I Built A Snow Melting Sidewalk In 4 Hours!

When the City of Brooklyn began replacing all the sidewalks in our neighborhood of Williamsburg my husband and I decided to put a snow melting system in the concrete because who wants to shovel snow? It seemed like a good idea until the construction workers ripped up our sidewalk and told me I only had two hours to get it done. Here's what happened next...
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[@frederickkinney3621]

OMG....that was a nerve-wracking/amazing episode!!!!! I LOVED IT...CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE!!!! XOXOXOXFREDDIE

[@BackToTheStuds]

It was SUCH a sweaty & stressful 4 hours, Frederick, but the construction workers were actually VERY into the idea and gave me more time by skipping my house and continuing down the block. When they were done with the block they came back and did me last and even helped me lay the rebar in place. In return I gave them all grape popsicles for being such pals. I'm glad ya like the video. We love the melting snow out front!

[@gabrielschroll3824]

YES! The alarm on my watch went off for the wings I had baking JUST AS all of the electricians were being called! I was on the edge of my seat!!! I almost wanted to let the wings overcook because I was so engrossed!!! Aaaaah. I remembered there is a pause button on KZbin, but came back as quickly as I could. Wow. What an awesome sidewalk, and now winters must be MUCH less miserable walking outside. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

[@BYOTools]

You know you're excited to see if something works when you stay up will 4 am haha. Love it!

[@BackToTheStuds]

So true! I didn’t include video of the two previous times it snowed and I’d not connected the system correctly and had to shovel my brand new walk alongside my neighbors, but this time the Warmup team had actually come out to the house and found my silly error, so I was SURE it was gonna work this time and darn sure not gonna miss it!

[@chejohnny3706]

cant believe the city allowed you to do that! I'd thought you'd have to submit engineering and pull permits etc and then pay them big $$. Good for you!

[@BackToTheStuds]

We thought so, too, but the city was totally cool- as long as we know that ONE DAY when they need to re-do our sidewalk we can’t sue them for any damage. Okay!!!👍

[@johnwang9914]

I would guess it would be hit or miss as to which minor bureaucrat you got when you asked for permission. The neighborhood looked quite gentrified so the city was probably quite open to property improvements simply to increase future tax revenue.

[@a.leehilliard4716]

Not to hard to figure out why they were allowed.

[@pfoxhound]

Had to add a reflective insulation on the bottom of heating elements.

[@greekmaster1001]

@@BackToTheStudsso.did you have to sign a waiver?

[@jimmorrison3830]

Fantastic job. I remember going to school in that neighborhood 81 82 83 they couldn't give those buildings away now they're priceless. You guys struck gold

[@johnwang9914]

There was a row of brick townhomes that I used to think would be excellent future gentrification but the city tore them down to enlarge the roads.

[@JasnaCG]

You guys are blowing me away! My wife discovered you on tik tok and i am obsessed !

[@BackToTheStuds]

Heh heh heh! Thank you so much. It's all so new and we're delighted to have so many folks on TikTok want to come along as we do our renovation. I appreciate you coming over here for more. 😀🌿

[@bradhaughton6698]

Well, as a New Yorker, that's a Happy New Yorker right there

[@thebackbuddy748]

Yeah to the men pouring the concrete. They were very respectful to your equipment when they didn't have to be. Good vid. With terrific results.

[@hanzdownsports]

Best addition too your property. We need more of those heating things around the city.

[@BackToTheStuds]

I first started seeing them in Manhattan YEARS ago in front of nicer hotels on wintery days. Someone in Europe commented on TikTok that this is standard sidewalk issue in their very snowy city, so someone's figured out how to do it!

[@jkries]

Great job guys. I love the renegade installation and how you pulled it off! Now time to get that pathway next to the house on the same system!

[@BackToTheStuds]

Thanks, Jorge. Actually, our NEXT step is to put the Warmup underneath all our bathrooms! Then we'll be looking at that LONNNNNNG 100 foot run from the curb up the driveway! Thanks for subscribing!

[@jcrud]

Such a great idea - looking forward to seeing how the rest of it turns out

[@BackToTheStuds]

Thanks, JC.

[@ilonvitti]

Love this!! Smart thinking, you saved thousands! I'm in CT, I wish I knew about these when I repaved my driveway 8 years ago but didn't come across until now. How exciting to watch it in action!

[@fishmonger6879]

He won’t be using it long, he did not put any insulation under the mat, so the cost in electric usage will be astronomical

[@ginabina707]

That’s really cool. I would have never thought of heated sidewalks.

[@BackToTheStuds]

Here in the city we had occasionally seen it in front of fancy hotels, so we knew it existed and thought it was a great ideal. But it was'n't til the city told us they'd be replacing our sidewalks that we REALLY considered doing it. :-)

[@okay999]

You guys are so entertaining, this was literally such a great idea!

[@BackToTheStuds]

Thanks, Cassandra. it was Sean's idea for ME to do!

[@marcmercado2085]

Thanks for the follow up of showing it working.

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

4:38 I can't believe the electrician's name is Ken Electrician - what a crazy coincidence! Perhaps his unusual surname was what inspired him to become an electrician in the first place.

[@612osiris]

Tim Apple would be so proud.

[@khallilmarshall]

Your dentist’s name is Crentist?

[@theofficialgreenkane9645]

My wife has a guy friend named “Babe” saved in her phone. What a silly name 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@stardustknl]

OMG I had no idea this was available!! This is something I will be looking into!!

[@BackToTheStuds]

We’re so happy with it. We’re about to install WarmUp in our entry and all our bathrooms!💪💪

[@elizabethbottroff1218]

I imagine that the crews got a kick out of your creativity. Plus, technically, you provided free wire mesh at your location. 🤣

[@kdunlap3289]

50 yrs ago when our town built a new library, they installed this in all the walkways surrounding. But found that unless it was left on24/7 the walkways re-froze and was worse and more expensive in the long run than anticipated. I'm glad it works for you. How is it after 2 yrs?

[@nathanbrownmolotov8697]

That was a super cool project !!

[@RyderCalmDown]

that install was so chaotic, i love it.

[@ManeAttractionsinBowieMd]

This was an amazing job. I would love that

[@betabot.]

this is so cool

[@marciesobieski5996]

One dislike? Wth! I loved this video. They are geniuses! The person disliking this must be jealous.

[@BackToTheStuds]

Hahah! Maybe he’s in the snow shoveling business, or one of my neighbor kids who I used to pay $40 to shovel us out!😊💪

[@megandaniels2002]

you guys are great! love your energy

[@BackToTheStuds]

Thanks, Megan!

[@utube2008utube]

so cool! nice work

[@BackToTheStuds]

Thanks, Bob. It was super stressful that day, but it's pretty sweet now!

[@louiseberry2265]

This is so cool.

[@VGBNDGRL]

You have such an eye for the production to these videos. I feel like I’m watching a show lol!! Really like keeping up w your project!

[@BackToTheStuds]

Oh, thanks so much, Anna! I’m glad ya like them!!🙏😊🌿

[@firstlast189]

Stayed up all night waiting for the storm to hit.. And just when it started to snow!!! The power went out.

[@paolanunez8850]

Omg love your videos are so awesome waiting for more

[@BackToTheStuds]

Thanks, Paola. I'm working on our DEMOLITION video now and will post ASAP! Thanks!

[@ddgiant]

Love the video. I work for a company that offers the same product and electric snowmelt is a great option. Question are all 3 mats connected directly to the single controller or is there a contactor as well. And one correction on your video. You say the system will stay on for 8 hours, that is not correct. It turns on due to temperature being below 39 and the moisture grid getting wet, it then stays on while that grid stays wet, once dry it will stay on for a set amount of time, usually 1 hour but can be adjusted. Did you also add the auxiliary controller for it. Great system and great job installing it. Great opportunity and surprised the city let you do it. We have done projects in NYC area and they always say no to the public sidewalk

[@lave_ogol]

I love this, Am from Tiktok can't wait for the growth.

[@BackToTheStuds]

Hey there, Lave and thanks for the follow over here!

[@specfever2]

Have the neighborhood cats found this warm dry place to lay down yet?

[@BackToTheStuds]

We absolutely have a street cat that spends a lot of time in front of our house you’re around. Those smart cats know just how to find the right spot.

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

Ok it's 2024. How has this lasted? Is it still functional? What electrical load does it require. Awesome upgrade for city living.

[@infinitedreaming222]

We don’t get snow like that anymore in nyc

[@89five3five]

Hope you slipped the workers an extra $20 for not damaging the mats while pouring the concrete.

[@donofchron4204]

It only took workers 4 hours to rip it up and replace it... Lmao in my town it took 3 months after it was ripped up. My neighbor's and I actually had to call the town to get them back to work before winter hit.... And they DESTROYED everybody's yard doing it and left it all messed up.. it was in better shape before construction. Now my neighborhood looks like hell..

[@initiate22000]

Great video! What is the vine with pink flowers growing on your house? I want one!

[@beyondpestcontrol1826]

What would it cost do do the walkway and backyard? This is amazing by the way.

[@jenniferjacobs228]

Living in Australia. I never knew this was even a thing LOL... How cool...or should I say warm? Great video and thanks for teaching me something new :-)

[@BackToTheStuds]

Hi Jennifer. I’m so glad you liked it. All of Sean’s family is in the Melbourne area and we’re there every couple years, so I know how crazy this idea would be there! ☺️🌿

[@seanmartinhingston7122]

Being a homeowner in Australia is SO much easier! Bush fires and floods notwithstanding. I tell Brad that all the time. There's no leaves to rake, no snow to shovel or pipes to be winterized, no basements with inefficient furnaces/boilers, no need to replace that tile roof or galvanized iron roofing. Here roofs get replaced every twenty years; built-in obsolescence. NO POTHOLES. The roads here are awful. Extreme cold cracks the asphalt and the roads break up under pressure. IN Oz the roads are more likely to melt than crack. Life in Australia is comparatively EASY. Thus: THE LUCKY COUNTRY label.

[@josedodgedon1347]

This year with all the snow we got It was probably a solid investment 👍🏼

[@BackToTheStuds]

It was SO satisfying to see it handle those big fat fluffy snowflakes pouring down!

[@Detblue]

Great video. I was alway interested in having that done in front of my house. How long have you had the mats installed and have you had any issues with the mats like not working.

[@BackToTheStuds]

They went in in 2017 and they worked great this past winter. No issues at all with them working. I’d imagine the mats are really stable. Any issues would come in the sensor which determines if there snow and turns on for 8 hours, but that’s working brilliantly!🙏🙏😊

[@A1bargainco]

@@BackToTheStuds the beauty of the electric mat thing is you don’t have to worry about a heated liquid line springing a leak!

[@vze21gwa]

@@BackToTheStuds What is the increase in electrical costs? Do you run these with solar?

[@porkchopjp]

talk about studs! ;)

[@joserenteria7596]

It looks great!!! I came here from tik tok

[@BackToTheStuds]

Hi Jose and thanks for coming by for the longer videos. We appreciate it!

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

I wish my neighbor would install this system. Then I could push my snow over to their side ; )

[@A1bargainco]

This was a good video because it helped me decide which system to use, why use the heated liquid lines when we all know they can start to leak ? Great video, funny video at the end.

[@BackToTheStuds]

I’m so glad that helped, Kevin. I did a lot of searching to figure out what would work for us and our situation and we are so happy with how this system is working for us.

[@belladriver258]

Your kid so adorable ❤

[@tymesho]

LOL, Ya' just COULDN'T resist the pirouetting, could ya'?

[@ronblack7870]

that was a tiny amount of snow for a big snowstorn.i got 4 feet in 2 days just before thanksgiving. and i have seen almost double that in the past.

[@alexmaclean1]

What is the running wattage of your system? This looks fantastic, well worth the investment, especially if you plan to live there long term as you age and want to shovel less and less lol

[@rgolab3174]

I wonder how this system did this year.

[@MelHam01]

Talk about lucky!

[@ThePatriotPirate]

what was the total cost?

[@klimtkahlo]

This should be paid by the state to make life more bearable in all the countries where it snows!

[@BackToTheStuds]

You are so right. Never going to happen but we can dream, can’t we?👍👋😊

[@ShnozzleShabizzle]

At 5:48 - Mel Gibson driving the cemeny truck.

[@janakpurivlogger2244]

What is the power of snow melting device?

[@elizabethcarrasco2199]

Wow, you should’ve shared with your neighborhood maybe they would’ve done the same.

[@BackToTheStuds]

You’re right. In the years since many of them have become interested. 😊🌿

[@albert.h]

I wonder if there’s way to design the system for redundancy like with independent circuits. So if the city decides to dig up an area, you’d still have 2/3 or 1/3 of the system, heating up enough width for pedestrians.

[@BackToTheStuds]

Good point. We currently have three separate pads - sidewalk part 1, sidewalk part 2 and driveway. If the city digs up one of those the others won't be damaged if wired correctly. Thanks!

[@elliottryan13]

"Thankfully we have a teenager in the house," I'd call you an ass for that but I use my teen and 10 y/o for most house chores. GREAT VIDEO BROTHER!

[@crossbow3539]

I was wondering why all those homeless people were all sleeping in front of that one house

[@docdew50]

Love the ending. You do man.

[@myice-creamdreams3421]

you should have told the neighbors so you all could have taken advantage of the heated sidewalk more free walking area and put it all on a switch so its affordable for everyone even on a budget anyways nows it working? its been a cold nasty winter so far here in 2023

[@notanaive]

I would like to see your electricity bill. 😂

[@tired7140]

That's what I was wondering. How much does it cost per month?

[@Derskorpion85]

Has your electric bill been any higher? What if the power goes off before a storm? Malfunctions and dangers? Life time of unit?

[@BackToTheStuds]

Our bill has been higher but honestly, it’s difficult to pinpoint how much is caused by the sidewalk. Now that the city has changed us out to digital meters we hope to have a better understanding of exactly how much it costs. If the electric goes off and it snows on our sidewalk then we pick up a shovel. 💪

[@Derskorpion85]

@@BackToTheStuds Wonder how many years the unit will last you before having to be replaced? Hope it will be worth it in the long run economically

[@sittingindetroit9204]

@@BackToTheStuds When are meters (water and sewer about 3 years apart) were replaced with new ones, our "usage" went up about 20% for each.

[@Mark300win]

What about electricity cost? What the KWH rating of such system?

[@ddgiant]

By the looks of the system, it appears to be a 37 watt per sq ft system

[@johnwang9914]

Looks like a pretty gentrified neighborhood plus they likely have two male incomes. I'm sure that electricity costs are not an issue to them and they are probably wealthy enough to have photovoltaic panels in a grid tied system to compensate (they would probably get government subsidies to do so).

[@kevngu7256]

How much did this cost you?

[@tristankordek]

😊👍

[@markstratton228]

question, who shovels mrs Romano's?

[@petergetinard4811]

I could never live in that cold, I’d get stiff!…does that happen to you?…burrrr

[@Hmfirestormz]

This felt like a high school videography report 😅😅

[@IrfanKhanCool]

Electricity bill?

[@cryptickcryptick2241]

The invoice showed 4 areas at 540 watts each. That is about 2 kilowatts per hour. in the USA an frequently used average price for power is $0.12 per kilowatt, so this costs about $0.25 per hour or $6.00 a day if running non stop. How long it is on and how often it needs to likely varies.

[@rupe53]

@@cryptickcryptick2241 that 12 cents per Kw is likely without the taxes, fuel adjustment, and distribution fees. IOW, more like 20 - 25 cents per Kw in the greater NYC area. Still, $12 a day is cheap compared to moving snow by hand. (paying someone else)

[@jjjohn5914]

Hardly worth it for such a small area....I have a 200 foot driveway and enjoy removing my own snow at 61. All my neighbors have theirs plowed. Even if your sidewalk had 2 feet of snow it would only take me about 15 minutes to clear.

[@vze21gwa]

It's not just that. Sometimes neighbors will throw their snow onto your sidewalk. Not to mention, passersby will transfer it with their boots.

[@garym.5931]

What happens when the city needs to do any cutting to run something and breaks the circuit?

[@feetsoap4266]

⚡🤯

[@johnwang9914]

I suppose you would have to repair it by splicing in a patch before they lay down the concrete again. It would probably be a good idea to keep some segments in a closet just in case and if course all the phone numbers for electricians.

[@kellyjohnson5814]

Wonder How much this is on the electric bill

[@dereksmith8422]

It reaps havoc on your electric bill. Don't believe the hype.

[@SomeUserNameBlahBlah]

Especially since they didn't put insulation between the ground and heating elements. A lot of heat, i.e. power, is going into the ground and being wasted.

[@sandrad5148]

Hi I want to followers on tiktok Amazing job Keep on doing job and

[@BackToTheStuds]

Hi Sandra. We appreciate the encouragement!😊🌿

[@battlebotts]

Rebar? No

[@johnwang9914]

As he said, the rebar was only to hold the grid in place. I suppose the alternative would've been to pound in spikes to anchor the grid though you'd think that just twist tie the segments together should be as effective as the rebar.

[@pierreverdoni]

It's not rebar it's wire mesh........

[@artmosley3337]

How many homeless do you have to kick off each day?😂😂😂😂..

[@johnwang9914]

Presumably, the controller would only activate the system during snowfall so it shouldn't attract a lot of homeless like the HVAC gratings do. Besides, the homeless tend to stay away from residential neighborhoods where they would be more likely to be noticed and complaints generated.

[@carltontweedle5724]

Why is he not remanded to jail. Before trial. He doe's have a plane he will run.

[@halfestevan1]

Husband and I? Not possible friend. Awesome sidewalk though, keep it up!

[@sanman6102]

Scripted

[@orionodin4078]

God loves you and I know you’ve heard this many times throughout your life but I’d love it if you would just give him another try with an open mind I’m sure he’d love it and reveal his truth to you, love you and great idea I’m thinking about putting this around my homestead one day I’m not sure though. ❤❤❤

[@jonel5001]

Lets fight against climate chance by warming the air... Human is too stupid to survive. Lets hope next spieces are intellectual.

[@oaktree1626]

Stupid statement

[@sylvanave3923]

great timing. well produced. your husband ... ummmm hope that kid turns out ptsd free,. condition free, mental illness free, following laws of nature nor preference ... to all the man/woman couples ... are you letting your child have a sleep over at this house? be honest. my my how times have changed. the snow is melting along with our sanity. wishing all the very best for home improvement and LIFE improvement.

[@Grellibe]

Nobody cares you're a homophobe. I'm queer myself lmao. Don't catch my cooties, hunty.

[@sylvanave3923]

@@Grellibe you can be Q all you wish. Just keep it away from the children and register yourself so your neighbors are aware. No homophobe, real life issues during a time where kids are being indoctrinated into a culture with perils unbeknownst to them. As in these two husbands somehow adopting a "kid" and that kid actually having a fair shot at developing normal without any imposed preference systems embedded into his being. Hang in there tho Q, soon Pedo will be legal along with animal abuse and maybe even Raype ... then yall will be in total state of bliss to partake in the open as well. Get well soon.

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

What century are you living in? Please go away.

[@ohglobbits]

Sounds like the only one with a mental illness is you.

[@eljerc5894]

I will pray for your sins

[@ericahill9998]

I hope that you're able to remove the hate from your heart someday. The only person doing anything wrong is the person who is filled with hatred. That's you.

[@ohglobbits]

I checked the Bible and it says nothing about having a heated sidewalk.

[@slice40]

Ha, nice job boys, that was pretty cool. I’m up here in God’s country-Wisconsin- so I know the deal. That was just cool Wanted to say hey from Wisco!

[@andreasgiannopoulos1204]

DISGAYSTING.......