Concrete + Grading work for my Best Customer

[@MsShannon1958]

Great job as always Shawn! We continue to be extremely happy with all the work you and your team do. I’m thinking that’s job #6 for us and I’m sure there will be more. Thanks for all the videos.

[@GCFD]

Thanks Shannon, Sub # 3!

[@larryehrlich57]

Working smarter...not harder, will benefit everyone that uses that logic...everyone!

[@DonnaMSchmid]

The sign of a good company is when customers call them back for additional projects. Congrats! PS - I've had a 2-wheeled wheel barrow for over 20 years now -- and I will NEVER go back to a single-wheeled version! 😁

[@GCFD]

Those 2 wheeled are the best!

[@larryehrlich57]

It's great that you have such an experienced concrete crew. They always do such a good job and I love seeing the old Grandpa pitching in where he can. Much respect to the concrete crew.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Larry!

[@jameshblack]

What a transformation garden looks stunning ,your hard work has payed off if the customer wants you back and recommend you to others it’s a feather in your cap your doing something right keep up the good work

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@CBOOTHE100]

I never thought such a "boring" subject would be so interesting. Been watching you since you had about 6k subscribers. Kudo's to you for a successful business and YT channel!

[@GCFD]

Thank you! I agree and never thought the channel would become so popular. I have tried to place more effort on the recent videos. Thanks for watching!

[@boxxer01833]

Guy took a leak at 12:45... that's real life video, Shawn!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@LAZYDAYZAHEAD]

That Harley rake does excellent work. So nice how it helps to grade the yard and makes quick work without all the manual labor.

[@GCFD]

Yes I really like that thing. It breaks up the dirt so quickly!

[@JoshuaStockton]

Better than Netflix!

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@dcwshoreline5416]

I like the focus of the major goal!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@HiVizCamo]

She wants to build a pathway to the neighb's pool? Wow, that's not being shy at all! :D

[@GCFD]

These two neighbors are pretty tight. The existing walkway was to access the neighbor's yard already. Now that they have a pool, the walkway needs to extend👍

[@hollandduck79]

from the Netherlands thanks for the video

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@dcwshoreline5416]

Also your ambition shawn is inspiring!

[@GCFD]

I couldn't do it alone! I have some great help! 👍

[@eddygoodwin7089]

Nice job my ocd goes nuts when the stakes stick up above the forms makes finishing it so much harder.

[@GCFD]

I thought so too, but these guys are pros and they get it finished.

[@GCFD]

Yes I happily discount the work when a neighbor is helping my customer!

[@steverusie6986]

Looks great from start to finish! That rake works great! Working smarter rather than harder again!

[@GCFD]

Thank you Steve!

[@Fetchem1222]

Repeat clients are the best. 👏🏽 great job

[@GCFD]

👍👍

[@jackhume4532]

Hi Shawn, that’s another customer who is extremely satisfied and happy with your Quality of work. I will look forward to seeing your next video and until then TaRa for a bit.

[@GCFD]

I have a bunch of videos in the works Jack. All the drainage ones are waiting for rain after-footage. The non drainage videos should be coming soon!

[@rogerdickinson920]

I think the sidewalk will break by the tree. Roots will grow and lift and break sidewalk in time. Seen it many times

[@GCFD]

Yes that's a good possibility. But in the meantime they have a tree and walkway. 👍

[@danne77sthlm]

That rake is so great, in the future I will rent one of those and a machine and regrade around the place I live at, the more I see of it, the more I like that machine!

[@GCFD]

I bought that little bobcat for the backyard portion of this job where we had to bring in a bunch of dirt. It's been very useful!

[@stevewilson5292]

Looks like the guy at 12:45 is having a tinkle in shrubs adjacent to the front lawn. Private enough, I guess but he should have pointed himself in the other direction. What if the homeowner was watching out the window ?

[@GCFD]

I wish I had noticed that before I published this video!

[@Eudiamonia77]

Saw that too!

[@edpoints1127]

Great job again Sean. Pretty awesome to see the repeat customers and the versatility of Gate City. Best advertising ever is good work!!!

[@GCFD]

Ed I have some very interesting projects coming up that are waiting for the after footage. I plan to talk about hiring out different portions vs. trying to do it all ourselves.

[@edpoints1127]

I'm intrigued... Yet waiting patiently

[@tmactheplumber4966]

One thing I learned from you was to use a core drill more often. An electric hammer butchers jobs at times. Keep sharing these videos, good stuff !

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@xavierhenriques1116]

Thank you, Shawn! Always so good 🙏

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@J-Colt]

I love that piece of property. Looks so peaceful. Nice work by you and your guys!

[@GCFD]

It is a very nice house and yard!

[@scottparker8425]

Glad to see another video. Learning more from you every day!

[@GCFD]

I have so many more on the way Scott. Some are drainage videos that are waiting for rain, some are other cool projects.

[@adriennem3168]

Wow you guys do it all.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@RyJones]

Almost 20k subscribers!

[@GCFD]

👍 I know! I can't believe it!

[@ednaemode5762]

@@GCFD although you should have 1 million subs 😉

[@Driving4bangers]

That machine is awesome you got there

[@GCFD]

👍 It's been super handy and a major labor saver.

[@juliehoffman92]

Hooray for Charles, the 🍕 guy.

[@jeepindave5464]

Thanks shawn. I think a fleet update and an impressions of the new dually is working out would be fun to watch.

[@GCFD]

The dually needs new hubs so I may do a maintenance video on it. What do you think?

[@jeepindave5464]

@@GCFD sure. I'd watch it.

[@dustbat]

Always fun to watch. How do you deal with crack at drain on old work at start of video. I guess that is going to be an issue. Also that big tree close to new work is scary. Of course those of us who are older and must pay for all work HATE to speed the $$$ to take down a big tree like that. Knowing you from past videos I will bet you have mentioned to them about all those plants next to the house. I am a too close planter from the past myself. Love you videos and the crews you use. 🦇

[@jimanderson4495]

I like the Harley rake action, but prefer drainage videos. Thanks Shawn.

[@GCFD]

Jim, I have a ton of videos that are sitting, waiting for the rain after footage.

[@waltradcliffe4482]

Looks like the place you put the pipe across the front to get rid of the ditch

[@GCFD]

Yes!

[@Ivan-gm7zb]

Lovely work as always Shawn 👍 As I've said before a great family of hard works you have working for you and clearly a great lot of respect off your customers. 👌👍👌👍💯💯💯💯

[@GCFD]

Thank you! 👍

[@motorhomemac]

Looks good, kool place. 🙂

[@insanemustaine111]

Best channel out here

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@davedamon4271]

Diggin the channel! Very informative! Hard work that the boss himself gets dirty in! A word of advice, when scooping out of the dump bed, chock your wheels, your transmission will thank you..

[@GCFD]

We usually do chock them but today just set the brake.

[@Chris_In_Texas]

7:22 You guys are rich with all that wood! 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️😁😁👍

[@GCFD]

👍

[@TheJesseGuerra]

Shawn can future videos (or past videos) have general cost to customer. I am borderline contemplating work on two of my properties.

[@chadmackes1957]

Love your videos and you obviously have great integrity and deliver quality work which I respect. I am surprised that on this job and others I’ve seen where you pour new concrete that you do not clean the concrete at the end of the job when you get dirt and mud on it or suggest pressure washing adjacent concrete to match?

[@GCFD]

The loose dirt washes away readily with rain. Pressure washing would be good to clean up the old concrete but would be another aspect of the job. I do a little pressure washing here and there.

[@DanBurgaud]

9:05 how are you draining that piece of earth beside the house?

[@GCFD]

It's built up above the level of the concrete.

[@UnknownUzer]

Great work, it came out looking very nice. If I were the customer, I would have done one more thing and that would be to pressure wash the old concrete to help it more closely match the new, so there wouldn't be such contrast. Also, I would like to see you chock the tires on your dump truck, when you're using your front end loader to scoop dirt. Just for your safety.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@kevinm5177]

I have yet to see your guys put any rebar in your pours. Is it an East Coast vs West Coast thing? Seems like everything in California has steel in it.

[@GCFD]

That's excactly right Kevin. Here we have impermeable clay sub soils that are extremely stable. No bentonite or shifting subsoils. We also don't have a frost line so no frost heaving and have very little subsurface water moving around. It's like the worst thing ever when we encounter rebar in a tear-out. What a drag. Edit: most commenters just instantly say it's gonna crack, garbage pour, you do crap work, so I like your enlightened comment Kevin.

[@robfl07]

12:44 Haha.... Whatcha doing back there in the bushes? lol

[@GCFD]

👍

[@abrahamsanchez496]

Keep it up good work 👍 seems to have great workers 👍

[@GCFD]

👍

[@alex1_1_2]

Good Job!

[@GCFD]

👍 Thanks!

[@ednaemode5762]

Gomi is such a cool name

[@GCFD]

👍

[@kyleknott1097]

Do you think those roots will grow back and push the concrete up?

[@GCFD]

I would say in 10 or so years yes they will probably grow back

[@donutman3089]

Love your channel and the help you provide for people. I do have one question though, in the last few vids I've seen with concrete work, do y'all NOT believe in rebar or something? Haven't seen any used in all these projects.

[@GCFD]

It's not needed in non-structural concrete in our area. The reason is we have stable subsoils and no frost line. We do see rebar in tear-outs ever so often.

[@Binghatz]

Man I wish you worked in Raleigh area I need and expert like you

[@GCFD]

👍

[@jordanbanton6111]

Love watching your channel and getting tips on how to rescue my yard. In my area of tidewater VA, the land stays so wet and unfortunately my backyard stays a swamp after the average rain. I’m thinking downspouts into a low point French drain with a catch basin & sump pump since I have to fight a rise to the front where I want to outfall. I’ve recently gotten interested in rainwater collection and wonder whether or not you have experience with combining a rain water collection system and your popular drainage solutions. In my mind, I picture it filling up the collection system (to be used for watering the lawn and flowers) then when it is full, diverting into the drainage system. Any tips or advice? Would love to see your team build a system like that. Haven’t watched a video yet I didn’t like or found any others just as insightful or helpful. Keep up the great work!

[@GCFD]

A rainwater collection system would work very well with my systems. Usually my customers are having major flooding problems and they just want the water gone. I have not had a request to install a collection system yet.

[@randythomas4549]

HI SHAWN, I LOVE YOUR WORK, THE ONLY PROBLEM I SEE IN A YEAR OR SO IS THAT THE TREE WILL CRACK THE CONCRETE, YOU CANNOT GET AWAY FROM THAT AS LONG AS THE TREE REMAIN THERE, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. WATCHING FROM BARBADOS.

[@dteh4501]

Never been to Barbados..have you all recovered from all the craziness...be nice to visit...

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@rfl35]

great video

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@wendymorrison5803]

I thought you may reuse the timber from the boardwalk to form up the concrete path? The homeowner has a good secure path all round the house now and for the future. ( none of us are getting younger) A job well done.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@nedloh17]

Thought you were going to extend the path in the woods over to the neighbours pool area ?

[@GCFD]

Those pavers are not available right now so we are waiting until they come back in stock so that they match.

[@gardenman3]

That big tree next to the walkway needs to come out.

[@GCFD]

It provides a lot of shade so they are keeping it for now. 👍

[@dock_yard1149]

I agree, should have sacrificed it now. Looked to me like an Ash, which are now dying in great numbers due to disease. Going to be very hard to get that stump out without cracking the new walk.

[@gardenman3]

@@dock_yard1149 You are right about the stump. I was thinking the roots would crack the walk.

[@GCFD]

@@dock_yard1149 it’s a large poplar, Liriodendron

[@Landofmagic678]

Try to put the joints in the concrete where the drains are, helps random cracking.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@johnflynn3824]

Thought you were doing that concrete to the pool

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

I'm a little surprised you're not using the tracked concrete dumper... Fewer trips and less effort by your Minions...

[@GCFD]

I offered it to the concrete guy but he didn't want to use it. He was concerned with the machine messing up the forms. I think either way was fine since it was a small pour.

[@Aepek]

10:28 once to 2-wheels on a wheelbarrow, you’ll NEVER go back to a single, IMO.😁

[@GCFD]

We love those 2-wheeled barrows. They are awesome.

[@adanr150]

What’s the purpose of laying straw down

[@GCFD]

It helps protect the bare soil and the grass seed.

[@Ken_Myette]

Use the word Client. You can charge more😁

[@GCFD]

👍👍

[@timberhitchllc]

What was the deciding factor for using wheelbarrows vs the mini dumper on this job?

[@GCFD]

It was a small amount of concrete and we were worried about the forms getting messed up. I think either would have been fine, but hindsight is always 50/50.

[@curiouscat3384]

Every year I tell my family that all I want for xmas is a Skid Steer and they just laugh and laugh :(

[@GCFD]

Get one!

[@curiouscat3384]

@@GCFD Well....true confession I'm just a hardcore DIYer senior female trying to restore an old property - that's why they laugh. Considering a rental though - with your demonstrations I think I can do it :) Thanks!

[@GCFD]

The mini skidsteer is very easy to operate and it gets a ton of work done.

[@leonelsorto]

Any reason , why there’s no rebar on concrete ?

[@GCFD]

Yes, no one uses rebar in our area. The reason is we don't have a frost line and no bentonite. 👍

[@nickc2039]

Why no reinforcement in concrete?

[@GCFD]

No bentonite or frostline.

[@th1rt3enblack]

Anyone else notice the guy at the 12:42-12:45 mark? haha Missed that one in editing I'm sure.

[@GCFD]

Yep

[@gattie12ben]

Looks great :)

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@Mrcaffinebean]

That’s a heck of a project for your third ever! Maybe you have covered this but how did you get into this line of work?

[@GCFD]

Check out my 1000 sub special to hear how I got into it. Basically I had to solve flooding issues on my rentals and I impressed my HVAC friend who was astonished I solved a tough flooded crawl space. He told me I needed to start doing drainage work.

[@azr6917]

6 people need to check themselves

[@GCFD]

👍

[@zahirkhan778]

Can you share the appx cost for the concrete and french drain?

[@GCFD]

The costs change so much that posting cost would only cause problems for me.

[@10lauset]

Cheers

[@GCFD]

👍

[@nctarheel1980]

what states do you work in? i need someone like you to come do some work at my house

[@GCFD]

We work in Greensboro NC

[@ernestochavez5106]

That poor dude in orange put in work during the pour. You should really spread that workload around and have each guy do a trip

[@GCFD]

Good call, they choose their own task on the job and all work together. Pretty awesome group to work with.

[@Erik-pr2rf]

that tall tree thats next to the walkway is too close to the house the roots will lift the walkway over time ... tree should come down for safety of the house & the walkway

[@GCFD]

That's a large poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera that has been there for years. The HO likes it, but it will definitely have to be dealt with at some point.

[@stevencorley2352]

Same customer (Oops I mean "client") keeps calling you back. Clear sign you're doing it right.

[@GCFD]

Yep! She's very easy to work with as well.

[@shanecantwell227]

Haha the guy having a pee in the hedge @12:40

[@GCFD]

👍

[@peterpettigrew9741]

imagine being a manual laborer hauling concrete chunks for somebody and they tell you not to scratch their wheelbarrow

[@GCFD]

Haha it was a joke because the wheelbarrows have a lot of mileage on them.

[@CenterStarsChannel]

Don't scratch my rusty wheelbarrow!!!

[@GCFD]

Haha

[@jeffcotton526]

At the 12:44 time mark a guy in a dark hoodie sneaks off to the right to take a leak in the bushes! LMAO!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@m9j16]

LOL i was like wait what did i just see

[@DaddyBeanDaddyBean]

I had a crew replacing my roof, and got a call from a neighbor. It seems a specific, identifiable member of the crew stood on the porch roof, facing in the direction of her house, whipped it out and peed into my yard. There was a bathroom available to them without needing to take their boots off, and if that's not good enough, the lot behind mine is heavily wooded so he could have stepped back there real quick, but no, he had to pee off the roof. Neighbor was NOT HAPPY.

[@Crafter_H]

What tech do you use for your time lapse?

[@GCFD]

I use a moto panning head. You can set the time and angle.

[@Crafter_H]

@@GCFD what camera do you use?

[@GCFD]

@@Crafter_H I use the garmin ultra VIRB 30. Like a GoPro.

[@wcsd9577]

3:41 sad when the price tag lasts longer than the lumber itself

[@GCFD]

Hahah Good catch!

[@hippielewis4768]

Well no rebar- never do a job for me.

[@knighthauler4792]

Where's the concrete buggy?? Not fussy about cutting that big trees roots.

[@GCFD]

Harvey didn't want the buggy today. He was worried about the form boards but I think either way would have been fine. It was a small pour.

[@Oscar_1123]

Why are you leaving that bigass tree when you just cut out alot of its roots on one side? Have you seen what tree roots can do to concrete when its that close to the base of the tree?

[@GCFD]

A big tree like that can't be replaced. If the concrete cracks from the roots in a few years it can easily be replaced or repaired. 👍

[@RHEC1776]

You do awesome work but those concrete guys don't know what they're doing. They should of used 2x4's for the frame not 1 by's

[@GCFD]

Why's that? We use 1xs all the time with no problem. We poured 15 yards today and crushed it.

[@Reidbit]

Anyone else think Shawn sounds a little bit like the actor Dennis Haysbert?

[@GCFD]

🤷‍♂️

[@DaddyBeanDaddyBean]

Well, you ARE in good hands... 😁

[@diabsiniman]

shawn, unless you want to have a bad back, you need to lift with the knees... such poor lifting form.... 18:18

[@GCFD]

Thanks Daniel!

[@ev3091]

Why do you bring so many workers ? That’s a 3 men job

[@GCFD]

Great question! This was just the morning part of a full day. I was there filming and helping out a little. Half the crew when on to another tear-out after this pour (around 10am) while a couple stayed behind to finish up.

[@AbdicateDotNet]

Another awesome video! BTW I watch this guy who clears out culverts, and in this video he says what you do about corrugated drains. Here's the timestamped video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWWnhaScp5J4oNU Thanks for your hard work!

[@weekendhomeprojects]

Are those your Mexicans?

[@GCFD]

That's the concrete crew.

[@Daihatsu_Hijet]

Really nice

[@ackack612]

....gee, I don't know....how about, oh say, power washing both old and new concrete.....? Seriously, you charged someone for that sod "installation?" Nice job with the edging.....yup, sure blended right in with the existing.....hell, I give up. WHAT A DUMP that place is! EEE GADS....!what's the old saw....oh yeah, you 'can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear....' Water issues you are quite adept at, landscaping, ah, not so much.

[@GCFD]

HI David - Thanks for commenting. The customer has regular power washing at their place so they weren't trying to add additional power washing. The sod is in a backyard with several dogs so they aren't too concerned. I disagree that their place is a dump. It's in fact a beautiful, large yard that gets used by the homeowners and the pets. Perhaps you're more used to perfectly manicured yards that are never used?