Building a Curb

[@brandonbdl]

The most drywalliest, concretious, skateboardious, carpenter out there and I love it !

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks 😊

[@brandonbdl]

@@vancouvercarpenter thanks for taking the extra time to film, edit, and post videos !

[@BlackMarketHoney]

😂😂😂

[@Thee-AmateurAn94]

Cementitious 🤌

[@chiilcov]

Hopefully joa does a park review episode here with his dad. Gifted curb

[@Zee2Sea]

A skater will always notice the curbs wherever they are. Really enjoyed this thanks Ben,

[@demontekdigital]

Damn, dude you went hardcore mode, lol. I've built my own launch ramps before, but I never even thought about making curbs. Then again we'd have nowhere to put it. We used to put the ramps I made on our skateboards, and roll it to a place called "the slab". It was just a huge empty lot that had been neglected, but there were some pretty huge areas that weren't cracked, or heaved from rain, and earth shifting. On the weekends we'd have like 30 people skating that spot, and it was a ton of fun. I got to meet a lot of cool people there. To answer anyone's question, no, we didn't have a skatepark. This was in the mid-80's during the period when adults couldn't understand skating, and tried to ban it. We picked the slab because no one cared about it, and we'd be left alone to shred, and incur medical bills for our parents, LOL. Thank you, Ben, this takes me back.

[@normanlorrain]

I did a small project recently, instead of a hammer I used a sawzall with the blade removed. Press against the form. Worked great to vibrate.

[@keithg3102]

A palm sander works good also as a vibrator

[@AnttiBrax]

Dome headed bolt into a drill and use the hammer mode.

[@nicholaserkelenz6431]

Im a finish carpenter so I dont do concrete very often but I have poured a fair amount of small walkways and patios over the years. I usually run the edger almost immediately after screeding it (while im mag floating it first pass) but only a very rough pass just to get the rocks out of the way. I come back later and actually make it nice once its set up enough. Cheers from Toronto. Nice curb!

[@albertm8576]

Ben, that was so cool that you went out and built that. I’m 64 years old and loved skateboarding. We started skateboarding in south Texas back in the seventies. Great memories and awesome job on that curd🤙

[@JonnyDIY]

PPS- when using screws with concrete work I'll just use some cheap candles, u could use skate wax to fill the heads. I use torx drive. It works great to keep concrete out of the heads and makes taking forms apart a breeze 👍

[@brettmessingcarpentry]

Hello, red seal carpenter here in Ontario, I get your feeling about going from drywall to concrete work and your drywall experience being a hindrance in concrete. I came from a concrete background and trying to learn drywall after being a concrete finisher was tough. Luckily I found your videos! Thanks for all you do.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

My pleasure!

[@BrianWingard]

I remember also anytime we started a curb I would always save my old beat trucks. I used to go over the new curb and it would be like glass plus I found it did not chip as much over time since there was a nice layer of metal on the edge.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

It helps for sure. It’s like an aluminum rub brick that also fills the voids.

[@pierreandreassen287]

Great video Ben! I built a bunch of skate curbs over the years, and from my experience I think its really hard getting the dimensions just right. Different dimensions work better for different tricks, so finding the sweet spot can be really challenging! Your curb looks great and it shows when you skate it! Hope we also get to see a build video of your concrete bench! One tip I can share to anyone doing this is that if your hammerdrill can be set to only the hammer function you can use it as a vibrator on the forms. Works great!

[@chiquisbaby81]

Wow. Now words. All I could say that you’re awesome. I did a ton of concrete work before I began doing drywall, learning a lot by following you etc.. What gets me is that you could skate! 😎😎😎

[@Stan-mp8zz]

Love your work brother the drywal work is insane

[@VonHeisenbergOG]

I'm in the same boat as you. Contractor/Skater (although my skateboarding skills aren't as good as yours), with intermediate at best concrete skills. Just wanted to say that I appreciate the fact that even though you knew your concrete skills weren't great, you still did it and even recorded it for the world to see. It teaches us viewers two things. 1. We can learn from the mistakes you made in case we ever make a curb ourselves. And 2. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable or show your weaknesses. We can all grow by doing so 🙏 (Edit: The curb came out great, btw!)

[@andrewplough9897]

Typically the braces i put on a form like this stay in the way and i scrub with a mag and edge right before stripping the form. You pulled the form partly right in my opinion i pull away slightly then i press it back into the crete and slide up i found if sliding straight up the suction can pull the top edge off. Sometime in certain circumstances i pull them just like you did scrape the cream off the board with youre trowel. Then use a float to work it back into the voids. I think its really funny you kept it that wet for 30 days but you are 100% correct and it made it alot stronger than i think you realize it did. It basically melts the lime dust back to the lime rocks much better than a fast cure ever could. You did a great job watching this made me want to build a mini skate plaza in my yard haha

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks for the tips!!!

[@chriscummings9778]

Thanks for pulling back the curtain so to speak. It’s cool that you built that with your kids. I can tell you from someone that has done a lot of concrete. It just has to be functional. Yes maybe you could have use a mag float. Maybe you took it off the form too soon. But hey. It works, you are having fun. And most importantly your kids are going to remember this. Great job.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks Chris 🙂

[@moth.monster]

Love watching people get out of their comfort zone. I appreciate you saying what you did wrong too, so we can all learn!

[@YellowBunchofBananas]

Even though it happened off camera, still thank you for actually mixing the concrete unlike those dry pour videos people keep posting.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Pffffft. Dry pour. Placing wet concrete is half the fun!!!

[@pauliewalnuts5241]

Now this is what I call quality content. Just finished watching the other curb video on your skate channel.

[@i_have_a_coat]

same, started going crazy being like, did the video change? i dont remember that shot in the video i watched... then realized its a completely different channel of his.

[@krisclayton6335]

This brought me great joy to see someone continuing to skateboard in adulthood.

[@alabasterfantasia1762]

I'm far from a Master of concrete - but I've been told by some that in general, you want to avoid using anything that agitates it too much while it's drying. The reason - it makes the aggregate (rocks) settle to the bottom, leaving the "soup" part of the concrete higher - and that is weak - and how cracks/chips form. I'm not saying you can't vibrate it, or trowel it - in fact you need to, in order to get a good shape - but I am saying that it is better to apply those methods as sparingly as possible - the better off the final product is from a structural standpoint. Good video - always liked this channel. Learned a lot from it and my house has definitely benefitted from many a DIY project gone right!

[@markh.6687]

Canadian Builder Magazine Cover: "Turning your tennis court into a skate park." 😁 Don't worry about rebar; it rusts because concrete is porous, allowing moisture to penetrate and reach the rebar. I have precast concrete sidewalk panels in the back yard of my 82-year-old house in the USA; the rusting rebar has caused the concrete to weaken and start breaking up. I've had to cut the exposed rebar out on more than one panel.

[@BobWeaver3000]

epic! thank you sir, was looking for a new spring project. this shaped curb in particular, glorious!

[@BrianWingard]

Awesome! Skateboarding brought me here in life as well! We started building ramps when I was younger and now I flip and rent houses. I remember the one time we got 6 x 6 lumber and cut out 1/2" on each side and put in 1/2" copper for a little "curb"

[@IDKDCA]

I don’t normally watch DIY skate stuff but this was super cool, who doesn’t want to know how to make hard shiny concrete, love it!

[@zacalakemusic]

Future episodes; “Building a Moat” , “Building Your Own Off-ramp” , “Appendectomy at Home? Yes You Can!”

[@markh.6687]

Wait until I do the "Earth's first faster-than-light Starship; built for $1,000!"

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

Damn bro killing it w the concrete forms! Nice channel

[@OilBaron100]

Watching you skateboard at the end was really satisfying.

[@campbellbuilt]

Used motor oil lightly sprayed on the forms really helps with releasing the forms. Hard work but very satisfying.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

I read so many people saying diesel as well.

[@campbellbuilt]

Glad you said that because when we use oil we dilute with diesel for going through yard sprayer. Good stuff man.

[@JonnyDIY]

Yup old motor oil thinned with diesel for pump spraying. Cooking oil works too if wanna be more eco, can also get good eco release oils now too but cooking oil cheaper

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

I use hex screws tho and clean the tip out w another screw and re use and re use the screws. But i do it every day, either way i still wnjoyed yur video and think it was very nice

[@jayhari1713]

Dudes a skater too??!? Thats so awesome. Hell yeah

[@ryanrowe1975]

Great skating!

[@stevensandoval4827]

Vancouver Cement 🤔......😜 haha nice work dude love all your videos 👍!!

[@markh.6687]

"Vancouver Carpentry, Concrete, and Etc., Ltd."

[@matthewzito5952]

Used motor oil is what I use .. they also sell release agents too if you want .. wd40 sprays and works well too ..! Thanks again for everything love you brother

[@lespaul36]

Had a curb like that outside an old school (not in use) down the street that was one of the major skater hangouts. We had it waxed up slicker than wet soap. My grandpa had helped weld the school when being build. Sucked to see it torn down.

[@mutatedgenome]

Great video Ben. Looking forward to the skate channel version.

[@912ruckus2]

The only real issue I saw is the lack of bonding agent. Without that the curb is going to let go of the slab it's on. Learned about bonding agent on Holmes on Homes. Other than that use plastic to space the rebar, wood will still absorb water and take it straight to the metal. Stainless wire to the form is another option. Once the bubbles have been tapped out you can pull the wire out if you choose and the rock won't let the rebar drop. Thanks for all the tips on drywall. I turn wrenches for a living but remodeling a house for an airbnb retirement income. Your vids really helped!

[@peep39]

The skateboardiest Vancouver carpenter

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Yes :)

[@jolookstothestars6358]

Dang super cool you skate!! I used to a long time ago. Looking good bro.👍😁

[@charles1075]

Sawzall without a blade against the form is a good alternative to hammering the form on small pours.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Great idea. Thanks! Next time.

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

Use a saw zaw w no blade next time when u vibrate the form, lil tip just run it on the form

[@David34981]

This is the first video I ever watched from you not concerning drywall.

[@tasdasd3856]

Civil Engineer with no experience skating or actually building forms. Just know what I was taught in school and what I inspect for on job sites for rebar. The distance between the rebar and the edge of the forms is based on the size of the rebar, and the size of the aggregate (rocks) in the concrete. Typically 25-30mm, this helps mainly to protect the rebar form moisture ingress, avoid concrete spalling, and a host of other reasons. The other thing was using wood as a spacer for the rebar to hold it up. The wood is quite porous and whicking, it will take in moisture from the subsurface right up to the rebar. It will also rot over time and swell which might cause issues down the line. With this being on a tennis court, it won't be as much as an issue but something to consider in the future would be either using plastic chairs to hole it up, or even pieces of concrete block work that has been broken uṗto lift the rebar into the air.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

I usually just use rocks or chunks of concrete.

[@thegergster]

Nice video. Curbs are lots of fun. At 19:43 there is another ledge in the background. Is that one concrete as well?

[@chickensnatch]

Much needed vid thanks father ben 🙏

[@JonnyDIY]

8:40 🔨🎵🤣💕👍 PS- i was like woops Ben uploaded on wrong channel when 1st saw this

[@tegimr]

Knock th e sides laterally with a sledge. Once they move 1/2 inch, they are free. Works with stucco as well. Also, very good call on curing the 'crete.

[@Chippie-O]

Hey just on vibrating the form, grab your recipro, take the blade out, and hold the foot to the sides of the form and go for gold, works a treat getting the concrete to consolidate.

[@bbdeathgrips]

Very cool and informative vid. I wish I could’ve painted it yellow

[@danmizner3328]

For vibrating, try using a reciprocating saw with no blade. Just place the shoe against the form and pull the trigger.

[@darren.barany]

That looks super good! Great info too. Do you have a link for the version on the skate channel?

[@WiiSpords]

This is so rad. First cut, maybe one could clamp the factory milled edge of a board as a guide for the skill saw when cutting the diagonal. Takes some of the skill out of the saw cut.

[@scottyboy10]

Hey Ben! I’ve been a fan of the channel for a while now. I know this is a concrete video but I have a taping question that you might have an answer for. Say I already taped my inside corners with the slop bucket method, roller & flusher- and now the inside corners are ready for a coat of mud. Instead of using a compound tube with an inside corner applicator head, and then using a flusher to feather everything out; could you use one of those spherical paint rollers (I think you’ve called it a lambs wool roller, or it’s called a corner roller) in place of the compound tube, and still use a flusher after. I invested in a Columbia super taper, roller, and 2.5/3 inch flusher heads but not sure if I want to invest in a compound tube with inside corner applicator just yet. I was hoping I could just use one of those spherical paint rollers to apply mud then proceed to flush with flusher instead of the compound tube method. Sorry if that was a lot aha.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Yes you can. Give it a try, it should work

[@scottyboy10]

@@vancouvercarpenter Ok 👍 I’ll have to give it a shot soon then! Thanks for taking your time to reply. Much love, and respect from Chatham, Ontario (near Windsor/Detroit Border)!

[@Blanden888]

Very nice. I was always taught to to never pour concrete around wood. The wood you used to hold up the rebar is going to expand. A rock or a piece of broken concrete should have been used to hold up the rebar? What do you think?

[@Bob-n2d]

Awesome contructuon and skateboarding skills

[@nicholasthibeault1729]

Ur a G bro that's awesome... I'm always thinking of ways to beat the anti-skate doohickeys, just build your own curb it's genius.

[@eletor]

love it

[@rightawayrenovations]

if you want to use screws you can put crisco on the screw heads

[@matthewzito5952]

You can use an electric sander or your hammer drill to tap/vibrate the form boards .. the hammer works well too

[@vancouvercarpenter]

I used a hammer drill on my next curb but overdid it a bit I think.

[@joycemagann4227]

Fun! You're a good dad. Is that it a community park? Or your back yard? 🙌

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Not telling 😏

[@joycemagann4227]

😅🤣😂​@@vancouvercarpenter

[@konstantinusstoyanov9749]

Wondering why did you build it tennis court? Thank you

[@jds0912]

Yo link the skate channel in the description! Great build. That slappy crook probably felt amazing first time on your own curb. Clean DIY spot too! Ours is always covered in broken glass from morons 😭

[@markdouma542]

Not a pro, but I've used mineral oil (baby oil) as a form release. Also, I don't know if this is an advised usage, but I've used a large common nail turned backwards into a hammer drill as a vibrator for tamping base under concrete; maybe it'd also work as a way to vibrate the outside of the form in place of a concrete vibrator? It might be too fine of a vibration compared to regular hammer....

[@mynorchinchilla2932]

hell yeah! I was waiting for you to paint it with some safety red Rustoleum haha

[@HerbaceousM8]

if you make more curbs i'd recommend a Saws-all without a blade in it to vibrate the forms

[@AdamRoop]

Love the video I also am a skateboard chris cole is my favorite who's yours ?

[@stefanm9265]

Impressed you can mix that amount in a wheelbarrow without it ending up with too much water.

[@RickJones222]

Looks great!

[@drestaz]

maybe youve already said this in another video but i gotta ask. how did u acquire this tennis court? was this sort of a brittania courts situation or did u buy this land. thanks for the continued uploads despite the lack of interest in the youtube game.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

The owner of the property would like to remain anonymous.

[@alphapimp]

Had no idea u could skate this good 👍👏💪

[@DarmokAtTanagra]

He hovers around pro level at flatground tricks. He's amazing

[@vancouvercarpenter]

This was a teaser. I’m going to do a way longer one on my skate channel.

[@chocol8milkman750]

Concrete ASMR now... What's next? Perhaps installing doors ASMR?

[@S1CKTR1CKY]

For my curbs I always wait until the concrete is not like jello anymore. Then you can take a brush and lightly go over it with a little water and hit it with the mag to really smooth it out. That what works for me and how this old man showed me in my crew.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks!!!!

[@BallawdeQuincewold]

What park lets you pour concrete on it without throwing a fit about permits

[@matthewzito5952]

Run the edger as soon as you can .. running it too late can be a hassle .. edging pushes the rocks away from the surface so you don’t have rocks and sharp edges .. when it sets up more you can get a better finish on it

[@jmi967]

I wonder if you could acid etch that corner to get a different profile?

[@vancouvercarpenter]

It hasn’t been a problem. It locks in really nice. Still not very chunky at all. I just think a 3/4 radius would be better long term.

[@chillycheeze8530]

Just need a wider curb skating setup with some deck rails now.

[@romeisfallingagain]

"t me know when you run the edg" classic lol

[@pioneerAv]

At first I was like "why the heck are you putting a curb in the middle of a tennis court?!?" But great work!

[@increase9896]

This looks so fun

[@ChristoferKraft]

Great video Ben. Crk.

[@andreakeeling9217]

I love these voice over videos where your just doing the work and it’s not a detailed how to video.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks 😊

[@nellof1244]

Your hammer drill on hammer only would be a great vibrator The broken curb is from the snow plow ask me how I know..... I don't imagine you needed Rebar maybe one piece down the center for skateboarding but definitely Rebar in a curb I imagine is a great idea

[@NendoNow]

anyone know what the skateboard channel is?

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Just search “Ben Degros

[@MD-rm3tg]

I know I'm late to the party, but where in Richmond is this tennis court? I like skating Thompson, but there's no 1/4 or mini. And that semi "1/4" that ends in a sharp point does not count. lol

[@trappedshadow]

Awesome, Ben!!!

[@thatguyjason5714]

I think adding rebar would add to the number of teeth getting picked out of the steering wheel… By the snow plower.😂

[@mitchellkachkowski2641]

whos tennis court is this? iv always wondered the situation with the tennis court

[@E-Bizzy]

it's in his backyard i believe

[@michaelmwm222]

Pebbles definitely add curb appeal

[@ZACHAFARI]

All in all nice!

[@fbad3]

Are you planning on posting anymore to your Just Keep Skating channel? Just curious.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

No. Not on that one. Just the Ben De Gros one. I will be posting a better version of this video on that channel :)

[@conradcoolerfiend]

Kid mode fully engaged! nice one ben.

[@SweetTommyMods]

Well done old man

[@ClTlZEN_X]

You got some skills 🛹

[@kkp4297]

how rich do you have to be to have your own tennis court in vancouver?

[@ChampCampMMA]

Definitely need rebar...it's most likely the snow plows that destroy the curbs..🙂👍💯

[@andreakeeling9217]

Very cool. 😊

[@dustinkrebs8229]

We always put used motor oil on our forms. Or if we were in a pinch diesel fuel works great💯

[@UnkleBokey]

What’s the name/link of the skateboard channel?

[@vancouvercarpenter]

“Ben Degros”

[@tonewin9743]

Really clean slappys

[@MikeNoce]

"the most satisfying part....the edging"