This Is The Easiest Type Of Concrete Slab To Do If You're A Beginner.

[@mingthemerciless6855]

Mike, my dad was a contractor back in the day and we used to work in the cold. As a teenager I used to hate the cold (fingers and toes) until I started moving the cement around. You and your guys (including your daughter) make it look so easy. Excellent workmanship.

[@realrayra]

'HotHands' hand warmer packets work great. Especially between two layers of gloves. They work for 10hrs. I've used them on either side of my hand, they're almost too hot. They're pretty inexpensive in bulk. Really enjoy the videos, you do a great job of explaining and showing. And you're doing quality work

[@astef6872]

I found that taking foot warmers (they have a sticky side) and sticking them on the inside top side of the glove, so that they’re warming the top of the hand without getting in the way of grip has been helpful.

[@oby-1607]

That power-screed sure worked great. I actually went out and bought one after watching one of your videos.

[@La_Vi_]

In Perth Australia, a summer day is typically 95F+ and sometimes the concrete can start to set in the bowl if the truck takes a long time getting to site. On some major pours we put ice and chilled water in the mix to help slow things down.

[@robbaggett1127]

I was working in a similar situation many years ago and I was complaining of the same thing! I felt warm but my fingers were freezing. The guy I was working with asked if I had my thermals on. I told him I had my shirt thermal on but not my legs and he said that's why. Evidently, its just not about keeping our core warm, but also the legs. I never work outside in the freezing cold temps without a good set of thermals on and it works for me.

[@larrybibbey9651]

Hi Mike, as a old concrete truck driver….. I used to use a Thin cotton glove first on than a neoprene glove to keep my hands from getting wet and than a pair of Work boy gloves.

[@leecrawford6393]

Mike I’m in Mobile Alabama. My dad was a general contractor so I grew up pouring concrete (it didn’t look anything like what you do). If the temperature got under forty degrees the whole thing shut down! Then in August/September we were pouring at 95-100 and the concrete was trying to set coming out of the chute. I never thought I’d say this but watching you and your crew makes me want to go try it again. Great informative videos. Good job Boss.

[@flick22601]

Always used what I learned in the Army while in Korea. Wool gloves with a leather shell over them. When it got really cold, wool mittens with a leather shell. Ours had the index finger separated in the mittens so we could pull the trigger if necessary. Hands still got cold but it is much better than any alternative I've tried. Wool will insulate your hands even if it gets wet so don't use any synthetic imitation.

[@kevinhauser613]

The rake man makes the screed man look good, the chute man makes or breaks the rakers. Good crew!

[@williamtobias8948]

Hay mike,I have worked outside all my life and one trick I use mostly when fishing Is I will take a disposable hand wormer and put it in the glove on top of the back side of your hand. Amazing how Well this works. Lots of surface veins and the hot hands don't move all around .can cast and flip with very little inconvenience from the pocket heatet.thanks for your viedos and props to you and your crew.

[@workingman9745]

Great idea about the hand warmer. I'll give it a try.

[@OttoMatieque]

the cold weather enables you to go full blast without overheating. good work guys, and thanks for the video

[@jamescole3152]

You are the expert. I poured my shop slab when it was that cold. I covered it with 2 inch pink foam board. But I was still nervous so I put a heater under a tent I built lol.

[@Rockhead75]

Definitely just the fingers up in Montana! Thanks for the videos I'm doing a slab in a pole building I've only helped on a couple years ago but after listening and watching my confidence is much higher!! Thanks

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Right on!

[@johnfitzpatrick3416]

Lived in N.E. my whole life, I’d rather play it safe & pour it in the Spring for it to cure all through warmer months but you are the Expert👍 If possible I’d use a mitten with a hand warmer inside, what I went to skiing in winter👍

[@srmcontracting]

When I climbed cell towers in these temps I would wear a pair of latex/mechanic gloves and put a hand warming pack in the glove. Then I would have a pair of heavier gloves to go over the mechanic glove. Nice work!

[@Rocco1994]

Mike, I live in Canada! We poured a 146 meter slab in -38 degree weather, it got wild. keep up the great vids

[@mikeRadamz]

Hi Mike, nice job, thanks for sharing. In winter... what works for me is a pair of those snug tiny gloves that you buy at the dollar store, then a pair of latex gloves; and then latex or rubber palmed work gloves (fleeced winter ones when it's really cold). These layers keep my fingers warm for quite awhile until I have to warm them up in front of a heater. I have at least three sets to dry out in between glove changes. Let me know if this works for you too.

[@DoiThoXayVlog]

You guys are so professional, it's amazing. Wishing you all good health

[@pacoteotonio7529]

Love your videos!! I've been pouring concrete for 25 years in Canada and we pour all year round, up to -25C. The thing that keeps my hands the warmest is push ups. Makes the blood flow and keeps my hands toasty.

[@paulbrouyere1735]

Nice work. I also worked in wintertime conditions, and indeed hands are quickly cooling. The rest can be better protected. In my case I did airtightening for low energy and passive wooden houses. In freezing cold and wind blowing it was sometimes nearly impossible to strip the bearer from the tape that had to be applied.

[@kpinson3478]

We do about 75/100 of those a year, lot down south, Louisiana Texas area….Normally run a edge and Fresno no power trowel. But that looks awesome man. Keep it up..

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks for sharing

[@refixed]

Hey Mike, best tip I ever got to warm my hands up is to swing your arms around at your side vertically like a windmill, fast enough to force blood back to your fingers. Works every time. Also keep a second and maybe third pair of gloves on you close to your body, and rotate them as needed.

[@kn1gh7hawk]

Hey Mike, Did my first (tiny) bit of concrete work recently (replaced the sewer in my 1950's house). You guys make it look easy, but concrete really is a wet and heavy mud. The only source of heat in the house is a 1,500watt space heater, and once I started mixing and spreading it was too warm (even with our 19F outdoor temps). Thanks for sharing, and keep up the good work!

[@cleanpowerelectric]

I love all your videos Mike. I’m an amateur but have mixed and placed plenty of concrete over the decades and sure wish you were around back then to stop me from so many silly mistakes. I’m pouring slabs in my out buildings this spring so this vid is especially valuable for me. Thanks!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Glad the videos help

[@timlecount8690]

Thanks for the great video! On the topic of cold hands: I live in Alaska, so we deal with cold hands a LOT. I like "polar penguin" work gloves. They have enough dexterity to work with them, but they are lined inside with fuzz and the outside is lined with latex. They are available on amazon but I see some knockoffs on there now that might work well, they run about $8 for a pair.

[@MrBrewsk]

I used to work out in the cold like this at night for 7-8 hours at a time. Knocking brake drums free on trucks. I know that's cold especially with no wind break. You guys be safe.

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

coming of age in northern Montana, best parties of my life were in double wide dwellings. great vid as always.

[@JCLawn51]

Glove recommendation. Seirus has thin glove lines that reflect your heat back to your hands you can put in any gloves. I will actually use them inside nitrile gloves when working on machinery in the winter. High dexterity, waterproof, and insulates your hands from freezing metal. Seirus has some nice waterproof winter gloves with high dexterity. One of my favorite gloves is wells Lamont extreme dexterity. The liners will never pull out and they are very warm. I do snow removal. So I am used to working in the wet and cold.

[@creature_of_the_undergroun261]

That's some great work. Looks so good. Guys are so dialed in.

[@jamescole3152]

I was wondering when you were going to screed the concrete. That power screed is nice. I guess I was expecting a screed board first but you are the expert.

[@maximummarklee]

Hi Mike, Mark from Portland here. As far as keeping your hands from freezing I would suggest this: Bring a small portable cooler with you - empty. Fill it with hot water from the truck and keep it covered until you or anyone in your crew needs to thaw-out your hands and you can dip your frozen bits in their until you are ready to resume work - just remember to bring lots of microfiber rags/towels to dry off. Lanolin helps reduce chapping. Good luck I hope this works for you and happy new year to you and your crew!🎉

[@mudbunny6388]

We always wore rubber gloves with knit glove liners. When our hands got cold, we would dip our hands in a wash bucket of hot water. Also wore 5 buckle boots over our winter boots instead of the slip on boots. Later switched to insulated rubber chore boots. Cold weather pours were always a pita. They were pretty intermittent when winter set in.

[@By_Rant_Or_Ruin]

Thanks a lot. I have been around for some pours but this was a good watch. This is the best way to prep before you get deeper into it.

[@edwardmcguire3801]

New appreciation of concrete workers

[@crazydavidsmith]

Warm hands ain't easy, but it's worth the effort. I will share my method. 👏 I work outside all day in the freezing cold in Michigan. I have felt your pain. I have figured out how to keep my hands warm. I work with frozen things all day and my hands stay warm. This is the best way I've found. First, I keep my hands water proofed with two pairs of nitrile gloves with cornstarch powder to let them slide easily. The best I've found are the orange "heavy duty" ones from AutoZone; they last all day and are very high friction if you need to manipulate nuts and bolts. I wear two pairs of those orange gloves ALL DAY LONG, every single day. I have had no problems at all. It allows you to take off your leather glove momentarily to touch your phone or gear without instantly freezing your hands. It also insulates your hands extremely well. Second, I use three pairs of leather gloves and a heat source; swap gloves when they get water logged/cold. Do the swap as you feel the finger-cold starting, because if you lose feeling and your fingers are in pain things become very uncomfortable very quickly. You can use any heat source to heat the gloves; just leave them on there. (e.g. engine or furnace) I have found no better way. If I'm at home I keep a small pot of water on the heat source to put my hands in for instant heat while I'm swapping leather gloves (for when I waited too long and need to warm my fingers instantly). I just dip my hands in, with the two pairs of heavy duty orange nitriles gloves still on.

[@safffff1000]

Much easier wearing waterproof leather mittens over wool or down liners. I work hours without all the complex system you had. Worked 4 straight hours at -15f and hands stayed warmed to the touch. Do eskomo's wear gloves? I also worked on my cars at 15 bare handed, that trick was over dressing so the heat just radiated out of hands, can't be real physical or I would over heat but working on cars is basically standing over it

[@crazydavidsmith]

@@safffff1000 TL;DR 🔥 hands: 2 sets of "heavy duty" orange nitrile gloves from AutoZone; keep these on. 2 sets of leather gloves. Leave one set of leathers in the heat. Rotate when your current set gets cold. ✅

[@safffff1000]

@@crazydavidsmith Too complex, slip on leather covered gortex mittens in a second

[@friendlybill6109]

Mike, this is perhaps a dumb question, but how do you and your guys (and everyone else that does outside work up north) make it thru the winter? Do you have to make enough money in the spring, summer and fall to make it thru each winter season or do you have to try and find other inside work during the winter? Stay warm and thanks for posting your videos.

[@charlesvitanza8867]

I recently started working with concrete and I have to say that you and your guys have beautiful technique with the come alongs. I get so frustrated with them that I end up using them as a get out of here

[@bondobuilt386]

Hats off to you Mike for pouring concrete in that cold weather. We hang it up in November here in central New York. Start back up when the frost leaves the ground. We also have a 48" frost line. Nice job 👊 Bondo

[@jeremyhall7951]

Why 48inches?

[@bondobuilt386]

@@jeremyhall7951 The frost line in certain ares is measured by how deep the frost will penetrate the ground in certain areas of the world. The colder it is and longer your winters the deeper the frost line will be. The warmer areas do not need to build so deep in the ground. Hope that makes sense. 😀

[@aarongrabowski3775]

We do lots of these, but we haunch the whole outside so it’s about 18”x18”. We also edge it and hit it one time with a fresno. Nice job guys. I know the feeling of cold hands all to well. I usually carry those hand warmers in my pockets to give my hans a quick warm up when the feeling is totally gone. Nice job guys.

[@themilkman271]

I wish there were a couple of concrete guys like you down where I’m from, Mike. I’m a tile setter and you should see the slabs we have to try to set tile on. We basically have to re-pour over the entire area we’re setting tile on. It’s a shame.

[@Peter-V_00]

In years gone by back in my finishing days in the 70's during winter pours along with the hot water many times we also asked for liquid calcium chloride in the mix from the batch plant and depending whether we had to pour over a vapor barrier we would often add bagged calcium chloride to help resist freezing but to also help generate some heat to get the slab to set well enough to get on with knee boards to hand finish, as you know Mike if you're not careful you can have the slab freeze or be so wet you may as well plan on coming back the next day to finish the job.

[@doncrist2012]

Happy new years and stay warm

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Likewise!

[@danfettig9438]

Have you ever tried neoprene gloves? I use the for ice fishing and they work great with keeping my hands dry and warm. They are not bulky and fairly cheap for winter gloves. I lived in western Montana for many years and they are a game changer.

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

much support from indy

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks bro!

[@Elnu01]

I am a do it your self type guy. I am planning to take your course so that I can pour a concrete floor in my 30 by 40 pole barn. You make it look so easy but I am sure that it is not. thanks for your help.

[@transmitterguy478]

Mike I have had good luck by wearing the black thick Harbor Freight, I think 9 mil, Nitril gloves, then I put one of the "hot Hands" packets under the glove on top of my hand to heat the blood vessels of my hand, then I wear appropriate gloves over that. I have different gloves for different applications. Good lick, great videos.🙃

[@dppmm6567]

Hamilton Marine has a good selection of cold weather water proof work gloves. I can't remember where you are located but look them up online. They have a store in Portland. They are pretty reasonable in price to.

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

def not to cold to pour. you actually dont even need to cover it if you use freeze guard mix. but of course the subgrade needs covered b4 hand.

[@charlesviner1565]

What's up Bobby ✌🔥👍

[@cmleoj]

I used to live in Colorado and I’d use the Hot Hands hand warmers. They work for an hour or so; stick them in your gloves and you’ll be glad you did.

[@CW1116]

19 degrees. I live in Minnesota so 19 degrees is a normal HIGH for January. We get used to it gradually during the fall hunting season when the low in Nov. is in the teens many days. It appears that you're wearing rubber gloves that are pretty large. Hopefully you are wearing1 or 2 pair of Jersey gloves under the rubber. Holding onto that aluminum pole certainly sucks the heat away from your hands. I'm one of those lucky folks with - evidently - great circulation. I'm in my mid-70's and can generally stay out much longer in below zero temps than my younger counterpart. Looks like the excavator did a great job of site prep followed by a quick, efficient and "done-right" job but you & your crew.

[@flat6fever680]

Great stuff. I'll look for the brand of my heated gloves with Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries. They are good for several hours on max and more on low. You can move your fingers and they do not get stuck on the inside liner like some. I would try to keep them as clean as possible though but at the end of the day you need to function and you can't function long like that. Even one job that you make money on pays for damage to something like that. No more expense than filling up the truck on the way to the job site.

[@ronaldpigeon4713]

I used to work in very cold weather, much colder sometimes. Difference was I had a rucksack on my back and a "real" AR in my hands for days along with my platoon! If I was lucky I got to haul the m60 tripod or even a base plate for a mortar. We also did not really get warm till we redeployed. Dont miss the cold at all anymore 20 years was enough. Go Army!! 🇺🇸😊👍

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Amen to that, and thanks for your service!

[@jameshines6486]

I couldnt imagine 20 years in the army.

[@larrywigmore1243]

Thank you for your service sir

[@aaronbrown3573]

Fort drum is very cold.

[@retiredperson4054]

I live in KY now -- it is my 11th state I have lived and worked in! Worked in ALL kinds of weather! But the cold is the worst -- especially when you OLD like ME! LOL Love your videos Mike Day!

[@elbuggo]

I have worked in Saudi Arabia. Heat is definitely even worse!

[@retiredperson4054]

@@elbuggo I worked in Arizona on a pumping plant for the Central Arizona Project -- As a federal construction representative -- we had a weather station on site -- the hottest day recorded was 140 degrees Fahrenheit -- The one day in two years I got heat prostration and was off sick for 3 days.

[@91rss]

Dumping a couple cans of Moxy in the mix ight be a useful use for the stuff. For your hands get hand cream with Urea in it, and take hemp seed oil my friend said , keeps them from cracking . Maine south (florida) is what most do to deal with cold hands..

[@boringsoaring]

Very informative

[@thinkfirst6431]

Question about the power screed. Can you size the forms so that you can run the power screed down the forms to get your level at the same time?

[@gibbyx2inc]

fingers also ! In Iowa , basically were down the same time you guys are !

[@GetGood5]

That was really cool

[@freebird7284]

you sure made that look easy! i would try the battery powered heated gloves, i've seen some pretty thin ones, anything would help, i couldn't imagine Maine in the winter, not for me!

[@Zack7228]

Hi Mike….very helpful video. Thank you… I am building a 60 x 38 shop this summer…I am in Durango, Co, and frost line is 32”. I got a bid for the flatwork and foundation as a monolithic pour…at about 22.00 a foot! The bid totaled 47k. I am doing all excavation work…gravel…etc. The bid was for concrete, rebar…and forms. Having watched all your videos made me very quickly come to the conclusion I would be taking this on myself. My question is…I have no issue buying a power screed for this job…and then selling it. Unfortunately, none of the rental places carry it. Do you think it would be helpful for a first time DIYer to use a power screed? For a shop floor….if I can get close to what you did on this video…I think I would be very happy. I can rent a power float locally….am I taking too much risk in screwing it up if I use a power float? Thanks again….Steve.

[@MrBgwolf]

I have found for me. Thinsulate or even wool gloves inside deer skin gloves or some ting quite like that, works perfect and allows me the comfort I need to do a Job like that. Im have had better luck with wool though most people don't like it.

[@EricHaskins71]

Born and raised in Maine but down in FL now LMAO. Thx for your insight Mike. Got quotes for 15K for a 24x30 garage foundation 12 in footers all around .... getting up the nerve to do it myself.

[@BenBNC]

That new intro is the best yet

[@brocklanders6011]

Always nice watching your videos

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you!

[@iBleedStarsAndBars]

Merino wool glove liners under your work gloves. Helps alot

[@johngarvey6752]

From Massachusetts. Haven’t used a reared dump in 20 years.

[@Apexjasonmorganllc]

We would always dig a small trench around the perimeter at the forms, then drive in rebar pins and tie rebar around the perimeter on the inside. Also even with fibers we put in wire mesh.

[@davidbrightman6987]

I use latex or thin rubber gloves underneath the regular gloves to get the fingers moving then take them off if they get too clammy!

[@haviland586]

I love your channel. You certainly do quality concrete work and videography, and it's obvious you care about your helpers. Please, Sir, use trench boxes.

[@Dave-dg4ob]

Hi Mike, apologies if this has been asked before. Can you pull the Power Screed along with it sitting on top of your wooden form, does it have to sit within the form, on the concrete. My DIY Hire shop only has 5m screed bars and my width is 4m. Hope that makes sense. Thanks Dave in the UK

[@Irideonandon]

I need to pour a 5.5 inch garage floor over the original floor to bring it up to grade and make it usable again. The original very old floor is rock solid and in great shape. No cracks. Do I need rebar?

[@paulwisuri1518]

Cold hands and fingers. . .Try heated glove liners. They are very thin and allow throttle, hand clutch and brake lever feel much better the heated gloves. I've used them for cold weather motorcycle riding.

[@tombarnes1871]

It takes a true craftsman to work in cold and still turn out a quality product….

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks Tom!

[@geronimotudor3386]

Mike, great vids. Most snowblowers now have heated handgrips which can run off of a Briggs and Stratton magneto. Your screed could use a pair? good luck Greg

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks for the info!

[@joshuataylor9224]

How do you feel about putting ( calcium chloride ) accelerator in the concrete?

[@pierredelecto7069]

It's amazing how much of the labor that goes into concrete is just about making it smooth and not strong.

[@parkwest11]

I picked up a pair of gloves made for ice fishing last winter and they kept my hands warm without being too bulky. Memphis Ninja Ice.

[@chrisgreen177]

A Thinsulate or Gortex, nice and LIGHTWEIGHT ski glove will keep an insulated air layer between your fingers and the outside temperature. You still have waterproof protection and full finger movement. Hell, the fingers even work on your touchscreen cellphone. Here in Wisconsin, we don't break out the gloves until 8 degrees or colder.

[@mauricerichard3611]

To keep your hands warm working in the cold, light pair of gloves in a good pair of mitts - just great for the kind of work your doing - Tip From the Great White North !!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

You got to have free working fingers, gloves can't be too thick.

[@andrewcrawford5601]

Awesome awesome job u and ur guys did Mike be safe and always be careful doing what y'all do each and every day and stay warm buddy

[@larrywigmore1243]

Hey Mike, Larry here again. Always enjoy your videos. Was wondering about the stone you have in your Crete. Do you use the same stone in every pour?

[@peters6850]

Try putting on one more nice warm layer. Like a fleece sweater and fleece pajama pants under your jeans. Your body may feel too warm but for some reason it helps keep your hands from feeling as cold

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks

[@wcb22516]

I like your videos. Question, are those boards truly 6 inches? For concrete ordering purposes.......

[@TONYJENKS-wg6zg]

As a concrete driver/plant manager I hate pouring concrete under 27 degrees. Water freezes in the hoses, concrete freezes in the truck, brakes freeze up, just a pain. I was glad to hear you kept the sub grade covered with blankets. Too many times we have poured concrete on top of frozen ground and it ends up cracking. Guess who the concrete guys blame? You sold us bad concrete, they say! If that water in the concrete freezes before the concrete reaches 500 psi you have a problem. The concrete looks like broken glass when it finally sets up.

[@giovannifiorentino8947]

I’m in the tropics and I prefer prepare the formwork and steel during the daytime and pour at night. Depending on the mix I need to add ice at noon.

[@tima7763]

I feel for ya in the cold. I leave the north and come back when it warms up😊😊

[@jerrysmith3517]

Found your channel while learning how to do a slab for a job Im doing. I have a 30,000 lbs Generator on a 3-axle trailer i need to do a slab on grade for. Can you please recommend how deep I should do the gravel subbase and how thick I should make the slab . Its a 10 x 20 foot slab and I was going to do 8 inches of 3/4 stone with 6" 2500 psi concrete with 24 inch grid 1/2 inch rebar Thank you!

[@als8518]

Gravel thickness really depends on local soil conditions. Gravel is really cheap for a pad that small compared to having issues later though.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Soil conditions and climate really dictate how much gravel you need. I'd go at least a foot, then 4000 psi concrete 8" thick with a mat of rebar.

[@gavinturnbull2882]

I enjoy watching your videos you guys do excellent work! Going to be setting forms up for a 24x24’ garage 1’ honch and double row of rebar in 4000psi with fiber mesh. What do you guys typically charge per sq ft this time of season?

[@jeanmas4197]

15 years biking all seasons, best I found against the cold was silk under gloves. Don't get them wet though.

[@ernestmorales1023]

North Texas . We poured 400 yards today . 60 degrees sunny 🌞 🤣

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Perfect weather!

[@chipmiller9074]

Looking good

[@fupa74]

can you pour concrete over crushed asphalt?

[@mikewelch3903]

Mike Day, in answering your question, no, it isn’t too cold. You just have to do the right things like you mentioned.

[@CW1116]

Cold hands : Would a Mr. Heater Big Buddy (18,000 BTUs) or the Mr. Heater MH54OT (w/up to 45,000 BTUs) help? Either clamps right onto a 20 LB. propane tank. If you could find 3-4 minutes to put your hands over either, I think it would help. You seem fairly good at figuring things out so you could come up with a make-shift rack that would be 3-4 feet over either heater with several pairs of extra gloves. Mmmmm - putting on a different pair that are about 110 degrees... that'll help warm those digits.

[@seanokeefe2170]

I had a set of military surplus gloves that were like insulated leather mittens that had long cuffs that worked well up in alaska . You could look into a set of military surplus Micky mouse boots to keep your feet warm

[@joshalvarenga5590]

take it from someone who works in the winter time outside. latex gloves and then your normal gloves to keep your hands warm. works like a charm

[@rogerhodges7656]

What is a ground heater?

[@FredD63]

Mike wear latex or nitrile gloves under your gloves to retain your natural body heat .. This works for me here in Michigan

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I find they make my hands wet under them.

[@FredD63]

@@MikeDayConcrete Ahh Ok

[@HassanSalehabadi]

is it possible use chiken wire instead of concreat mesh in racewaypound?thanks