DIY Concrete Stairs

Today we get to finally start molding the actual stairs with the chiseled stone concrete form
***Link to chiseled stone edge form and concrete stamp
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[@davidtesta1361]

Adam, stairs are looking great! I always appreciate that you show us the learning process on projects. I'm sure it gives people more of a can-do mindset as they are considering tackling their own projects themselves. You definitely took some of the trepidation away for me when it comes to concrete. Also, it's great to see how much it means to have great friends and family to help.

[@MrThorp1]

i do like these videos. He is really just a regular dude giving stuff a shot. He has no problems showing and telling us his concerns issues and mistakes. He values the learning process that creates. This is really a wonderful channel. I am glad it popped up in my feed. ( now sub'd)

[@HometownAcres]

Just wanted to let David and Mr Thorpe know I read both of these and appreciate you both recognize the realness of the channel. Thanks! Adam Hometown Acres

[@B13Thompson]

The stairs look amazing so far! But I also want to make note of how well the pond is filling up and looking so much better!!

[@My12521252]

Looking good! As a concrete guy myself, I'd suggest making sure you wet the ABC before you pour on top of it. The dry rock is pulling water out of your concrete. Also fill your bucket full before you pour for a more homogeneous mix. Lastly, round the edge of your steps for durability, any amount of rounding is better than a sharp square edge. Thank you for the great content over these years! In a world of bad news and drama, you are a breath of fresh air!

[@hendricksonhomestead]

That’s what I was coming to say. Mix it one bag at a time for a better and quicker mix, fill the bucket, then run it down the hill. It would be less work in the long run and provide a better pour.

[@AdamsMom921]

Thank you both for your suggestions… he will be wetting the rock below the next pour. We just got back from Home Depot and got the edging trowel. We are coming up on the learning curve!!! We figured that the top step will be really nice -LOL!

[@My12521252]

@@AdamsMom921 nice to meet ya! Can't wait!!

[@frankvucolo6249]

The beauty of You Tube. Some good advice from pros. And mom approves! Great job with this, Adam!

[@joebevf]

Repurposing the old tote cutouts = Genius. My grandfather showed me how he used old box spring frames to reinforce the pad of his new garage/barn. free plus better than rebar. Thanks for recycling whenever you can.

[@blakeroni]

This is great! I like how Doug is in the background in a few of the shots, just chillin while you're making the video and working. Could be fun to put Easter eggs in your videos of "Where's Doug?" Great job on the steps, looking good and the pond is filling right up!

[@danielharsh7698]

Happy to see that you are measuring your water.

[@charlesbowers2358]

Since you have the mixer, you may want to mix your own mix. Would be much cheaper. I use the 1, 2, 3 mix. 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, 3 parts stone. Put sand & cement in mixer let run dry a little to coat each grain of sand with cement then add stone and water. I use a shovel for my measure device. I have a mixer that is over 65 years old. It is used hard and still works great. Hope you have a Great day!

[@DDL2728]

Somebody would have charged you probably $7,000 - $10,000 (I'm guessing) to do that, so you were smart to buy the equipment to do it!! You'll always have the equipment to do all your other projects!! Your pond is looking good, too!! Great video, as always - great editing, as always!! Love seeing your daddy helping and, of course, neighbor Doug!! God bless y'all!! 👍😍🙏

[@troywilliams159]

We just got the Bauer mixer as well. Mixed 50 sixty pound bags with it. Went well.

[@nickanthony9467]

You’re getting to be a Jack of all trades. Another Doug in the making. Your KZbin channel is a great way for you to ‘Pass it forward’

[@tonieveritt7045]

adam i would not worry to much for someone who has not done this before it looks good you done well

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great idea to repurpose those tote cutouts! No idea how they will hold up, but nice to reuse them.

[@robertweisskopf]

about 60 yrs ago my father used old hospital bed frames instead of rebar when he pored our back yard patio it still looks great.

[@philrollick2190]

Looking good! Excited to see the finished product. I bought the little steel mixer ~ 15 years ago, worth every penny. I build a "ramp" out of scrap in front of the drum to lay the bag on so I can easily control how fast the dry mix enters the mixer while its running.

[@billpola]

Look at that pond!

[@self-reliantmindset4658]

Pond is looking good.

[@sleuthound9324]

Don't forget to go OLE SCHOOL and get the kids hand prints/foot prints/date on one of the steps. A GREAT memory to have!

[@bmorrison0070]

Great project. I really love how your place is coming along. We bought an old farm 20 years ago and did the same thing. Changed things here and there, one project at a time and now it suits us. Cheers from eastern Pa.

[@EYALAVRAHAMI]

Looking great! You can be proud of yourself. And it seems like someone is going to have the most amazing ice skating court in the entire planet very soon!

[@cliffordbauman3385]

Hi Adam. I just mixed 99 80LB bags of Sakarete yesterday in the other Harbor Freight mixer without an issue. I used 1 gallon of water for each bag and ran two bags thru it at a time. Looks just like ready mix. Doing 78 more bags today. pouring a sidewalk across the front of my house and added another step to the porch. Never again mix by hand :)

[@billobermeyer660]

Adam, you should be very proud of what you have accomplished with the concrete stairs. Slow and easy until you are certain and ready to speed up the process. Kudos to you and your help!

[@bruceludwick8200]

Looking good, Adam. By the way, that pond looks good in the background, too.

[@stevehawkins8066]

Adam, you're doing a good job on those steps. I'm not sure if you did this, but make sure you're pitching those steps forward so water drains forward and not back into the steps. Since you're pouring one step at a time, water can get under them and cause them to freeze and lift. I'm sure between you, your dad, & neighbor Doug, your steps will turn out great. 👍

[@briananderson7497]

The pond is looking really good. I'm not sure if I've seen the water level so high before. It will look really great when the stairs are done and you can casually walk down for a quick dip in the pond.

[@kennethtibbitts414]

going to be a good-looking set of stairs you should be very proud of yourself ADAM

[@juddsonafelt8779]

looks great, and the pond is filling up

[@randyclyde4939]

Excellent, many thanks for the guidance! Be well, be safe!

[@digdrivediy]

Looking great!

[@HometownAcres]

Thanks Neil

[@carlosmit8646]

Adam, if you get dry spots in the back of the mixer, turn it more horizontally, just before it falls out, so that way not al the concrete is on your bottom, but more on the sidewalls, where it should be. And when you pour, keep the mixer on, that way you clean it out better. And when you're pouring a batch, use the vibrator strait away when it hits the edge of your step, so you know it's still wet enough. I've been pouring concrete for many years now, so just a little piece of advice. Love your videos though, keep it up.

[@cboutdoorfun9955]

Looks good, I suggest putting a small round over on the nose of the step or it may want to break off

[@boblynn1881]

Looks very good Adam. I think you can do anything. The pond is looking great too.

[@HometownAcres]

I appreciate it bob

[@chrismartin4776]

So I assume next week One Eye Customs will have the cement mixer on a mount for the backhoe. I can see Doug making it work!!

[@HometownAcres]

That would be cool!

[@darrellhigley4523]

Great job. Not only did you save money, but years from now, you will have the memories with your family and friends about doing this together.

[@noyopacific]

Thanks for the video Adam ! I've done quite a bit of DIY concrete work myself ! You are progressing quickly from the point of being nervous about the prospect of dealing with a pile of wet concrete to being comfortable with the stuff. I've thought about getting an electric concrete mixer but have been too cheap and stubborn to part with the cash so far. Nice job on the steps !

[@dougraimondo4683]

Check out Concrete With The Hauses he uses a liquid.then pressure washer it off also. Awesome job Adam. You will also see how he clamps the stone edge on.

[@Baloghjonathon]

Get a rubber mallet to beat the drum while mixing. It will release those dry caked on pieces of concrete. Also I believe that most electric mixers say not to start the motor with a full barrel.

[@jimstewart8927]

Believe a trowel ran vertically on the front form after pour and just prior to vibration would help. Place the second bag ingredients in a two step process would also help. Great work attacking a job you are unsure of!!! Love the videos!

[@balljar7546]

I've got the cheaper orange mixer from and have thrown well over 100 bags through it. Other than assembly being a 3 armed bear and having to tighten the drive belt one time, it's been flawless. With the orange mixer, it's able to be vertical, to allow dumping the bags in a little easier, I would think. A real nice part of having a mixer, is that if you're not ready for the next batch, you can just let it keep mixing until you're ready for it. Stairs are looking great! Can't wait to see the finished project.

[@kylekane4706]

Checking out the pond in the background---looks like it's filling

[@BobbySixguns]

The steps are looking great.

[@savagefirewood]

Great looking steps looking forward to seeing the completed project cheers my friend

[@mauso12012]

Looking good.. Lots more to do. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[@jackmargason2594]

Looking good Adam.

[@jamesgaul1022]

Great job, Adam. The steps look terrific. You should enlist the help of neighbor Doug to reduce your physical strain😉

[@BackyardDad1]

Steps look great!

[@toddpacheco4748]

Excellent job with your steps Adam well you can say I built those and it didn’t cost me a arm and a leg ❤😊😮

[@tremont86]

Nice job Adam . Looks great.

[@cattigereyes1]

Looks nice! Great addition!

[@vaughnmaurt5013]

That is looking great !

[@bryanritts213]

I think it looks great Adam!

[@crazyfeller5704]

Try adding 1/2 bag on the second bag, some water, mix, then add the rest of the second bag and water. Worked well for an inground pool I did several years ago- 125 80 lb bags. That was with the old HF mixer.

[@BrianPhillipsRC]

Looks nice!!!

[@danielbowser130]

Antislip coating. I would be afraid of ice in a Pa winter. You do have southern exposure. Great video. Thanks

[@seansysig]

Adam looking great! The excavator makes the job so much easier.

[@craigjay769]

The pond is looking amazing in the background

[@thebikepackingadventurer]

Your property is looking better with every month that goes by. Great that you are doing everything you can yourself too

[@TripleTAcres]

Looks awesome Adam!!

[@user-scooter1965]

Very nice job on the steps Adam. They look great. As for the concrete mixer, it sure is nice to have the proper tools for the job.

[@elaczi]

Starting to come together and look really nice. Well done sir.

[@daryl3569]

Looks good Adam

[@richardmain8059]

Good morning Adam, they are looking great, it will be a Eleven Step learning program. 😀👍👍👍

[@stjbananas]

It looks awesome.

[@HowHingPau]

Nothing like taking deep breaths while in the middle of a cloud of concrete dust.

[@cwwhite5137]

Nice job!!! Good machine!!! Chip

[@joylynnburkhardt3202]

Come’n along fabulously! Thanks for sharing!!

[@peterferguson5749]

Looks great, you should watch Concrete with the Hauses he has a lot of great videos and is very good at it too!

[@cgsoutdoors_professor3883]

Looks great 👍

[@davidedwards3734]

Stairs look Great!! They will be a Great asset to the house!! Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@happycamper9300]

Alan, y used a similar mixer from a friend. He put the front wheels on top of 2 x8 piece of wood. That add stability and avoid spills while mixing.

[@sethspring5609]

Looks great so far!!! That excavator really helps so you don't have to wheel barrel 2 bags down each time!

[@sharonmilton4854]

It looks awesome! Great job!

[@mpoulin]

Looking good Adam! Can't wait to see the rest of them.

[@sameaston1301]

I learned a lot watching this video! Thank you Adam for taking the time to share your experiences. Never would I have thought that would be a DIY project. You're doing a great job 👍

[@wesleyhuckabay5968]

Well done Adam. Looks very professional.

[@MrThorp1]

i know this is about the stairs but at the 8:20 mark,,,, ooooo that pond is looking pretty nice!

[@georgesalamon8128]

Adam, love the stamped concrete! Great job! God bless.

[@leighspeck3585]

Over in the England we would buy x amount of loose aggregate, then separate bags of cement. It would work out a lot cheaper than just buying ready mix bags of concrete.

[@dgnorts]

Nice Job !

[@jimjensen1414]

Adam, watch Concrete with the Hauses for everything you ever wanted to know about concrete, he is a pro, and gives lots of advice !!!

[@uberuser1999]

Adam, just take a slurry of the concrete with the colorant in it (sans the stone) and work it into the face of the step where it is flawed with a sponge float. Just scope some of the slurry on the end of the sponge float and work it into the face. You can then come back with an old (clean) paint brush before it sets and work the material into a pattern that matches the rest of the step. Don’t use the other product you mention as it likely won’t match. 40 years of concrete work and that process has never failed me!

[@jeffrussell2337]

Looking very nice

[@flipperc6042]

I think the irregular front edge looks more natural and actually enhances the look

[@kentcorbett5436]

Looking great

[@AlexeiTetenov]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jameslennon5330]

Great job Adam. It is going to look awesome when finished

[@johnkirby6547]

I agree with you on this one, definitely worth it to use the mixer. You will have it for future use as well.. Looks great ❤

[@David_in_Thailand]

A big money saver, especially when you have a mixer, buy sand, gravel and bagged cement, not dry mix.

[@giovannifiorentino8947]

I like how the steps melt into the border rocks.

[@BillsCountrysideAdventures]

Adam mate when mixing, I always add sbr that really helps. You can't go by numbers, the look of it. An old timer bricky told me, it needs to have a surf then you know its mixed. I was shouting at screen saying you need a mixer lol

[@vinnypinatelli221]

I don't know anything about concrete just heard someone say some colors you trowel in to the concrete then so release and stamps but that was victory outdoor services on KZbin I think! Either them or Mike day concrete! Great video I loved thank you for sharing this!

[@On_The_Farm]

Looks nice Adam. The mixer is the way to go.

[@shannonphillips3869]

Looks good! The sealer should make the color pop.

[@andyshap]

I would think you would want to round off the leading edge of each step. They look kind of sharp. Great job! I would never have tackled this on my own.

[@davidsmathers5621]

Looks awesome Adam great mixer

[@ronwig7665]

Looks great Adam,caint wait to see it done, I see you had great help

[@ProductiveRecreation]

Re: Vibration. Again, a Civil Engineering degree comes in super handy; vibration is the technique for consolidating cast-in-place concrete into formwork. As for workability (fluidity), higher water to cement ratio is more workable and weaker, lower water to cement ratio is stronger and less workable. Be careful of bleed and overworking the surface. It can lead to cracking.

[@ohokayofficial]

I’m new to the channel, but 9:17 is amazing, haha - so used to mixing in a wheel barrow/bin or bucket. That was efficient as heck 😂🚜 Outstanding work!! 🙌🏽

[@darthgbc363]

Cool. Now you need to make them all 7" or the different step will be the tripping step. Good rule for steps - 7/11. No more than 7" high & 11" or more deep. Mom really likes 4/12 steps I made for her, with walker width hand railings. Maybe add the reinforcement closer to the top. ???? Let's see the cleanup of the equipment next time. Bucket, mixer, & hand tools.

[@dalepowell6815]

The steps look great.

[@tompurvis1261]

Very satisfying project. Nice work.