What I Charge To Do Concrete Work PLUS The "Secret" ingredient that lets you pour LOOSE Concrete!

#EverythingAboutConcrete #MikeDayConcrete #waterreducer
I'm sharing with you what and how I charge to do some of my concrete work plus what secret concrete additive I use so I can pour loose concrete.
Pouring high-slump concrete makes our jobs a little easier since we have to pull and push a lot of concrete to get it in place.
This one little additive added to the concrete mix allows you to pour your concrete looser without harming the strength of the concrete.
In the video, we're pouring around a 7-slump, but the concrete will cure up and be really strong. It'll probably be even stronger than the 3500 psi mix we ordered. How is this possible? Watch the video and I'll tell you!
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[@MikeDayConcrete]

The wire mesh is just to tie and hold the pex tubing in place, not for reinforcement. There's fibermesh in the mix for reinforcement. That's what the spec called for.

[@peteshields1448]

Mike the real secret is you have a great crew . That makes a huge difference! 👍🏻

[@greggb1416]

“workin smarter, not harder”… Mike, you mentioned the crew’s years in experience.., but their experience working together for you, is a big point that has to be a large factor…. That is just something you can’t screen for, and hire a group of employee’s. I watch all your videos, and have noted the “smooth flow” that your crew has when they are doing a pour. It is kinda like a “ballet” of sorts…, I’m sure your crew wouldn’t like that word being used to describe it, but it is a compliment. Great videos, Thank you sir.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you, they appreciate the compliments, I do tell them.

[@tedspens]

Do both :)

[@celso422]

Thank you for educating us most people who saying concrete is too wet never mixed a 80 lb bag from Home Depot

[@MikeDayConcrete]

They have no idea!

[@nathanielbullock3660]

I just did a 50/ 80lb bag pour in my back yard 💀 with just myself thank god for Home Depot mixers

[@Ifishmo]

Water reducers: "Superplasticizers (SPs), also known as high range water reducers, are additives used for making high-strength concrete or to place self-compacting concrete. Plasticizers are chemical compounds enabling the production of concrete with approximately 15% less water content. Superplasticizers allow reduction in water content by 30% or more. These additives are employed at the level of a few weight percent. Plasticizers and superplasticizers also retard the setting and hardening of concrete"

[@howdydoody9217]

Good morning Mike. I’m a regular homeowner fella here in Albuquerque. I’ve learned so much information from your channel. Thank you.

[@Yorkie285]

You're a good educated concrete teacher.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you

[@C.Jones84]

Looks great to me. Water reducer is a finisher's best friend specially in the summer LOL

[@teampenn2007]

Love your videos. I'm learning quite a bit from you. Thanks.

[@nickwooldridge2770]

Your crew makes it look effortless, great job Mike I’d like to try that product some time this summer.

[@user-qd5kg1cp5l]

I skimmed the comments didn’t happen to see it mentions. I make and design concrete mixes for a ready mix company and do QC. Very glad to see you guys using WR in this manor. Not nearly enough finishers use it. The reason for this and I’m not knocking anyone because most people inherently hate change. Your typical concrete finisher has been doing things the same way for 20+ years and when you try to educate them on things that will make their concrete better or easier they don’t wanna hear it. Water reducers. They are not all the same. You have different ranges so I live in Georgia, your typical 3000 psi residential (those without 20 years experience) different strength Concrete is used in different places geographically here it’s what 90 percent of driveways, house slabs, walls/foundations. The water reducer we use is a medium/high range water reducer Plastol 6420. The dosage rate is based on hundred weight cementitious material. What a job calls for super P or superplasticizer. We dramatically increase the dosage rate and we do that on at the pour location. One thing to be careful of if you are not used to pouring with a high decent rate of water reducer, even if you don’t get to the dosage rate of superplasticizer. Just because it looks loose now it will lock up QUICK so you can’t play around otherwise it will get away from you

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Great insights, thanks for commenting 👍

[@dewboy910]

Yea, the looks of that stuff would make me think I had all day to work with it. It doesn't look too wet, it looks WAY too wet. I am curious as to how the US government looks at this water reducer. Like pours on the Fort Bragg, NC Military base used to require a very specific amount of water which had the concrete almost rolling down the chute. If the concrete had too much water in it, they would reject it. But that was years ago when I heard that, so they might be using the water reducers by now.

[@elbuggo]

What I find mindboggling is that no one knows the water/cement ratio for their pours - no one. By optimizing or improving the aggregate mix you can also improve slump or workability a lot. Are you familiar with Tyler Ley's Tarantula Curve for the aggregate mix?

[@user-qd5kg1cp5l]

@@dewboy910 Those on base pours are managed by the Corps of Engineers their manual is from the Stone Age. However, you have to understand water reducer is in every batch of concrete these days. The plant I run we have like ~ 50 standard mixes in our batch system give or take. Every single one of our designs has WR. With our DOT certs we have to list which WR we’re using (plastol 6420) but which type is used differs by region. When one of our customers wants something like in the video. What we do is hold a lot of water out, the driver washes his blades and slumps the concrete till his slump gauge tacking between 2200-2500. What is important is there is enough water to ensure proper mixing. When he gets to the job he will add one gallon (128 Oz) of plastol if he arrives at a 2 inch slump that gallon he added will take him to a 4 1/2 inch slump. If the finishers want a 6 inch he will add 5-10 gallons of water and more plastol as required. I am not familiar with concrete in maine but being in the industry I believe what he is referring to is adding additional WR not just WR in general.

[@FINfinFINfinFINfin]

What is the going rate per yard to get a 7 slump like in the video? Thanks

[@garymaillot9715]

Great job once again Mike, your knowledge of the business helps us out quite a lot, here you give us a fairly accurate description of most of the costs so we can roughly estimate the costs and when we do get a quote we’ll know if we’re getting bent over the table with no kiss, because we all know there’s a lot of guys out there that wouldn’t give it a second thought, this was a fantastic video.

[@GrumpyAndCricket]

Great info and you are a great teacher. Thanks so much. Have a great week. Rock on!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you kindly!

[@petem6291]

Mike you and your guys are super professional and the customers get great workmanship . not every concrete contractor is like you . But they could learn a thing or two from you .

[@mikeknoll1130]

Poured concrete for over 30 years and never heard of water reducer until I watched your channel.

[@anthonybole9288]

I think its like the Super P, unless I'm wrong. Its a plasticizer added into the mix. I'm not a fan, but I'm sure if you use it a lot, you get a feel for it.

[@VoffkaGomel]

Really? You, Americans have to learn much technology from Europe 😉 Windows, insulated foundation slabs, heated floors, heat pumps.... now water reducer/plasticizer

[@mikedandar1171]

Thanks, Mike. Very informative. It’s the same here for us in Minnesota. We usually have to quit our flatwork around November 1st and don’t start up til end of April. Concrete here is about 165 a yard not including winter rates which add another 12 a yard. One more week and they’ll be done with that added cost. We charge more for the power trowel finish than brooming…..power troweling seems to take longer and it is a more specialized labor that many cannot do. So our square footage prices are reversed from yours. Take care!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks for sharing Mike

[@rogeliolara4066]

Thank you Mike I use water reducir too when I need

[@johnross3752]

love the flashlight on the bull float 👍

[@cr5331]

Amazing job, just all of my respect for job your team do. Everything has a price, materials and human skills on work. Big kisses from France, and thanks to share yours experiences with us.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thank you very much!

[@garysavala665]

Amazing how little guys supposedly in the trade know about concrete itself . Good stuff mike

[@mikegreen7620]

Ya same here in vt was getting ready to gear up until we just got 16 inches snow

[@cporter1775]

Good info thanks. Wondering is reducer common for states south from you. And assume this helps flow for the pumpers also

[@johnfahey7215]

Wish we had water reducer back in the day! Thanks for the explanation 👍 I never questioned the idea, I knew you know what you’re doing! 4-5” slumps are gone for ever! Tell anyone who questions your slump, try leveling 4” slump concrete with a come along for a couple hours!😂😂😂 Old Retired Laborer

[@richardmetzger6876]

Very, very helpful.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jdh23h]

I’ve done concrete work and you and your crew look smooth and well machined 👍🏼

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks 👍

[@OldParanoid]

Looks good. The WRA is good. We use fly ash too. I’m not a fan of wet screeding but most people now use that method and some get flat floors. A good bull float man makes a world of difference. Might as well leave the wire out though if you’re gonna leave it on the bottom. Maybe it’s only in there to hold the pex down?

[@onjofilms]

There's lots of sofa professors out there Mike. Your loyal followers know your secret sauce and us 'Concrete Underground' alumni do too.

[@robleblanc1571]

14 years in if you know you know….. you guys do nice work

[@christophercruz7932]

Interesting video!

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks!

[@free2rhyme14]

Question in regards to stamped concrete sealers.. which VOC do you choose? i see a range from 700 voc to 50 voc. Thanks for all your videos Mike!

[@frankflanagan109]

Always learning from you Mike, thanks for all your hard work doing the videos! We use it on 95% of our jobs too, just like you said, it really helps for smaller crews like ours.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks Frank!

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

Facts

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

​@Mikwe tried telling them abput that water reducer. My question is w cold weather and nailing the high early .....DayConcrete

[@GP-ed1ti]

Just curious about the mesh being at the bottom of the slab. I assume it still offers some additional strength over no mesh? And is there a reason for not pulling it up into the slab? Curious for my own education. Thanks for another great video!

[@scottcarpenter845]

Nice work and great job on video. That’s right on for pricing. We are in Louisiana and charge about the same rate but no foam. Minimum is $3000 instead of 2500. We pay 120 a yard here for 3500psi with fiber… no reducer. We typically pour 5” depth due to poor soil composition. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

[@brentpearson4877]

We pay 180-210 dollars a yard here in east tn unfortunately

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Thanks 👍

[@raystraining3206]

215 w med range pcb fl

[@youngprince716]

Hey Mike- thanks for the insight and input from your part of the country. Now thats just to pour and finish right? What do you guys charge for forming up a job and pouring usually? Im in western NY and when i break everything down, with materials installed its rare were under 20/sqft

[@PureSmarts]

Mike, I have a quick question. What is the purpose of laying the wire mesh if the wire mesh stays on the bottom of the concrete?

[@finders-keepers1518]

That concrete looks a little loose! Lol, no seriously the nice thing about that is when it's that workable it almost tries to self level. Love the vids. Water reducers are a must on concrete countertops. Call them plasticizers

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Awesome, thanks.

[@size-matters]

I was a concrete finisher back in the early 1980s and we poured hundreds of thousands of yards of concrete wet like that and guess what it’s all still there!

[@onjofilms]

It all sets up doesn't it? The main thing that builders here in Florida skimp on is compaction of soil. I don't know how half of these compaction tests pass. But we usually have to raise the lot by about 18" or more here in SW Florida, and most builders just dump the dirt and run over it a few times with a skid steer . Later, floors crack, CMU walls crack but the builder has his money by that time and is gone.

[@swpnl36]

Does it also have a viscosity agents like cellulose products cause it seems me a self compacting concrete cause ur guys not using compaction please shade some light on it

[@dannyredekop961]

$243 for a meter of concrete here in southwestern ontario. Plus $10 for mid range per meter. We get 100 sq ft out of a meter

[@human8307]

Do you have to put a deposit down on the permit such as x% of the total value of what you will be doing? Refunded in full once final inspection is done normally.

[@guylandgraf6366]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge Sir! Is air entrainment similar? Are they both beneficial?

[@elbuggo]

Air is very bad for concrete, except to make it more resistant against frost. Cant finish it like air free concrete either.

[@raystraining3206]

Hey Mike, every time I order high/med range with SRM, my mix comes out between a 3-4" slump. Are they even adding it?

[@jimmyjohn6392]

Ok... im going to be that guy....i didnt see anybody pull wire up one time......is the mix so wet it floats the mat?

[@marinablueGS]

That solid chuck that came down the chute and got stepped on at 2:40....is that a common thing? This is the second time I noticed that.

[@davidbrightman6987]

Do concrete wall contractors use this as well in your area?

[@kdub7041]

Does the water reducer make the Crete kick quicker than without?

[@GC-kk4et]

I’m looking to do a 15 by 20 brushed slab. I would like to have some range of an idea on how much a job like this would cost to know if it’s on my budget or not. I’m a new home owner and I’d feel bad if I ask for a quote and then can’t afford it. Do you contractors get mad if someone asks for how much it would be and then don’t go through the project? I’d hate to waste someone’s time but I have 0 idea about these things. Any input on what to do in my case? I’m in Ohio. Thanks

[@swpnl36]

Hey I dnt wanna sound dumb but how is that guy trmix on wet concrete and it's not leaving impression please explain that

[@elbuggo]

How much do you charge for proper curing?

[@seancasey2444]

It looks like you guys know exactly what you're doing.

[@rmvfish]

Here in Florida I pay $1 sqft for labor to form, prep and finish residential home foundations.

[@elbuggo]

I doubt they can pay insurance and taxes on that. They need to eat too!

[@elbuggo]

I guess they are on food stamps, so $1 should be enough for gas and oil.

[@mitchbeard8920]

Anyone who watches Mike Day regularly knows the secret ingredient before watching 🤙

[@corydauer]

I'm not a concrete guy, but if you're in construction, you should have some knowledge of concrete additives. Good job explaining

[@jjohnson479]

Hello Mike, do you provide one on one cost lessons for a new construction company that will be doing concrete. Not really catching how much you are actually making as a profit. Thanks.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

I can help, what kind of work do you do mostly. Email me, [e-mail]

[@mikegreen7620]

How much did your redirect mix plants go up for 2024 $6 a yd here in vt

[@MikeDayConcrete]

$10 here in Maine

[@PMabq]

Water reducer = desiccant.

[@will5286]

THINK OF WATER REDUCER AS A LUBRICANT THAT LETS ALL THE AGGREGATES MOVE MORE SMOOTHLY AGAINST EACH OTHER

[@Thepriest39]

Anybody who complains about your concrete mix being to wet doesn’t pay attention to your videos. You have talked about water reducer quite a bit. People just want to be back seat drivers and run their mouths. Nice work.

[@bunning63]

What! All those people in YT land and the forums don't actually know sht?

[@thx1136]

The concrete's way too wet. You don't know what you're doing.

[@whipcream_cs2]

Concretes is to wet!

[@ericblomquist1975]

That pour is way too wet!!! :))

[@cerrburus2495]

In one of your videos you told the concrete truck driver to add about 40gal. total of water to ONE load. Don’t say your concrete isn’t too wet. We should interview the drivers that deliver to you and ask them how much water you ask them to add.