How to form a concrete slab in 2020 | Step by step

[@dmadere1]

The Texas heat in Aug will kick your butt!!!!

[@dmadere1]

Adam Williams True that’s very hot but is the humidity 90 percent at the same time?

[@cutweldngrind]

I remember putting over 300 stakes per day into crushed concrete bigger than my fist, what a nightmare. It made #1 crush stone look small. Then go brace them and trim them down so the 14" concrete screed / vibrator could ride over the forms. Then we got ready for the butt whopping as we poured huge sections of city roads between 8" to 10" thick. I got tired of it after 4 years or so. I am now planning for 2021 a new dream shop for me and it's been over 10 years of any concrete pour for me. I enjoy these videos since day 1.

[@newdayfarm9463]

That definitely looks like Texas Hill country limestone! Great demonstration.

[@cntslesfabrication]

The only reason the ground was so hard was because you we're trying to teach us how to do concrete forms, otherwise it would have been clay or sand LoL

[@thebaconbrotato]

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Stay safe Erik.

[@sessayan2]

Eric, Big dogg you actually do work! Totally impressed.

[@TexasBarndominiums]

😂

[@cutweldngrind]

I bought my dad a 7" Makita dual 18v circular saw and it's been running 3 or 4 years strong. He cuts a ton of 2x8 and 2x12 concrete forms and stakes. The other employees dont wanna spend money so they cut all the forms by hand and usually asks to borrow the Makita. I have been a dewalt guy for over 15 years and still buy dewalt but that saw was awesome.

[@cutweldngrind]

@@halledwardb I had Dewalt circular saws before but the Makita just dominated. Those blades are awesome too. I'm looking into a metal cutting circular saw now for my projects.

[@JBly-qj2tu]

Im hooked on makita cordless now I git a circ saw a couple weeks ago and love it.

[@ALRIHAE]

You so smart Eric. Also your shirt isn't dirty enough

[@MrHandsomeferny]

😂! For real!

[@blksheepdogtonyg.6453]

We use coated sinkers on the forms but leave the head out if we need to pull nails... p.s. if the bright common nails split apart the stakes.. turn the nail around and hit the point of the nail dulling it out, it helps from splitting the wood, works best on 1x4 stakes or 1x4 on flat work etc. Especially on dry wood Also if you have a concrete hammer drill (battery powered) pre drill the hole for the stake when the ground is hard... it helps.. use a big drill bit..

[@caper104]

tricks are everything in construction

[@corydriver7634]

BLKsheepdog Tony G. I like the hammer drill idea, brilliant!

[@baronvolkov6172]

Right on! Even better, pre drill the hole in the ground and water it. Works like a charm! Hard to see Erik try to pound those boards into solid packed ground in triple digit heat!

[@blksheepdogtonyg.6453]

@@halledwardb LMFAO😂

[@blksheepdogtonyg.6453]

@@baronvolkov6172 I started getting a heat stroke just watching, I use to hate it when the point of the stake curled up from the hard ground... only thing with water is your going to eat some mud ever swing 😂

[@garyredden4772]

This Texas heat is no joke! Take it easy and don’t push yourself to hard. It’ll get done when it’s done

[@johnbrennan2723]

Perfect timing, I'm going to need to do this within a month. My subscription dollars are paying off.

[@calawncareservices6057]

This is why I like to watch his channel. Eric thank you for explaining and going into detail on how to set forms!👍🇨🇱👌🇨🇱

[@user-kf8qc7cx4n]

Hey Eric, it seems it hot all around, it’s currently 104 in the Napa.Valley. I’m going to stay indoors 🥴

[@mitchyelvington4776]

I'm from Montana! Worked in Vegas for a year! What helped me with the heat ! Was being32!

[@MichaelJanzen]

I was surprised you didn't do any excavation, like for a footing. Can you speak to why that was in part 2?

[@rubenvarela4077]

Excavation crew

[@rubenvarela4077]

Crew does footing with forms carefully

[@jazamora7521]

Always hydrate the night before as well, helps a ton because it puts you ahead of this burning Texas heat.

[@bradleynevills4444]

I know what you mean brother I was pouring concrete Saturday and it was only a 24 by 40 and man was it hot this Texas heat isn't no joke lol

[@butopiatoo]

Derran is the new Manny?😎. Good to see even Superman has to take a break. Heat is dangerous. Good luck!!

[@ramongarcia8044]

Another great video video.Maestro Erick learning from you again .thanks for a great video lngeniero 👍🏼👍🏼

[@GonzalesYoda]

Y'all take care sir!

[@robertevans6481]

Yes that Texas heat is no joke. You came close this time. And dang that was some very hard ground!!

[@gutezavala9733]

Can you use the hypotenuse formula to square a driveway?

[@kacy750]

hey eric. i'm not a builder so i'm sure this is not a good question, but i'm going to ask it anyway. if the ground is as hard as it was on this day, would using a little water on the ground (.5 cup -1cup or so) @ the site were your driving the stack into the ground help to soften the ground, making the stack easier to drive?

[@TexasBarndominiums]

No, this was rock. No water will help.

[@Prorex1911]

I’m also in Texas, very hot. I’d suggest getting a little pop-up tent and move it near where you are working. A little shade helps a lot! I did that while building my fence.

[@israelrivera8628]

I bring 1 steel stake to open up the holes for the wood stakes to enter super easy, it usually works if not I drown the soil with a bunch of water to loosen up the top 2 to 3 inches

[@RavenJCain]

For whatever reason when you were hammering on the posts I got flashbacks of playing the NES game Ice Climbers. Must be the blue shirt, because it certainly isn't the polar bears.

[@_WillCAD_]

You illustrate one of the greatest dangers of working in the heat - people who work in it all the time get used to it, and it sneaks up on you dangerously. Even guys with decades of experience working in the heat will sometimes just forget about it until it's too late, and end up in the hospital. When listing the tools you needed for the job, you should have included "And a keg of ice water, and cooler full of sports drinks to replenish the electrolytes and fight off dehydration."

[@territ1231]

I'm still doing the math!!! Great job you two! Is it standard to be 10 feet from the neighbors land?

[@JM-yx1lm]

You can be zero feet from your neighbors if you want in Texas. Most people will stay away from the property line just incase any discrepancies arise.

[@shows01]

so does the concrete company not make the forms aand lay the rebar down?

[@Nastyj0int]

Does work take longer while recording ?

[@jackielinde7568]

Eric, did your shirt suffer a blowout during filming?

[@jackielinde7568]

@@berniedmj1 Check timestamp 3:46. Looks like he ripped his shirt.

[@Frankreddy62]

Its made like that so you can move around without ripping it.

[@johnmorgan1629]

Were you charged for that string, or was it a freemason line? If you just need a right angle is just remember 3,4, 5, or multiples of those and you get a right angle. Erik, remember its easier to stay hydrated, than rehydrate. Heat exhaustion is no joke.

[@TexasBarndominiums]

I don’t like the 345 rule. It’s more accurate to get the actual diagonal dimensions.

[@agustinbacolor385]

Why are sand bags used around the beams or footings?

[@oscarjr2679]

I want to see Leroy next putting up forms

[@cullenmiller8170]

Why didn’t you prep the site first and strip the vegetation and topsoil. I figured it would be easier than working around forms. If you go with metal rods you could get an adapter for a SDS hammer drill and put them into the ground like a ground rod for an electrical panel. That would save you from swinging the sledge. Those also come cordless since you mentioned wanting to go all cordless. Thanks for sharing your videos and making the time to do that.

[@dogsnguns6742]

I don't get it, either.

[@benosowski9261]

Would love to do the pothagriam theory but I’m crap at math so couldn’t help you there

[@erikrobles5727]

Try 112 in PHX Arizona today

[@cutweldngrind]

The heat has been really bad here in Texas lately. I'm close to Laredo Texas and cant even finish my small welding projects.

[@Gabeking88]

We need to see how you make your forms !!

[@ErnieeTX]

Easy get some 3/4 play wood An some 2x4s

[@jaredkean7841]

Thats a bold move doing that kind of math on YT

[@TexasBarndominiums]

😂

[@jorgegarcia621]

How much to throw 1600sqft in rosenberg,tx simple layout??

[@Ding_Bat]

Thank you for taking the time to educate us, Eric! If I were 20 years younger, I'd seriously consider doing what you're doing for a living! Love it!

[@TheOldPCTech]

Whew... definitely be careful in that heat... 😉

[@erikpaz7965]

Brotha take care of yourself we need you ☺️

[@420somewhere4]

should use 1" steel stakes for your string line and for stakes if ground is hard as f. its °96 today in Chicago.

[@Bobg425]

Put 2 stakes in at each corner with a piece of 4x3/4 joining them,the top of which is the level you want. You can then mark the 4x3/4 with nails so it doesnt matter if the string comes off or if you go back a week later.That way if your building a cellar its simple to markdown as well.OK a couple more stakes but practically error free ,your men just have to wrap strings around nails and they have it perfectly marked out even weeks later.Also for shallow rafts I just use 4x4 timber stacked instead of forms,way faster a few pins hold it and a dozen nails,use a couple of times and then use them for new forms.

[@MrTooTechnical]

kick ass. where is this new job of yours?

[@jamesc7383]

The heat will take it out of you quick.... Question :What prep work is needed on really sandy soil? Best compacting methods?

[@sabasmendez-perez8560]

How do you determine the cost per square foot on small jobs like this vs. foundations for houses

[@TexasBarndominiums]

Take total cost and divide it by the square feet.

[@sabasmendez-perez8560]

@@TexasBarndominiums Say for example a foundation that is at 1ft off the ground in front but the back is 18ft to level how does one go about figuring the cost per square foot to charge a client that hires you to set form bag it rebar it pour and finish the slab

[@sabasmendez-perez8560]

Sorry I'm confusing myself how to bid on a project like flatwork vs. tall foundations

[@tiah3180]

Depending on where u live in Texas. U have dry heat they call it here in west Texas area. East to south Texas wet heat.with Humidity. I ought to know, I used to live in San Antonio as a kid. Plus I have sister that lives in Tyler. I been there one 4 th of July few yrs back. Omg! I felt like I was in swamp cooler 🥵. Back in July it was running over 105 * plus here. For 3 weeks straight before we got rain. Now it hot again this past weekend and now here in middle of August. But like they say if u don’t like the weather give it about 5 minutes it will change. If it blows wind and it hot, oh lord u feel like r in a oven. But u add wet humidity, like a steam bath. Drink plenty of water, not cold 🥶 either. It will make u sick if u been out in hot weather. Want rm temperature! Most guys ik know that work out in this heat, have a rag, or bandanna, or towel cold wet, then they either wrap around the back of there neck or put under their hat, coming down the back side. No jk!

[@717weston]

Good fo you soooo impressive

[@meganm3270]

Pedialyte for kids is the best thing to drink to rehydrate

[@gustavocastaneda8458]

See Leroy Eric does put in work!!!!

[@bastropplant5592]

Where is this job at?

[@El_CID801]

Eric, you were THAT kid I despised in math class 🤣

[@sikosis999]

why did't you guys strike that ground? i've always wondered why people don't turn topsoil and set forms. . . maybe you guys can splain it . . . i mean i know structurally it doesn't matter much but just finish and fit wise i've always preferred to set form in struck ground (unless of course you're pad'n a pour. . . then obviously its struck and prep'd pack)

[@davidmesser8619]

Be careful with that heat. It can be dangerous this time of year. Better to start at daybreak and quit at noon. Take care Erik. Vaughn

[@jackielinde7568]

Eric, there's a high pressure centered around the northern part of Arizona that's really F***ing up the weather this week. Phoenix has seen a string of days with temps above 110 Deg F/43.3 Deg C with several of those days above 115 Deg F/46.1 Deg C. Death Valley recorded the hottest day on EARTH yesterday at 130 Deg F/54.4 Deg C. California to New Mexico and from Arizona to Wyoming are all affected. It's probably affecting Texas, but you also have the Gulf of Mexico that helps shape your weather. SO WHERE THE HECK IS YOUR WATER AND HAT??? And I'm not saying some ballcap, either. You want a hat with a brim that goes all the way around. If it's not shading your face and your neck, it's not doing its job. Hell, call up your buddy Matt from Demo Ranch and ask if his company (Bunker Branding) can get those hats in bulk. You could have your logo embroidered on them and hand them out to your crews as a "Sweltering Summer Heatwave We're Probably All Gonna Die But Here's A Hat To Keep You Shaded" gift.

[@CesGu]

I always see comments about the 'Texas heat' as something terrible when in truth it is not so bad. In summer half of Spain is around 40 Celsius degrees (104 Fahrenheit degrees) and we are not talking about it all day. In south cities like Córdoba or Sevilla, 43 Celsius degrees are easily reached (109,4 F°). It is normal and people are used to it.

[@jackielinde7568]

@@CesGu You want a laugh, check the news for when cities in the north start hitting the mid 90's F/30 C. All of a sudden there are heat advisories and people are dropping like flies. It's as if they never heard of summer before. Also, it's one thing to live where it is hot, but a completely different thing when your livelihood is working outside in the heat. (Did that helping my dad when I was a teen. Now that I'm an adult, NO THANK YOU!) It doesn't matter if it's 100, 110, or 120, it's going to be hot and you're going to be wiped out. It's just a matter how quickly the heat's going to get you.

[@joseoviedo1644]

Arizona’s heat doesn’t compare to the Texas heat. Y’all have just heat and we have heat with high humidity. The high humidity draws the living strength from you. That’s why the nights in Arizona are cool, and here in Texas they’re just as hot as the days. Humidity kills.

[@CesGu]

@@joseoviedo1644 that's probably the reason, here in Spain we don't have so much humidity, only in coastal areas. In the interior of the peninsula the heat is higher, on the coast it is slightly lower but with a lot of humidity. No one works here at noon because of the heat, so if you come to Spain you will not see anyone on the streets from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., everyone is taking a 'siesta'.

[@joseoviedo1644]

Cesar G. 😂 we work from 8-5 no matter the heat.

[@moneymafialive]

Can’t wait for part 3?

[@PoteetStrawberryville]

👋🏼🍓👍🏼 04/30/22 Excellent, Thanks!

[@jase5415]

Eric...Some of the NFL players before games drink pickle juice to stay hydrated...since your not a NFL pro athlete eating a few big pickles through your day might do it for ya...it works !!

[@nursenic03]

How did 9.87 equal 5/8ths?

[@lancboi88]

If I'm correct you're using a cloth tape to do cross square. STEEL TAPE! Check out chapa concrete in poth Texas if you want us how to do it right! Also you don't need d pins

[@joser5193]

Bub Y’all be Safe out That Sun will most definitely get You. Maybe try a battery operated hammer drill for the wood or metal stakes. 👍👍

[@cntslesfabrication]

I have been there so dehydrated that I started throwing up when I was 13 year's old. I ended up in the hospital heat anit nothing to mess with. It's been 116 to 123 degrees for the high temp over the last week with the low temp of 95 degrees. Not any fun to be in let alone work in

[@baronvolkov6172]

Dang, where you located? Its hitting 100 in Washington state and im out, No work being done outside until it cools down! Even my shop is too hot to do anything in this heat, especially welding.

[@cntslesfabrication]

@@baronvolkov6172 death Valley

[@buildingenergywise5336]

Hammer drill and metal stakes in solid Limestone!

[@dougmate2378]

The UV index has been horrible lately. working flight line, the heat has been atrocious. Ready for August to be done, it's been a brutal year for temps.

[@terminalvelocity6398]

Be careful out there, Eric!

[@rbrack54]

I asked my dad once how come they dont make an automatic sledge hammer. He said they do, it is called the Armstrong Sledge hammer. :)

[@wilkinsoncarpentry6278]

Take it easy man , it really does take it out of u doesn’t it, I get lethargic and repeat myself like u did . I know when it’s taking a toll on me and to call it quits , usually I get a headache, when that happens I know is it’s all over, if I don’t get that headache under control, I get a migraine that goes for days haha so yea good on ya for calling it a day 🤙

[@bella_h65]

When cameras don’t show distance well but love ur videos

[@TemplarX2001]

the way our lecturer covered all this in like 5 minutes and i didnt have a clue what was happening feel like im in for a surprise after varsity....

[@mikenotta7079]

Got to be careful in that heat! I use an electrolyte powder from Dr Berg. Works beautifully at keeping your electrolytes up!

[@JM-yx1lm]

Does it make plants grow?

[@ivanroque416]

1st time seen cortina working 🤣🤣🤣

[@jamesstanlake4064]

need to get and use "cool ties

[@dare2scheme904]

Tip: keep and use a pick mattock

[@jamonburchett7531]

This videos shows how you use the pathogen theorem to center up the slab a lot better than the video you did before

[@ramongarcia8044]

Where its all help Maestro ?

[@Randomstuff-qf7uj]

I double checked it's April or not before opening the video 🤣

[@TexasBarndominiums]

😂

[@Im-not-clever]

My part of Texas is 2" of top soil then all rock, it sucks...

[@johnswan9123]

Heat exhaustion is deceptive; it sneaks up on you with very little warning signs.

[@ernestoapantipan8833]

This better be no late April fool's video

[@rkheinz57]

Off subject where is Manny?

[@gustavocastaneda8458]

If this comment gets a 100 likes Leroy has to set forms and recorded too haha

[@gmathis4829]

Any type of Clay in Rocky Country is hard in the Summertime ( between Rains)..... ESPECIALLY "that" Blankety-Blank/Blank Caliche that Y'all/ Ustedes have down there. The Red Clay/Cherty Limestone we have "aqui" in the Ozarks is almost as tough. Both Soil Types are waaaaay more of an Engineering Substrate than an Agricultural Medium....... LOL... Saludos desde eSpringdale Arkansas BuenGente😉😉😉😉!!!

[@firsttpt]

Don't mess with dehydration. In that heat, if you're not drinking enough that you need to pee every hour or so, you're probably not drinking enough. :)

[@BuhBaSam]

Seems the ground is only this hard when it’s hot as can be.

[@LILRESHW]

13:09 #weak lol

[@sebastiend.5335]

Nice burn indeed

[@2CODO1963]

Teaching someone else how to swing a sledgehammer is hard work.

[@trumpingtonfanhurst694]

Hard dirt, the Curse of plumbers, dirt workers, and concrete guys. You never know when you'll run into it. Sometimes the sharp end of the pick just bounces off of it. It makes the job twice as hard, so I take a shovel on estimates and charge more for it.

[@billbarut7666]

Is this Matt’s property

[@holysmokeDC]

Awesome knowledge just to "sit forms", gotta know the Math on that to. I hear ya on the Heat, Oklahoma is that way to, yep we got the red clay and hard stuff. Gets so hot you wonder about "any 02 in the air" (figure of speech 😕?)

[@0LordZarfax0]

Work safe

[@matthewhelton1725]

Eric, you're my hero, but I can't help but see the salt in the pepper... you're getting a little old for Forming and Outside Framing, man. Like Indiana Jones said... it's not the years... it's the mileage.

[@rubenvarela4077]

Nah cordless righthanded Makita

[@craftyhand2023]

Oh Wow Sr. Eric! I feel you; we hit 108 today in some parts of California. It feels like Hell! Drink alot of Pedialyte to restore ur electrolytes...✌❤🙏🙏

[@geo-eu6ro]

👍🏽

[@ToadleyBrowne]

Concrete on top of concrete.

[@Mike-.]

For the algorithm

[@PabloRDZ214]

Guess manny ain’t there no more.

[@realazzwardogg922]

Big blue is a little rusty.

[@ErnieeTX]

To me 2x10s Forms is better . & having batter boards .