First job of the year...

[musclecarboy]

Here's a few pics of the demo and general layout of this project. Rain is killin' me but hopefully I can be out of here in 2 weeks.

Pic1: extended driveway/walkway

Pic2: front solid line is the edge of the pavers, second solid line will be the step

Pic3,4: 2' retaining wall along side of the house stepping down to follow the driveway slope

Pic5: Walkway demolition

[-EGLC-]

Looks like a nice job....

[musclecarboy]

Yeah I can't really complain about this one. I priced it about $1500 less than normal since I already got a referal for a 550sf patio and more pending a quality job.

[MuirView Design]

Yo man....just cuz someone gives you a referral, doesn't mean you have to go and give away your profit. It's a lot of liability to do a driveway. We deserve all of our profit. You need to learn that early in the game. As you develop more confidence, you will be less inclined to sell yourself short.

BTW - what exactly was wrong with the masonry walk? Just in the way or structurally unsound?

[mckeeland]

i could retire off the jobs i was supposed to get if i did a good job and gave them a good price. never bank on anything other than people love to promise the moon and stars to get you to come down on your price. i have had customers tell me "they would get me tons of referrals". going on 3 years later i have yet to get on job from them. most of my referrals come from customers i didn't even have to haggle with and never even said they would refer me.

[chardscapes]

Ditto that Jay. Plus just because they are friends of yours doesn't make the labor any easier either.

[musclecarboy]

Yeah, you guys do have a point. I already have another job signed from this one so it doesn't worry me so much.

As for the existing walkway, it was installed by the previous homeowner and was unlevel, cracked, had NO base (poured on soil). I figured it would be easier to just start fresh on this one.

[chardscapes]

I always do put an inch or two of loose gravel down when I pour a slab , but anyone know why concrete guys put gravel before a pour ?

[MuirView Design]

I always do put an inch or two of loose gravel down when I pour a slab , but anyone know why concrete guys put gravel before a pour ?

Drainage. You should use more like 6" of clean under a pad. It keeps water from getting trapped between the pad and the soil, which will minimize heaving during freeze thaw cycles.

[musclecarboy]

Yeah, I've always heard water wicks up into concrete easily and it can be bad during the winter.

[chardscapes]

Drainage. You should use more like 6" of clean under a pad. It keeps water from getting trapped between the pad and the soil, which will minimize heaving during freeze thaw cycles.

But the gravel mixes with the poured concrete and is a monolithic slab ? How does that drain ?

[custom patios]

But the gravel mixes with the poured concrete and is a monolithic slab ? How does that drain ?

no, it doesnt mix. only the top inch maybe. which is why you want a minimum of 4" open aggregate under concrete. it works quite well.

[musclecarboy]

Updates:

Deere 325... what a champ.

Do you like my cuts? I'm especially proud of the way I did the inside corner with the 3 steps meeting at 45* angles. What do you think?

[musclecarboy]

couple more...

I check and recheck the level front-back & side-side to ensure its PERFECT.

[musclecarboy]

Tomorrow will be filling the steps with pavers then they can have their front door back. Then I start across the street on a 2'x50' wall, driveway, walkway, steps, patio, etc, etc. Man, I'm busy. I never expected this at all. I went from being broke with a fresh driver's license a few months ago to this... I'm surprised everytime I think about it.

[mrusk]

Tomorrow will be filling the steps with pavers then they can have their front door back. Then I start across the street on a 2'x50' wall, driveway, walkway, steps, patio, etc, etc. Man, I'm busy. I never expected this at all. I went from being broke with a fresh driver's license a few months ago to this... I'm surprised everytime I think about it.

And 3 years ago I could not sign a 1000 dollar mulch job and now its routine to tell someone 200k or more! It very exciting to watch your business grow.

BTW work look INCREDIBLE! I was expecting okay work from you, but the work looks as good as anyone could do it. You must have the gift I have! Seriously, you are doing a good job. Whats funny is once you get really good you end up never touching a block or paver again since you have a business to run!

[MuirView Design]

Good job bud. Don't forget you need some pitch on those stairs. Nothing makes more of a difference than caring so much about your work. It really shows. It's a shame it's such an ugly block. Looks like you are stacking pavers.

BTW - is that 2" black pipe all that is accommodating that down spout?

[musclecarboy]

And 3 years ago I could not sign a 1000 dollar mulch job and now its routine to tell someone 200k or more! It very exciting to watch your business grow.

Yeah man its great to watch it all grow. The only thing I find stressful is time & money management... but I guess everyone has that issue to a certain degree.


BTW work look INCREDIBLE! I was expecting okay work from you, but the work looks as good as anyone could do it. You must have the gift I have! Seriously, you are doing a good job. Whats funny is once you get really good you end up never touching a block or paver again since you have a business to run!

Thanks man! I don't know what it is, but I just really like all the stone work. I know you guys won't believe me, but this is the first hardscape job I've ever done (yeah, FIRST). I've been doing tons of research all of last year and over the winter and I think I've got everything pretty much figured out. A tweak here, tweak there then I'll be as good as anyone.

I can't wait to finish here, rain is KILLING me (rained yesterday and today).

[musclecarboy]

Good job bud. Don't forget you need some pitch on those stairs. Nothing makes more of a difference than caring so much about your work. It really shows. It's a shame it's such an ugly block. Looks like you are stacking pavers.

BTW - is that 2" black pipe all that is accommodating that down spout?

There's a slight pitch to the right and to the front, but I guess it shows almost dead even. It drops about 3/4-7/8" over 12', is that enough? I think the block looks better in person, but its still a PITA since every block needs to be cut for curves and all need glue.

The black piece is just the adapter from rectangle to round. The pipe is 4" and its a 20' run under the grass in a 12"x24" ditch of 3/4 clear gravel.

[mrusk]

Time and money management is the hardest thing. You better keep track of labor time now when you are working solo. When you have a 3k a week labor burden, it hurts when you screw up on estimated time.

Money managment is also very hard starting out. Its hard to know what type of proablems will arise and all the material that you will need when you are doing things for the first time.

If you ever have any questions please feel free to pm me.

[musclecarboy]

Money managment is also very hard starting out. Its hard to know what type of proablems will arise and all the material that you will need when you are doing things for the first time.

If you ever have any questions please feel free to pm me.

Thats exactly it. When doing expense calculations I didn't factor in enough money for misc stuff that comes up such as pipe for the drain, marking paint, overages on compactor rental, etc etc.

Thanks, I'll send you one.

[-EGLC-]

Looks GREAT!!!! Very nice cuts!

[cgland]

Nice work, I look forward to the finished pics

[zedosix]

Looks great so far Mcb, I really like your attitude and your passion is hard to find in young men these days. With a bit of common sense and business smarts you will go a long way.

[musclecarboy]

Couple updates:

few pics of the finished walkway (h.o. still needs to get tile replaced on the porch). driveway is graded off so all we have to do is lay 800sf. top flat area had ZERO cuts:dance:

[musclecarboy]

Starting the wall across the street...


Looking again, it looks like there's a slight dip in the middle. I'll tear it out and re-do tomorrow.

[-EGLC-]

Looking good.......only thing I don't like is that retaining wall bock (job #2). And yah, I see the dip; doing it the Rusk way is always better. lol (Matt knows)

You'll glue the caps once you get it down 100% right? Some guys here are idiots and don't glue. :loco:

[musclecarboy]

Looking good.......only thing I don't like is that retaining wall bock (job #2). And yah, I see the dip; doing it the Rusk way is always better. lol (Matt knows)

You'll glue the caps once you get it down 100% right? Some guys here are idiots and don't glue. :loco:

Matt, explain... lol

Yes, glue once done. Lots of the caps are screwed up (1 in 10) so I need to get new ones (chunks missing, bad cracks, etc).

[mrusk]

Rusk way is to build everything atleast 3 times to make sure its done right!

[-EGLC-]

Rusk way is to build everything atleast 3 times to make sure its done right!

And I can attest to that!

[4seasons]

What product are you using? Looks like unilock but not quite.
Nice cutting

[musclecarboy]

Its all Hanson stuff. "Hampton Wall" in sandstine blend for the steps/walls and "Forest Hill Cobble" in cashmere beige for the driveway, walkway.