Concrete Garage Floor Pour with No Rebar

[@marklahti1954]

I am a retired project manager of a construction firm in North Florida, so I have watched a gazillion pours. You guys are top notch. I like your MO. Much easier to work the mud then letting the mud work you. Keep up the good work!

[@raymondjackson6069]

I just love when people just get to the point. Everything they say is new information. A LOT of guys on KZbin, repeat their 1 minute message over and over, this they have a 20 minute video. Everything Mike says is new information. Bravo!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you

[@raymondjackson6069]

@@MikeDayConcrete Your're welcome and thank you. I am a little smarter because your videos!

[@rinkevichjm]

Wouldn’t Helix have been a better reinforcement to prevent cracking and SCC cut the floating and poured faster?

[@Tashal]

I love that it's clear here that you gave full and clear instructions and were patient as he learned instead of just making him watch and complaining that he can't get the motions right in just a few minutes. Patience is the mark of a good teacher. Adding good communication to that makes a great teacher!

[@fintan3563]

I’m obsessed by concrete work. I watch three vlogs regularly: Mike Day, Hauses and Odell! Beautiful work today, Mike. 👍👍👍

[@macomberfilms]

Add Victory Outdoor Services to the list.

[@CheesyCrotch]

There can be only 1 (Mike)

[@markploof]

@@macomberfilmsBondo built

[@MsKittykattyMc]

I watch all of them.

[@DominicHamel-d5o]

I love that you have the patience to teach and I also love you have an apprentice willing to learn the trade. I'm an old dog in an entirely different trade. Sharing my skills and knowledge with an apprentice willing to learn and actually using this valuable information gives me a certain joy. Knowing I'm helping someone grow is extremely satisfying. I imagine you feel very much the same way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your videos. I poured my patio myself, skid and 1/2 of 80lb bags mixed in a wheelbarrow. 10x12. Nowhere near as nice as what you guys do

[@jimvikse7453]

I'm a retired general with a specialty license in concrete, in the hot and sunny desert of southeast California. You guys make it look so easy, I miss it! Lol!

[@kharyrojas]

I’m from Long Island, NY. You make it look sooooo easy. I’ve watched about 10 videos so far. Great commentary. Thanks.

[@janstafford1490]

i’m a brit watchin from uk, i’ve watched US guys work in many fields and have absolute respect for their equipment and techniques and you’s are so chilled, pleasure to learn, cheers👍🏽

[@roblescurbappealconcrete]

Hey Mike. Gatesville Texas. Y’all did an amazing job getting it on the ground, the screeding and bull floating. Young Luke has gotten a lot better at dragging and pulling mud. Great video, excellent teaching. Thank you 👍

[@chuckerroo5977]

Great technique. I'm from phila suburbs and screed everything myself with a 10 stick or smaller. 35 years Wish I had good help like darren ( and josh) That guy reminds me of myself. You better give him a raise.! I use 4000 psi wire and rod all garages around the edges reguardless. I also never cut the air.

[@johneden7975]

I’m down here in RI, I’m a pro-am concreter. I don’t do a ton of jobs a year because I’m semi retired. Def on board with 6-1/2” slumps, it’s so easy to float and also screed. I’d need 4guys, awesome to see the orchestra do this with 3 guys!

[@1956arc]

I use to do concrete in Montana. I love the idea of water reducer so you can pour at a 6 inch slump. Levels a lot easier and seals quick. Nice job!

[@johnwinslow4503]

Nice video, just did my last flatwoork last Thursday for a Falmouth Lions Safe Housing project. Gave my bull float to Jr. from Scott Construction,They sent me three of his his guys. Have used that bull float for 40 years. Appreciate your professionalism. You have a stellar reputation.

[@mattberube2048]

Northeast CT, USA YES! I think you guys are super efficient and very fast. I’m a total amateur DIYer and I have found your videos extremely helpful for my own concrete projects. Thanks for all the help, Mike😎

[@falashlaba20]

Québec, Canada, Love watching those fast and immaculate pours of yours. Makes me want to pour concrete so bad. I've done 2 pads for myself so far (total of 10 m³) and both times I was struggling a bit. When I watch you guys work i get super motivated and optimistic. Hopefully I find another project soon. Keep it up

[@patedwards932]

Iowa here. Just enjoy watching good work. Not a concrete guy but encouraged by watching you guys have done my garage slab 24x36 and a porch deck 18x40. Thanks for all the great videos.

[@oudonbail]

Im glad you explained this, I watched another tuber Nate Petroski do a entire shed slab on a hilltop and say reo was not needed and it scared me how many in comments agreed with him

[@onjofilms]

I agree with everything you say about wire and rebar. Most people don't know, that is true. Our slabs here in Florida do crack a lot because they don't do what we used to do in NC 30 years ago. We used to cover it up with plastic or hay or spray water on it so it don't dry too fast. Here in Florida, they just don't care. You pull up any carpet on any slab here, and it is spidered with cracks. They all let them dry way too fast.

[@normanhunter7]

How true, the days of properly curing concrete are long gone.

[@ChipsPlace1952]

​@@normanhunter7 I was told 28 days is the proper time for a cure, is that true?

[@normanhunter7]

@ChipsPlace1952 28 days is the standard time to determine strength for test cylinders when broken, if a test cylinder fails on 28 days a "hold" cylinder is broken at 56 days, if that also fails then engineers usually get involved, this is from a testing point of view, also keep in mind the test cylinders are kept in a moist room at 72f for optimum results, whether this equates to real world applications is anyone's guess but yes 28 days is the accepted time thought this can change dramatically depending on conditions, curing etc, sorry for the long winded reply but I thought the extra information would be useful.

[@lampsford]

Northern MI. Youre a great teacher. Very well spoken!

[@cbalano]

#1: Ontario Canada here. #2: I love watching your videos.

[@mikevandenboom5958]

I did it for the first time for my handicap brother. We put in a new driveway and walk. It was an 11 metre pour and I should have done it in Two pours. It was a warm day and it was setting fast. Holy cow what a lot of work when you're a noob. The job was not perfect when it was done, but it certainly was better than the old drive. I think we had about an hour of work time. Anyway he saved about 5 grand so he's happy.

[@KapnCrunk]

Kalapana, Big Island. The true mark of a pro is making it look easy. You guys made it look way too easy!

[@edwardbarnett6571]

I used to drive concrete trucks and am watching from Australia and am very impressed.

[@kgill5]

Omaha, NE. When you’re good, you make it look easy. Thanks, Mike!

[@joe833a]

watching from Ontario Canada. You guys are doing a beautiful job, Very impressed.

[@jerryharder1381]

Retired Pumper here {Gastaldo Vancouver}. Except on a slope water reducer is the best product to come along and greatly reduces time and i love the boom smack from Agillia. Thunk, Thunk lol!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks for sharing

[@patrickpryal9344]

UP of Michigan...always great work from Mike Day !

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Much appreciated

[@thegeneralist7527]

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. You make it look so easy, but that is years of experience and great teamwork.

[@scotthager8691]

Your guys speed is awesome can’t imagine being able to do this day in and day out the strength and stamina is impressive. Thanks for info and willingness to share with others.

[@ninoellison7793]

So glad I found your channel. Such informative content. Watching from Japan 🇯🇵

[@generessler6282]

Very smooth job. Exactly right: subgrade prep is 90% of the job for a slab on grade. Compaction is a real science. Fill quality and correct moisture. A bit surprised though that there's no flex joint material between slab and wall as it helps reduce shrinkage cracking.

[@stanr5645]

Yes! You always want to isolate the slab from walls

[@duffyjas1]

Greetings from Germany. I am a civil engineer (studied in Boulder, Colorado) and mostly worked on large hydro projects throughout the world. The concrete cracking occurs mostly during the hydration process (first 3 days). You are correct that the concrete compressive strength of the concrete is not increased by the steel reinforcement, however, the tensile strength is another matter. I would always place a minimum amount of steel reinforcement in a concrete structure to cover the load case hydration. In fact, German building codes require a minimum amount of reinforcement to cover the load case hydration. I assume the American code (ACI 318) is similar. It's nice to see a well oiled team getting it done.

[@miguelfernandez6337]

Yes, love your pro work! Fast and efficient. I’m viewing from Chula Vista, CA.

[@richardmain7534]

From Michigan enjoying your crew. Nice work.

[@stevejesus6525]

Ex GC here on Cape Cod now. Did public bid work throughout eastern New england from Caribou Maine to PTown Cape Cod. Had a lot of Crete poured for us and did plenty ourselves too. You're pretty damn good Mike!

[@jimhagenford79]

Watching from Minnesota! When i was young, i only helped pour feeder floors for hogs, pretty forgiving. @ 57 yrs old, nice to watch professionals!😊

[@tootallsteve1]

Thats how it works when you have a good crew. And good mud. It seems to be almost impossible to get both at the same time anymore. Thanks .Steve in Oregon.

[@billkea7224]

Watching from South Carolina. Your teamwork is amazing and makes all the difference. Nobody is standing around waiting to be told what to do. I would have used the power screed, but that is just me.

[@anthonyricci6858]

Fastest way to screed hands down, great stuff, we pour out of Augusta area, thank you for you’re dedication to the Crete world🤘

[@Superthermal]

You guys are rockin it. Nice.

[@salvadorsepulveda6415]

The young Luke is learning great from a great teacher 👏 🎉

[@JP-bd4zl]

Australian here, I've seen plenty of finishing crews and these guys win hands down The lifting of the boots to leave less dips was like a Swan dance 😂 no wonder all they do is pour and finish, very professional

[@anthonylane9547]

Hey guys. Watching from Queensland Australia. Yous make it look so easy which i know its not. 🍻🍻🍻

[@williamseneka9959]

Great skills. Best method. Easy and short time ensuring fast works. Greetings fm PNG🇵🇬

[@Stan_in_Shelton_WA]

Why no expansion joint between the slab and the walls?

[@kevinshafer4296]

Looks like you guys are definitely pros. No wasted motions

[@loggggon]

Watching from New Zealand, nice job,

[@Sailor376also]

I work Michigan and Arizona. Michigan I can normally get a transit mix in and in the last few years I have adopted water reducers. Like you say, makes it more flowable. I normally work with an inexperienced crew. I set up intermediate forms that get yanked as we go. or if pouring a basement I have small grade stakes that get stepped down as we go. Blessfully I am whiz bang with a bull float. If rhe screed was good I can have it smooth enough for a sidewalk and broom finish. Arizona 50 plus miles to the nearest transmix. Usually mix my own, 9 cubic foot mixer, two wheel barrows to the batch. One guy doing nothing but mixing the next batch. I keep slabs to 8 feet or less wide, come back the next day and do all the alternating strips. Lotsa labour, but the only purchases are portland and screen. Sand and aggregate come straight out of the wash, native.

[@TTRVision]

watching from Romania. super job as always!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@olte6404]

really great video , im from sweden and i have never seen anyone do a floor that fast

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks for watching!

[@tedrowland3840]

Pennsylvania here retired definitely fast and very good and methodical. Very good method used to tamp the rocks down with a hand held 4 ft tamper. And then bullfloated.

[@WoodGuy]

I love fiber mesh instead of rebar. I did a 60' X 40' pour using fiber mesh, the concrete guys weren't used to using fiber mesh so they insisted on doing a relief cut down the middle, I didn't want it and told them so, they did it anyway. I never had a crack anywhere in that floor. The next house I did, same thing, they put in relief cuts even though I told them not to. My current garage/shop doesn't have a sloped floor, the guy who did the floor was an older guy, and to me, was a genius. When I told him I didn't want the floor sloped in the shop half of the garage, he said, I don't do sloped floors, instead of explaining, he said, you'll see what I do. Turns out what he did was cut in a slope the last18" inched in front of the garage doors, the slop is about an inch difference from the finish floor height to the outside edge of where the roll up doors are. That way any blown in rain under the door rolls right back out again. It truly is a genius idea. He told me many years ago he was working on a vehicle in his garage and he dropped a socket from him wrench and he had to chase it across the floor. That ended up being the last sloped floor he did. I love the flat floor because my table saw out-feet table sits nice and flush with the top of my table saw. Unfortunately for me, his guys are used to rebar and always saw in relief cuts, so when I saw the guy the next day take out the diamond saw, I told him, I didn't want the relief cuts. He insisted and his boss, the old guy, wasn't around so I ended up with a bunch of relief cuts in the floor that I had to fill with gray silicone so saw dust and finish nails didn't end up in them. Fiber mesh is the way to go. I had a guy come over while the house was being constructed and I showed him my floor and about fiber mesh. He came back about a month later telling me he has a mass of cracks in his floor and it had fiber mesh in it. Turns out he didn't use the same concrete company I did and some other concrete firm. I asked him how familiar his concrete company was with using fiber mesh. He told me they don't use it in their concrete but he insisted they use it. I said, they probably didn't know how much to use or just dumped it all in at once instead of knowing how to us it.

[@BAMACOUPE]

Thanks so much for these videos! We're pouring a 12'x20' slab next week with confidence thanks to you. We'll be wearing our Concrete Underground hoodies, too. :)

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Send me some pictures. [e-mail]

[@Herr2Cents]

Hi Mike, I am going to build in 🇧🇷 Brazil. I wish my contractor could get a truck up the mountain. They use a mixer on site. One thing I have difficulty with people here is that when I mention a vapor barrier, they look at me weirdly . I visited friend's houses in the mountains and noticed water problems with their brickwork, and I can smell mold and see how water migrated up through the cement foundation spalling and degrading the bricks. I've learned so much watching your videos over the years! As a DYI guy, I really appreciate your expertise. I wish I hired someone like you for my old house in Massachusetts. I had a terrible experience a few years ago.

[@georgesackinger2002]

Know your stuff. Grad from Idaho State Univ. in Civil Eng Tech. Since I have poured many slabs, basements and etc. Can't emphasize prep of base. One thing more. Do not use additive to fast set. I have had a perfect trowel surface and covered with plastic. Calcium foamed overnight under plastic cover. I also noticed plastic under your slab. You might have mentioned that this will greatly reduce moisture infiltration through concrete since concrete will allow moisture to come up from it. It will reduce the rust on your items sitting on the slab.

[@trawlertravels6376]

Bluffton SC...Nice work. My back hurts just watching...lol

[@troys6965]

I thought this was the only way to pour an inside floor until moving into swampland where monolithic slabs with rebar work best.

[@byronsowntime]

Finland here and yes.. very fast.. agreed about the rebar.. not needed been pouring for years same sort of way... I also water proof with anti water absorbent around entrance ways as we hit insane temps and the entrances are vulnerable unless sealed.

[@AveryExcavating]

As you said the base prep is most important. How you did it here is how most of the garages/indoor spaces are poured here in northern michigan.

[@CoronadoBruin]

Retired recently after 45 years of doing this. I agree with everything that was said, but for the second half of my career we tossed the wire mesh (we would use 6 gauge instead of 10 gauge on occasion) and put in #3 (even #4 rarely), usually at 18" o.c. Cheap insurance on an expensive commercial project or a multi-million dollar house. Control joints are best invention ever when it comes to slabs, with fiber mesh not far behind. Crazy thing is my desert house (only house I've ever own I didn't build) has a walkway where the concrete is heaving a bit, this in an area where it never freezes (not even close), gets about 10cm (4") of rain a year, and over nothing but sand. Go figure.

[@LuminairPrime]

The people still complaining about rebar in the comments missed that this is an engineered design with high-end concrete in a small space. The concrete guys didn't leave out the rebar because they're cheap. The engineer just did the math and thinks the ground will not move for hundreds of years.

[@SouthSide1988CHI]

Nice to see Luke getting the hang of things. You can tell he’s getting better every video. Wish my first concrete boss would of taught me how you teach him. Looks good though!

[@artesanalrolos]

Hi Mark! I'm watching you from San Paulo, Brazil! You are one of the biggest references on stamped concrete on KZbin. To me, you are an artist!

[@paulkearsley9509]

This fast I am impressed Watching from Switzerland

[@donmarshall4888]

Good job. Maybe HRWR??? Spent several years trouble shooting screwed up concrete for R/M company. Designed hundreds of mix designs (mostly for special projects) and the number one failure on concrete was poor subgrade compaction. Second was almost always too much water, third was overworking the finish (usually due to too much water and not appreciating or willing to pay for a HRWR to make things easier and certainly better. Fibers have been around now for well over 40 years and I’m glad they are being used more and more. Too many finishers and contractors fail to see the benefit of the product…until it’s too late. First video I’ve witnessed that actually PLACED concrete properly. My old German concrete mentor would have said “you pour water, you “place” concrete. He was pretty hardcore on doing things correctly and was very blunt to folks doing stupid things with it. Again, good job.

[@TomBTerrific]

I agree with what you said. Here in Florida I’m surprised they don’t require a sub grade of aggregate prior to a poor. The subbase is sand. Which Ive never seen before coming from out west. I’m guessing this might be because aggregate is not so available here. Not using a plasticizer to help move the concrete on large pours probably comes down to cost.

[@michaelolenick4078]

You guys are much faster than anyone else I have seen on you tube .Alot of guys use power buggies to haul the concrete over the black top or set up forms with the wire mess t hey have never power trials on the ground for driveways .

[@swashbucklesfortysix5511]

the one handed pro stroke screed awesome mike

[@AlexthunderGnum]

Hello from New Zealand. Thank you for sharing!

[@Blairmitchell-x5z]

Australia, pretty to watch guys, it’s so easy when you have everyone on the same page.

[@sergebisaillon7649]

Quebec, Canada !! nice job !!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks! 😃

[@Ronstar24u]

Watching from New Zealand.

[@vernbolstad3956]

Eastern wa. Monolith pour 36x28. Footing’s 24”x30”. Full load In this location is 7.5 yards. So 2 trucks at a 3500 mix. Then topping with water reducer. It’s all caged with 1/2” rebar 24” o.c. My laser took a 💩 right before our 3 man pour so we drove 3 grade steak 🥩 down the middle and did our best with 2x4 saddles and a ultra tight string line for grade Turns out we were as good as a laser wet pad. It just seemed to take forever! We had a delay on the 3rd truck that worked out perfectly! Love learning from all of your videos. Hopefully we can continue to teach the next generation before done.

[@Leverton-Brothers]

From the UK. Top job! Is there a reason you don’t poker the pour?

[@DIYDaveT]

20 minutes to pour and float for a pad this size is great.

[@ricepadi29]

Near Flint, Michigan. You guys are definitely veteran pros!

[@thomasmccarthy9855]

In New York the union masons always use a Fresno after the bull float does a beautiful job it’s great watching professionals working no fixing concrete after it gets hard

[@2Truth4Liberty]

Fiberglass rebar removes the big drawback of steel rebar (rust expansion).

[@MikeWampfler]

Northern Illinois, getting ready to pour a 42x10 today, very helpful for a rookie like myself, but I have a couple guys coming with experience, after watching your videos, I feel I could try it with my boys, if I had to thanks!

[@snicklefritzd3612]

Watching from western Washington. Your screed technique is nice.

[@pumkineater7219]

From Spain. Wish you were here helping me with 75sq metres of 10cm concrete! Weather still warm here on 1st December. 22°C during the day!

[@floydwilliams3321]

Been preaching the rebar thing for years I know guys have been doing concrete work all their life or adamant that everything has to have wire or rebar and that’s just not the case like you said if it’s sitting on something solid, it’s good

[@ronselliers6951]

Watching from Lebanon, Tennessee.

[@sparkey4293]

S. California: Impressive placing and finishing, tell your crew that you appreciate them and do your best to retain their employment. .

[@bobbybelcher6800]

great work ! very quick and efficient !

[@notanybody8075]

Ottawa,. I have 35yrs. construction. That is old school and your pros dude. And very fast I might add.

[@dirkeggink1799]

hell ya you guys are killing it!!!! Wish you could come to NY

[@ShawnPittman-r2l]

Outside Worcester,Mass. Love your videos. I do side work putting in small 20 by 12 concrete platforms for Heat pumps. Learned a few things from you making things easier 👍😊

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Sounds great!

[@marstedt]

Has there been any new developments to fibermesh? Different materials, products, composites?

[@paranoy69]

watch from Rouyn-Noranda, province of Québec. Canada .you are very fast, this is a great job. wow

[@williamtaylor2387]

Watching from North Georgia, USA

[@BoomsRiddico4868]

thanks for the vid. When you talk about concrete strength I think you need to be more specific as material strength can be defined in a number of ways; tensile strength, compression strength, impact strength, yield, hardness, shear and many more. So to say rebar doesn't make it stronger is not true. It does and it does quite a lot. Just a point to make as a Civil Engineer.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Great point!

[@normsharp24]

we do bull float always perpendicular to screeding and the setting parameters limiting or influencing bull floating, thereby determines the direction of our screeding

[@MCsqweezy760]

Thanks for the explanation. I posted a video of my shop foundation getting poured and got some flak for them not putting rebar in. The footings have rebar just not the greater part of the slab. Been subscribed for a while now and love your videos. Like joe dirt says "keep on keepin on".

[@anthonyromano8565]

Nice, mag the edges 8 inch pull, I like it. All the carpenters saw with the screed her in Ca. I learned a lot just by watching this. The last garage pour I saw carpenters do did not look good.

[@DonArmstrong-m1o]

Northwest Montana. Very nice work guys. Thanks for all your knowledge.

[@davidedwards4834]

I’m in Kingwood Wv. I’ll be doing a slab inside a garage that was built twenty years ago. Block foundation up three courses.

[@danmorris7235]

BC canada, Vancouver Island. Excellent, very fast and well done 👍

[@doinjusfine1]

Memphis TN. I'm blue collar but never done concrete in big jobs. I'd LOVE to do this a day or two.

[@BEYONDYOURIQ]

Always drill rebar into foundation wall on inside at least 4' lengths every 24" apart. The overdig will settle no matter how well you compacted the soil/stone...and cause cracking of concrete.