm struggling right now. I'm signed up to take the CDL exam but would need to buy a truck and trailer, and then the bigger excavator. Like much of my life, I lack clear goals.

[@jeffreyshier9021]

@@GCFD I’ve spent the last 65 years without clear goals. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I was lucky to have married a goal setter 44 years ago.😉

[@mangos2888]

It makes me sad to see perfectly healthy trees getting cut down :(

[@Jeff-m5x3j]

Uh oh. Kudzu.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@billstathakos]

had to Post 10 comment ready at the reading of the video title.

[@GCFD]

👍 haha He's got his rake ready!

[@Mrcaffinebean]

If you aren’t nervous felling a big tree with big lean then you aren’t smart lol.

[@GCFD]

Haha good point! Whew, that was a good one.

[@bcimato]

FYI.. if he would have called his local NCDOT office they would have installed the culvert pipe he purchased for free..

[@GCFD]

He tried for months and got nowhere. I have had much, much better luck with the city streets department than with DOT. City of Thomasville is wonderfull to work with.

[@Saki630]

hes screwed with his pond

[@GCFD]

I'm hoping to get an updated video soon. He got it fixed..