i dont think im just speaking for myself here. But not only do i enjoy watching the channel. i thoroughly enjoy being able to read in the comment section without having to read HATE, NEGATIVE, or DISTASTEFUL comments! its quite refreshing! you have a good channel as well as viewers. its like my little escape from the negative internet! please keep the videos coming!👍
This is because a lot of people who watch these videos are either interested in something very niche construction like this, guy and girls looking to get into a trade, people who are doing a project similar to this, or for the most part older guys who don't care to get into it online at their age. These videos are probably age skewed to people 40+. Pouring concrete is NOT a hot topic to attract a rowdier crowd, nor is it controversial enough to incite any arguments other than the possible technique that they're using.
My father was a general/commercial contractor for most of my life. In the past 12 or so years has gone into remodeling. Watching your videos reminds me a whole lot of my childhood and teenage years. I’ve been a minister for 13 years and have now found myself doing Remodels alongside my father to pay the bills as we are part of a new church plant. I guess I say all of this just to say thank you for your channel and the way in which you conduct it. It’s refreshing, quality, and honest. Love your videos and commentary. Keep up the good work and the good fight!
This is my favorite channel. I love all that it stands for. Scott, you and Nate are putting together a first-rate channel. May God continue to bless both of you, your families, and this endeavor.
Scott, as a civil engineer in the Midwest, this series has been very captivating so far. It's crazy how much one can anticipate the framing of what is sure to be an amazing structure with your immaculate attention to detail! Thanks for shedding some light on all of the very hard work that it takes to even prepare a job site site for such construction activities. Very much looking forward for more to come.
Grandfather was a mason. In this country he did plaster mostly as it paid better. When he was retired and I was a little boy he and I used to go for walks. Somehow the walks would lead to construction sites and he would point things out like forms and talk about how to build them etc.
I've been in the southern California residential building Industy for over 40 years. Your multi episodes of this concrete retaining project is absolutely the most informative, educational, and intriguing of hundreds of videos that I've watched. You're a fantastic teacher, and obviously a high integrity Patriot. Your connection with community, service, business and charity speak volumes. Blessings to you, your support team (crew) and Umpqua concrete, sand, and rock. It's your sphere of influence that is the glue that makes for success, peace and harmony. Kurtiss. LHC AZ. 👍🙏
Exactly. The money they spent on concrete will be more than repaid with the images of their trucks on site in thix video, and they'll be able to write the costs off on tax as an advertising expense.
I am a guy who has done everything you are doing here, built from the ground up and worked on many houses. I love watching this, and I still learn new things from you. This is a great project, thank you for doing it.
No worries Scott! This series in particular as well as the general vibe of your channel, in general, is centered squarely upon the pillars of integrity, honesty, and good works. Insofar as concerning yourself with whether or not your viewer's are lost in the action is irrelevant for the reasons just described; as we're all getting something more valuable than a lesson in construction. Thanks for being a wonderful steward of integrity - because one can never "get lost" following along with that. Thanks!
Cut the knot. Very true and when it comes to integrity you don't know what you've got till it's gone. It comes at a cost but it's an investment worth making
I have no intention of building a house but I thoroughly enjoy each episode. I doubt we viewers have a true appreciation for the production time involved in each of these episodes. Thank you for all your hard work.
Top job fella,!, ,I’m 72 years old, worked in the concrete lab on the construction of a nuclear power station Hinckley point A when I was 15 years old,! What I learned in that job is,,”Concrete Takes No Prisoners”,!☠️☠️ Average pour was 6/ 7000 cube a day, and little old me had to take cube samples,lol,, I enjoy watching ALL your informative vids, I’ve been in construction for 57 years,,and I learn something new every day,,Warmest regards from Dave 🇬🇧, PS,,I have actually seen men cry when concrete goes wrong, A spew etc,!👍👍👌👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
David Boulton My early mistakes taught me that of all building materials, concrete is the most unforgiving. Always keep that in mind during every stage until the pour is done. When done the right way, then it's easy.
Thanks for putting this series together! My grandfather was a contractor and I remember as a kid running around some of his job sites. Specifically, I remember when he built his dream house up in the mountains of Southern California. We'd visit every few weeks to see the progress and to lend a hand. I remember helping him dig the footings, although the backhoe did most of the work. But my cousins and I would run around with hammers and screw drivers and "hammer or screw" anything we could find. As I've grown up, I've realized the power in the knowledge of basic construction. I've been able to accomplish so many projects around my own house because of the things I learned watching my grandpa. Every time a new episode is posted it brings me back to the good ol' days when I'd just follow my grandpa around a site - taking in all of what he was doing. Thank you for that and thank you for all the lessons you're teaching those viewing this series! It's been a pleasure watching and I'm looking forward to seeing the final house.
I'm sure it will be a hallmark of this series, but there's not much better than seeing the teamwork and results from highly skilled and experienced people working together and enjoying each other's company.
Hi Scott, I love all of the E.C. videos. When I see notifications and one of them is yours , that is the first one I watch . Thank you for making the videos and thank you for being a gentleman.
From a northern neighbor in BC, I really appreciate your putting this production together to share your knowledge with the world. You are a great teacher/communicator and this is a great forum for reaching the masses with the bonus of your lessons being available as long as RUclips exists. A big thank you to your wife, family, friends and co-workers for sharing you with us;-)
Nice to see concrete going in! I’m thinking that, if people are having a hard time visualizing the build site, you can post an image of the site plan on your website. It would satisfy curiosities and generate traffic over there. Two birds and one stone sort of thing.
I just wanted to say, this is my favorite thing on RUclips right now, and I get excited every time I see the next episode of your spec house come up on my feed. Your video quality, explanations and attention to detail are fantastic and I’m learning a ton with every episode. Although I’m not a professional tradesman, I do a lot of construction projects around my home, and I grew up laboring for my dad, who was an extremely skilled and knowledgeable carpenter and a master of nearly every phase of construction. He taught me everything I know about construction- We lost him very suddenly a year and a half ago, and it has really knocked me down in terms of what sort of projects I still feel comfortable tackling without his wise counsel. At the risk of sounding ridiculous- a lot of what I’m learning on your channel is stuff that I would have hoped to eventually learn from him, but I’m very thankful to have found your channel, so that I can continue to learn the finer points of a skilled and respectable builder. Keep up the great work, and thank you. Brian Turnbough, Mokena, IL.
I remember the winter when I first stumbled upon the 'power hammer' video. Little did I know, when I started watching, how incredible this channel would become.
I am 23 currently looking to purchase my first house with plans to use many of these videos as reference to understanding and maintaining my house. I can not express how thankful I am that you are willing to do this series for us to watch and learn from. Thank you EC.
For what it's worth, I'm really enjoying this series. I realize it's early on in the project, but since you make such pro level videos, these could definitely be used in a building trades curriculum. Show young folks all the different career paths in construction, and maybe give them a better option than college and student loan debt. Good job, Scott.
As a man who grew up in the trades, I thoroughly enjoy all of your videos. The presentation, the practicality, and Scott's explanation and real world delivery is second to none. My father was a stone and brick mason. We also installed and maintained landscapes of the homes we worked on. I've always enjoyed watching home building shows on television with my father, mostly tearing apart the ways they showed. My dad passed away, but I wish he could have watched tour videos, he would have loved them. Thanks for making them, and teaching a young generation of craftsman.......God knows we are going to need them.
I plan on designing my own house someday. I may not have a direct hand in its construction, but this series (even your whole channel) has been incredibly captivating and informative for me. When this is all said and done and you're sitting comfortably in your lazy boy, please know that you've shown a damn good amount of people some invaluable information. If you ever decide to sell DVDs of this series, I would not hesitate to purchase a copy. Keep on keeping on!
I am seventy two, aircraft mechanic retired. I know allot . I had no idea how complex it is to do what you are doing. I thought you just threw the mud in the hole and you were done. All this just reminds me how much I don't know. Thanks for being so candid and heartfelt about your job. I will continue to watch and to my amazement be amazed at what I don't know.
Got to stop by and meet Scott and Nate in a vacation. What great people. I had the pleasure to use umpqua concrete service on a project and no doubt their service and product is superb! I was also able to share this series with a professor I had in a construction management program from Colorado Mesa University, now this series is a part of a construction methods class! Thanks again, Scott
I’m a GC with 20 years experience. This channel, unlike most covering similar topics, is legit. There was a lot to learn here, but if you learn only one thing remember what he said about his crew. He’s been using them for years, they know and like each other, and it’s who he always uses. I NEVER get multiple bids from subs. I have my guys, from engineer to concrete to plumbing to drywall etc., who I’ve been using for years and I don’t look elsewhere unless one of them retires. It took me years of hard work and disasters to get this group together and if they can’t do the job I won’t take the job. People are the most important resource for a successful and profitable project.
Enjoyment is a bit of an understatement. While this series isn't "enjoyable" like watching a comedy show or going out to the movies, it is certainly informative, educational, and (at least in some ways) inspirational. This series (like most of the other videos on this channel) seem to cause me to think, to ponder, to look at things in new ways. And not always about construction, or whatever aspects you discuss in the video. I would also like to say that your video quality continues to improve. So thank you, and your entire video production team. It's always the host of a show (and on rare occasions, the video editor) who gets all the fan mail. The camera guy never gets the love. I hope you can pass on my thanks to everyone that makes this channel a success. This channel is one of my favorites. I don't have to wonder before I watch an EC video if I'm going to enjoy it, or learn anything. That is a given. I only have to wonder how much I'm going to learn and enjoy (and I don't generally wonder long, because I watch them as soon as I can).
I am not a contractor, nor have I ever done most of what you are doing here, but the way you present it and the "nuggets" you drop every now and then make this well worth watching. Thanks for sharing!
Great info in this series. When I moved it took me 18 months to find a competent contractor for some wall work. Worth every minute when you find the right guy. Yep, the right crew, driver, pumper makes this look WAY easier than it is.
This has become the best channel on RUclips. Please continue as you started.... providing your knowledge and experience about craftsmanship. Daily Vlogs and political rants have ruined other previously enjoyable channels. Absolutely love your channel.
This series is amazing in the sense that you're taking a more challenging site than some, and you're getting it done RIGHT. The care taken in concrete work would make anyone proud to own that property. And the concrete company donating the materials is a testament to the strength of that community and emblematic of the way that mutual respect and hard work can bond people together. The Essential Craftsman is a national treasure not only in the sharing of his skills but also in providing an example of how to live your life with kindness and decency.
By far my favorite channel. I tell everyone that even shows a hint of interest in the blacksmith trade about this..... come to think of it I tell everyone I get into a general conversation with! Love what I’ve learned from watching and looking forward to putting it to use more and more and teaching my boys what I’ve learned. Thank you for this
What you're doing is nothing new, different or that exciting. The fact that you're doing this, and properly documenting it for educational purposes is monumental, thank you!
Very true. When a driver pulls up on a job and the finishers yak about how desperate the company is to have hired the driver and the driver yaks about how goofy the builder was to get those finishers and everybody just has a big hoot and starts working like a Swiss watch. It's an interesting life. Then there's line and boom pumps and conveyors and all. And all the time a timetable and a perishable load to keep you focused. Oh yes. GOOD pour!
I feel like I am apart of history here. We're all along for the ride. One of the most generous people I know--sharing the most intimate and little-known details of his trade so all can learn. Can't thank you enough, EC!
Mr. EC, I'm a recent subscriber and I'm really enamored of the way you describe the dedication and skill that goes into working with your hands. I am a concrete contractor, and it's rare to see a person who appreciates the work that goes into foundation prep and pour. Thanks for making us look good.
I was asked to comment by the video producer and for the first time, it didn't feel like a grab for attention. This man is truly, deeply genuine in being interested in sharing his craft with as many people as he can. The warmth and generosity of this endeavor is wholly unique to me. I can't get enough. Please, @Essential Craftsman , Continue.
Used to be a company in Indianapolis called Service Supply. They sold all kinds of fasteners and had warehouses as big as city blocks. Their motto was "House of a million screws", so I don't think your idea is completely out of line.
Thanks for this series. I’m particularly impressed with your ability to teach and explain which is a gift that not everyone has. I’m learning the “how”, but most important the “why”. Something few instructors ever do and you master is instilling the ethics and culture of building. This has potential to negate so many problems down the road which is the measure of a truly successful project. Thanks for putting this together.
Hey I am retired now but, I have poured a lot of "mud" in my day. I enjoy watching. I just wish we would have had square stakes on our jobsite. You remind me of my father in law who taught me about building and such when I was in my twenties. Much of what you teach in your videos he taught me back then. Thanks!
People who aren’t familiar with the build site haven’t been watching or listening because you already explained the site aspect comprehensively in previous videos🤓
I was the one who went into some depth on adding some more establishing shots and visual cues on screen. To me, it's not a question of "is this good enough?" Of course it is. But if there's one thing that could be a lot better, one thing that would most improve the quality of the videos, one thing that would help people orient themselves and instantly have what they're looking at click, that was my suggestion.
I still think they could turn lemons to lemonade: if the airport is preventing a drone shot, drop into the flying club or flight school at that airport and find someone willing to take him up for a hop to do some old school aerial photography/ video. I'm sure there's a dozen private owners that'd take Scott up just for the fun of it, but any school or club would absolutely be willing to trade $50 worth of avgas and an hour's time for a shoutout on a channel with 200k subscribers. I know that the lot has been explained and can be puzzled together from the many shots at different angles, but nothing provides the same kind of big picture visualization as that simple top down overview that situates everything on the lot and situates the lot on the street and surrounding terrain.
My favorite channel on RUclips. Mr. Wadsworth is knowledgeable, entertaining, a great teacher and above all, relatable. I live in Oregon and know nothing about craftsmanship however, I find myself watching these videos 3-5 at a time. Thank you for producing these videos. -Big fan
Thank you for breaking down this most complicated process into digestible pieces and sharing a lifetime of knowledge!As a dyslectic with low reading comprehension instructional videos like yours allow me to tackle projects with a confidence I would never have with written word.
I like that you are not only showing how, but also explaining the why to your listeners. It's nice to have things explained in such great detail so that you are actually learning something. Great Video!!
Interesting the way you always seem to take small simple things that I/we take for granted and display them for the world to see in a verbiage and atmosphere that's as close to my Grandfather as anyone could possibly get. Thanks for everything you do. I'm a Trooper in North Carolina, Electrical Contractor and General Contractor so whenever I get a extra minute, in a all too often long day, I find myself retreating to your videos time and time again !!!!
i respect how you brought up the subject of violence on the job site. There is a longstanding faction that thinks it " comes with the trades". It's so draining when you're trying to get the job done and as such I'm glad you touch on it. You young people are getting SO much from these videos, I hope you take the total content in.
Love your channel. I watch everything. Used to do similar work and loved it. Now I am a natural gas utility pipefitter for 11 years and get paid three times as more but absolutely hate it. I stumbled across your channel and love it. I have a three year old boy and one on the way. You make my find what's important. Thank you. Dan
I built a house for my family last year with no construction experience. I was a nervous wreck but I did it and I'm so proud of how the house came out. Watching this video series has got me nostalgic-- and wanting to do it again, this time a little bit wiser. Thank you.
Finally! It's been agonizing waiting to see the concrete go in. I'm sure you've been delaying on purpose...building up the suspense for artistic purposes... This series has been wonderful. My only complaint - you cut them too much! I'd happily watch twice the video length if you uploaded it!
Working for a concrete construction company in southern Ohio I can say that this guy knows what he is talking about well done cannot wait to see the rest.
Levi Godwin When the concrete has dried(set) enough that it isn't sloppy anymore, the wood will be removed. That is usually a day after the pour kind of thing.
The 2x4 in the middle is there to create a depression in the concete called a "keyway", which the wall they cast will sit in, sort of "embedding" it into the footing even though its cast separately. It provides more mechanical shear strength between the wall and the footing. The reinforcing bars will act to transfer rotational forces into the footing from the wall, which is why they stick up like that.
Levi, that is a big No to Any wood or other organic material left in the finished concrete. The Form Boards are always placed so that they can be removed. Any wood left in the concrete would rot away, leaving a void which could seriously compromise the structural integrity of the concrete.
This series is amazing. I am learning leaps and bounds. As a young carpenter in California this level of instruction and attention to detail is hard to find.
I appreciate the way you describe your thought process without just stating what is being done. This clarifies for the “handymen” watching how our minds should be sorting through the possibilities in order to come to an acceptable conclusion. Thank you and blessings.
I tell certain customers that there is a "Zen", principal to concrete. "That you let the truck do as much of the work as possible and let the concrete flow down to where it will exist forever" ( or until the big remodel job) . Some folks work way to hard at it or fight its natural tendencies. The pumps have taken some of the fun out of things for the conrete truck driver. Used to be in the old (?) days that we could swim around in mud up to the fenders and make a horrendous mess of the street and the quarter mile down the road with stuff flying out of the dualies. Now it's all pumps and pollution control, anti silting ordinances and my all wheel drive rear discharge mixer doesn't get put to the test quite as much. I used to say that I didn't need a four wheel drive pickup for fun because I got it out of my system at work.
the same principle of zen can be effectively applied to all building, but none more so than dry stone walls and Cornish hedging, in those instances, allowing nature to pull the stones to their natural resting place is essential, if done right walls with no fastening whatsoever can last thousands of years longer than a cemented stone wall will, with no maintenance.
I don't know how you let stones slide down a chute off the back of a truck to make a stone wall. However, I will say that stone laying is a fine and highly skilled sort of work.
Everything a tradesman does should be Zen. Efficiency of movement, planning ahead, never retracing steps. A proficient, experienced tradesman is well worth watching. They look to be not working very hard, but every single movement is carefully planned and is second nature.
Some people get into concrete work and you just have to wonder, what were they thinking? That's why I bring up zen or what I think zen represents. To try to get people to think about the flow of things rather than a battle to be forced to a conclusion.
I've helped some concrete pours in my youth, I was just their as a strong back, and yes I remember a few things; 1) it is HARD work, but when it's very rewarding when you see the finished product. 2) the guys who pour and finish concrete for a living work VERY hard and make it look easy, but it is not, it takes a lot of hours and a good teacher to become good at it. Much respect to the concrete guys! Love the channel. Cheers from Tokyo Japan!
This is so so much better than hand mixing and humping it with a wheelbarrow. So impressed that your batch plant donated all your mud. You must have a fantastic relationship with them.
I have always liked watching professionals while they work construction and building. No need to ask questions, just try to take it all in. Great job guys.
It is very rarely that you find someone who offers such solid and interesing commentary and reflections upon their means of living and passion as you do, Scott. I thorougly enjoy waching your professionalism, and hearing you speak about the very essentials in living that so many of us keep for granted.
Thank you for putting this together. It is great to see the entire process. As a young Civil engineer, this video series is proving extremely helpful. Thank you from Roanoke Virginia
What a difference this channel is making to me. I'm in town and my shop is attached to the house. The house is about 150 years old and I think the shop is the old summer kitchen remade out of the old stable material. Since I plan to build a small forge and make a woodworking shop i planned on replacing the dirt floor with a concrete slab. I had intended on doing it myself since I'm a handy kinda guy and how hard can it be. After watching the channel I decided to get quotes and learnt a lot about the local tradesmen. Looking at the construction of the building I feel it needs major revamping. So first in the new year it's off to a reputable engineering firm before I do anything. Looks like we'll be going for a concrete slab and a new and redesigned roof. Thanks to the advice and ideas from the Essential Craftsman, this old dog is still learning new tricks.
I have been loving this series so far I'm a residential building apprentice in new zealand and love to learn new techniques and learning how other people build around the world and i have also thanked the concrete company what a wonderful thing they are doing for us supporting you God bless
This is my favorite series of videos on RUclips. When I see a new video I make a cup of coffee, sit down on my couch and watch your videos. I always learn something. Thank you for taking the time to film and edit all these videos for us to watch.
Hey Scott I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us I am a 19 year old apprentice carpenter out of York PA and I love what I do and I love watching your videos keep up the Great Work!
This is a fantastic series you're making. The way you present and convey everything is so "to the touch" that if it was a cooking show, we'd be smelling the aroma of the kitchen coming through the screen. And you are so right, the only way to fully appreciate the information is to see it happening. Thank you for undertaking this, its refreshed a lot of things I did with my dad when I was a kid, just in time for some upcoming projects.
Your videos about this house build have taught me so many things I've been wanting to learn my whole life and didn't know I wanted to learn. Sooner or later I'm going to use all the information you've provided in conjunction with all the knowledge I had before stumbling onto your channel to dramatically improve my life. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
Just came apon your channel a month or so ago ... been loving the videos.. I worked in the Palm Springs area in So Cal 10 or so years ago doing kitchen and bath remodels with my dad.. im 38 now and your channel has sparked that love and fond memories i have of that time. Also learning about things ive never done before .. like these footings. TY for being these wonderful videos to RUclips
As many others have stated, I find this series to be fantastic. I grew up in a house that my father built himself and it never quite got finished (still to this day). Now I'm a homeowner rehabbing my own 1950s construction and have plans to build a future forever home from the ground up. This series is insightful and informative for the early processes my father went through when I was 5, and I'm sure it will help me in a few years when my son is about the same age and I begin construction of my future home. Really looking forward to seeing the plan for the house on this site and showcase videos for how you tackle any of the tricky or interesting building techniques required.
This is just a faaantastic series to watch and follow along with. I'm a banker and don't know the first thing about construction projects and have loved every video in this series. Thank you for teaching me something today!
i dont think im just speaking for myself here. But not only do i enjoy watching the channel. i thoroughly enjoy being able to read in the comment section without having to read HATE, NEGATIVE, or DISTASTEFUL comments! its quite refreshing! you have a good channel as well as viewers. its like my little escape from the negative internet! please keep the videos coming!👍
This is because a lot of people who watch these videos are either interested in something very niche construction like this, guy and girls looking to get into a trade, people who are doing a project similar to this, or for the most part older guys who don't care to get into it online at their age. These videos are probably age skewed to people 40+. Pouring concrete is NOT a hot topic to attract a rowdier crowd, nor is it controversial enough to incite any arguments other than the possible technique that they're using.
My father was a general/commercial contractor for most of my life. In the past 12 or so years has gone into remodeling. Watching your videos reminds me a whole lot of my childhood and teenage years. I’ve been a minister for 13 years and have now found myself doing Remodels alongside my father to pay the bills as we are part of a new church plant. I guess I say all of this just to say thank you for your channel and the way in which you conduct it. It’s refreshing, quality, and honest. Love your videos and commentary. Keep up the good work and the good fight!
This is my favorite channel. I love all that it stands for. Scott, you and Nate are putting together a first-rate channel. May God continue to bless both of you, your families, and this endeavor.
Scott, as a civil engineer in the Midwest, this series has been very captivating so far. It's crazy how much one can anticipate the framing of what is sure to be an amazing structure with your immaculate attention to detail! Thanks for shedding some light on all of the very hard work that it takes to even prepare a job site site for such construction activities. Very much looking forward for more to come.
Thanks again Umpqua Sand and Gravel!
“A concrete pump is perhaps more than a lot of other machines trying to tear itself apart all of the time”. A truer statement has never been uttered.
Grandfather was a mason. In this country he did plaster mostly as it paid better. When he was retired and I was a little boy he and I used to go for walks. Somehow the walks would lead to construction sites and he would point things out like forms and talk about how to build them etc.
I've been in the southern California residential building Industy for over 40 years. Your multi episodes of this concrete retaining project is absolutely the most informative, educational, and intriguing of hundreds of videos that I've watched. You're a fantastic teacher, and obviously a high integrity Patriot. Your connection with community, service, business and charity speak volumes. Blessings to you, your support team (crew) and Umpqua concrete, sand, and rock. It's your sphere of influence that is the glue that makes for success, peace and harmony.
Kurtiss. LHC AZ. 👍🙏
They donated all the concrete that's amazing.
Yeah but he gave them all a BJ.
Greg Hunter it isn't super expensive and it's a great marketing opportunity for them as well. Win-win
Exactly. The money they spent on concrete will be more than repaid with the images of their trucks on site in thix video, and they'll be able to write the costs off on tax as an advertising expense.
Concrete is around 100 dollars a yard usually though so its still pretty expensive
I am a guy who has done everything you are doing here, built from the ground up and worked on many houses. I love watching this, and I still learn new things from you. This is a great project, thank you for doing it.
No worries Scott! This series in particular as well as the general vibe of your channel, in general, is centered squarely upon the pillars of integrity, honesty, and good works. Insofar as concerning yourself with whether or not your viewer's are lost in the action is irrelevant for the reasons just described; as we're all getting something more valuable than a lesson in construction. Thanks for being a wonderful steward of integrity - because one can never "get lost" following along with that. Thanks!
CutTheKnot - amen to your comment, and thanks Scott for another great tutorial.
murraystewartj - Amen to you as well brother...and may the good guys always win.
Well said.
Cut the knot. Very true and when it comes to integrity you don't know what you've got till it's gone. It comes at a cost but it's an investment worth making
I have no intention of building a house but I thoroughly enjoy each episode. I doubt we viewers have a true appreciation for the production time involved in each of these episodes. Thank you for all your hard work.
Top job fella,!, ,I’m 72 years old, worked in the concrete lab on the construction of a nuclear power station Hinckley point A when I was 15 years old,! What I learned in that job is,,”Concrete Takes No Prisoners”,!☠️☠️
Average pour was 6/ 7000 cube a day, and little old me had to take cube samples,lol,, I enjoy watching ALL your informative vids, I’ve been in construction for 57 years,,and I learn something new every day,,Warmest regards from Dave 🇬🇧, PS,,I have actually seen men cry when concrete goes wrong, A spew etc,!👍👍👌👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
David Boulton My early mistakes taught me that of all building materials, concrete is the most unforgiving. Always keep that in mind during every stage until the pour is done. When done the right way, then it's easy.
Thanks for putting this series together! My grandfather was a contractor and I remember as a kid running around some of his job sites. Specifically, I remember when he built his dream house up in the mountains of Southern California. We'd visit every few weeks to see the progress and to lend a hand. I remember helping him dig the footings, although the backhoe did most of the work. But my cousins and I would run around with hammers and screw drivers and "hammer or screw" anything we could find. As I've grown up, I've realized the power in the knowledge of basic construction. I've been able to accomplish so many projects around my own house because of the things I learned watching my grandpa. Every time a new episode is posted it brings me back to the good ol' days when I'd just follow my grandpa around a site - taking in all of what he was doing. Thank you for that and thank you for all the lessons you're teaching those viewing this series! It's been a pleasure watching and I'm looking forward to seeing the final house.
thanks for pulling back the veil for so many who never knew the secret of hard work...
I'm sure it will be a hallmark of this series, but there's not much better than seeing the teamwork and results from highly skilled and experienced people working together and enjoying each other's company.
Hi Scott, I love all of the E.C. videos. When I see notifications and one of them is yours , that is the first one I watch . Thank you for making the videos and thank you for being a gentleman.
twitchyourwhiskers Same here. It's like chicken soup for the soul :)
Me too.
From a northern neighbor in BC, I really appreciate your putting this production together to share your knowledge with the world. You are a great teacher/communicator and this is a great forum for reaching the masses with the bonus of your lessons being available as long as RUclips exists. A big thank you to your wife, family, friends and co-workers for sharing you with us;-)
Nice to see concrete going in! I’m thinking that, if people are having a hard time visualizing the build site, you can post an image of the site plan on your website. It would satisfy curiosities and generate traffic over there. Two birds and one stone sort of thing.
I just wanted to say, this is my favorite thing on RUclips right now, and I get excited every time I see the next episode of your spec house come up on my feed. Your video quality, explanations and attention to detail are fantastic and I’m learning a ton with every episode. Although I’m not a professional tradesman, I do a lot of construction projects around my home, and I grew up laboring for my dad, who was an extremely skilled and knowledgeable carpenter and a master of nearly every phase of construction. He taught me everything I know about construction- We lost him very suddenly a year and a half ago, and it has really knocked me down in terms of what sort of projects I still feel comfortable tackling without his wise counsel. At the risk of sounding ridiculous- a lot of what I’m learning on your channel is stuff that I would have hoped to eventually learn from him, but I’m very thankful to have found your channel, so that I can continue to learn the finer points of a skilled and respectable builder. Keep up the great work, and thank you.
Brian Turnbough, Mokena, IL.
I remember the winter when I first stumbled upon the 'power hammer' video. Little did I know, when I started watching, how incredible this channel would become.
I remember when he only had maybe four videos. I could tell it was gonna be a high quality channel.
My gateway was the "chainsaw hero" video a few weeks ago. :) Best RUclips find since the PostModern Jukebox.
I am 23 currently looking to purchase my first house with plans to use many of these videos as reference to understanding and maintaining my house. I can not express how thankful I am that you are willing to do this series for us to watch and learn from. Thank you EC.
For what it's worth, I'm really enjoying this series. I realize it's early on in the project, but since you make such pro level videos, these could definitely be used in a building trades curriculum. Show young folks all the different career paths in construction, and maybe give them a better option than college and student loan debt. Good job, Scott.
As a man who grew up in the trades, I thoroughly enjoy all of your videos. The presentation, the practicality, and Scott's explanation and real world delivery is second to none. My father was a stone and brick mason. We also installed and maintained landscapes of the homes we worked on. I've always enjoyed watching home building shows on television with my father, mostly tearing apart the ways they showed. My dad passed away, but I wish he could have watched tour videos, he would have loved them. Thanks for making them, and teaching a young generation of craftsman.......God knows we are going to need them.
I’m still that little kid at the end of the driveway watching the guys work. Even though I’m one of the guys doing it these days thanks a lot
I'm a Civil Engineer and I learn a ton from your videos and so relaxing to watch.
I plan on designing my own house someday. I may not have a direct hand in its construction, but this series (even your whole channel) has been incredibly captivating and informative for me. When this is all said and done and you're sitting comfortably in your lazy boy, please know that you've shown a damn good amount of people some invaluable information. If you ever decide to sell DVDs of this series, I would not hesitate to purchase a copy. Keep on keeping on!
I am seventy two, aircraft mechanic retired. I know allot . I had no idea how complex it is to do what you are doing. I thought you just threw the mud in the hole and you were done. All this just reminds me how much I don't know. Thanks for being so candid and heartfelt about your job. I will continue to watch and to my amazement be amazed at what I don't know.
This series is a very high value, and a quality rarely found at this price. Thank you for making it.
Got to stop by and meet Scott and Nate in a vacation. What great people. I had the pleasure to use umpqua concrete service on a project and no doubt their service and product is superb! I was also able to share this series with a professor I had in a construction management program from Colorado Mesa University, now this series is a part of a construction methods class! Thanks again, Scott
I can't get enough of watching your videos. Doing a great job. Waiting excitedly for the next one.
I’m a GC with 20 years experience. This channel, unlike most covering similar topics, is legit. There was a lot to learn here, but if you learn only one thing remember what he said about his crew. He’s been using them for years, they know and like each other, and it’s who he always uses. I NEVER get multiple bids from subs. I have my guys, from engineer to concrete to plumbing to drywall etc., who I’ve been using for years and I don’t look elsewhere unless one of them retires. It took me years of hard work and disasters to get this group together and if they can’t do the job I won’t take the job. People are the most important resource for a successful and profitable project.
Enjoyment is a bit of an understatement. While this series isn't "enjoyable" like watching a comedy show or going out to the movies, it is certainly informative, educational, and (at least in some ways) inspirational. This series (like most of the other videos on this channel) seem to cause me to think, to ponder, to look at things in new ways. And not always about construction, or whatever aspects you discuss in the video.
I would also like to say that your video quality continues to improve. So thank you, and your entire video production team. It's always the host of a show (and on rare occasions, the video editor) who gets all the fan mail. The camera guy never gets the love. I hope you can pass on my thanks to everyone that makes this channel a success. This channel is one of my favorites. I don't have to wonder before I watch an EC video if I'm going to enjoy it, or learn anything. That is a given. I only have to wonder how much I'm going to learn and enjoy (and I don't generally wonder long, because I watch them as soon as I can).
I am not a contractor, nor have I ever done most of what you are doing here, but the way you present it and the "nuggets" you drop every now and then make this well worth watching. Thanks for sharing!
Great info in this series. When I moved it took me 18 months to find a competent contractor for some wall work. Worth every minute when you find the right guy. Yep, the right crew, driver, pumper makes this look WAY easier than it is.
This has become the best channel on RUclips. Please continue as you started.... providing your knowledge and experience about craftsmanship. Daily Vlogs and political rants have ruined other previously enjoyable channels. Absolutely love your channel.
This series is amazing in the sense that you're taking a more challenging site than some, and you're getting it done RIGHT. The care taken in concrete work would make anyone proud to own that property. And the concrete company donating the materials is a testament to the strength of that community and emblematic of the way that mutual respect and hard work can bond people together. The Essential Craftsman is a national treasure not only in the sharing of his skills but also in providing an example of how to live your life with kindness and decency.
Scott, you forgot to mention the importance of starting and ending each job with a handshake. A simple gesture of respect that goes a long way.
By far my favorite channel. I tell everyone that even shows a hint of interest in the blacksmith trade about this..... come to think of it I tell everyone I get into a general conversation with! Love what I’ve learned from watching and looking forward to putting it to use more and more and teaching my boys what I’ve learned.
Thank you for this
What you're doing is nothing new, different or that exciting. The fact that you're doing this, and properly documenting it for educational purposes is monumental, thank you!
Very true. When a driver pulls up on a job and the finishers yak about how desperate the company is to have hired the driver and the driver yaks about how goofy the builder was to get those finishers and everybody just has a big hoot and starts working like a Swiss watch. It's an interesting life. Then there's line and boom pumps and conveyors and all. And all the time a timetable and a perishable load to keep you focused. Oh yes. GOOD pour!
I feel like I am apart of history here. We're all along for the ride. One of the most generous people I know--sharing the most intimate and little-known details of his trade so all can learn. Can't thank you enough, EC!
Good Job Umpqua and Brothers
Mr. EC, I'm a recent subscriber and I'm really enamored of the way you describe the dedication and skill that goes into working with your hands. I am a concrete contractor, and it's rare to see a person who appreciates the work that goes into foundation prep and pour. Thanks for making us look good.
This page has exploded in popularity!
I was asked to comment by the video producer and for the first time, it didn't feel like a grab for attention. This man is truly, deeply genuine in being interested in sharing his craft with as many people as he can. The warmth and generosity of this endeavor is wholly unique to me. I can't get enough. Please, @Essential Craftsman , Continue.
As a kid I wanted to open a hardware store called the Bang, Nail, and Screw. Having matured a bit I don't think it would go over so well. :D
The Bait & Tackle Stores in Florida is aptly named Master, Bait, & Tackle!
Used to be a company in Indianapolis called Service Supply. They sold all kinds of fasteners and had warehouses as big as city blocks. Their motto was "House of a million screws", so I don't think your idea is completely out of line.
Thanks for this series. I’m particularly impressed with your ability to teach and explain which is a gift that not everyone has. I’m learning the “how”, but most important the “why”. Something few instructors ever do and you master is instilling the ethics and culture of building. This has potential to negate so many problems down the road which is the measure of a truly successful project. Thanks for putting this together.
Enjoyed watching this take shape.
Hey I am retired now but, I have poured a lot of "mud" in my day. I enjoy watching. I just wish we would have had square stakes on our jobsite. You remind me of my father in law who taught me about building and such when I was in my twenties. Much of what you teach in your videos he taught me back then. Thanks!
People who aren’t familiar with the build site haven’t been watching or listening because you already explained the site aspect comprehensively in previous videos🤓
I was the one who went into some depth on adding some more establishing shots and visual cues on screen. To me, it's not a question of "is this good enough?" Of course it is. But if there's one thing that could be a lot better, one thing that would most improve the quality of the videos, one thing that would help people orient themselves and instantly have what they're looking at click, that was my suggestion.
It was mentioned that they can't use drones because they're too near an airstrip. Would have been nice to see the whole thing from up top though.
I still think they could turn lemons to lemonade: if the airport is preventing a drone shot, drop into the flying club or flight school at that airport and find someone willing to take him up for a hop to do some old school aerial photography/ video. I'm sure there's a dozen private owners that'd take Scott up just for the fun of it, but any school or club would absolutely be willing to trade $50 worth of avgas and an hour's time for a shoutout on a channel with 200k subscribers.
I know that the lot has been explained and can be puzzled together from the many shots at different angles, but nothing provides the same kind of big picture visualization as that simple top down overview that situates everything on the lot and situates the lot on the street and surrounding terrain.
My favorite channel on RUclips. Mr. Wadsworth is knowledgeable, entertaining, a great teacher and above all, relatable.
I live in Oregon and know nothing about craftsmanship however, I find myself watching these videos 3-5 at a time. Thank you for producing these videos.
-Big fan
Here is a comment saying how much the kids and I like watching your videos. Thank you!
Thank you for breaking down this most complicated process into digestible pieces and sharing a lifetime of knowledge!As a dyslectic with low reading comprehension instructional videos like yours allow me to tackle projects with a confidence I would never have with written word.
Very Smooth crew by the looks of it! Great progress being made!! Greetings from Co. Kildare, Ireland.
Another one of us. Greetings from Co. Roscommon, Ireland. Love this channel.
Greetings from Waterford
Class isn't it! You can just sit and watch all day!
Good man, we've a small irish contingent going!
I like that you are not only showing how, but also explaining the why to your listeners. It's nice to have things explained in such great detail so that you are actually learning something. Great Video!!
Who else felt the back of their hand at 9:30?
Adam C and now I know what concrete feels like lol
Adam C not me, i know the back of my hand. Lol
Adam C lol i have poured concrete that is a good analogy.
My hand feels more like the rebar is proud of the surface - but then, I have scrawny hands and the tendons poke out the back. :-P
I bashed mine a couple days ago. Sill hurts.
Maybe compare to ball of the thumb test vs steak doneness - Med rare?
Interesting the way you always seem to take small simple things that I/we take for granted and display them for the world to see in a verbiage and atmosphere that's as close to my Grandfather as anyone could possibly get. Thanks for everything you do. I'm a Trooper in North Carolina, Electrical Contractor and General Contractor so whenever I get a extra minute, in a all too often long day, I find myself retreating to your videos time and time again !!!!
Hey man just love your videos. Love learning new things. So love the forging videos. I forged my first knife over the xmas break. Thanks
i respect how you brought up the subject of violence on the job site. There is a longstanding faction that thinks it " comes with the trades". It's so draining when you're trying to get the job done and as such I'm glad you touch on it. You young people are getting SO much from these videos, I hope you take the total content in.
"I love the smell of wet concrete in the morning. It smells, like victory"
If I say the concrete's safe to place son, it's safe to place!
Now, that sounds like something Robert Duval might say. Apocalyptically speaking that is.
Love your channel. I watch everything. Used to do similar work and loved it. Now I am a natural gas utility pipefitter for 11 years and get paid three times as more but absolutely hate it. I stumbled across your channel and love it. I have a three year old boy and one on the way. You make my find what's important. Thank you.
Dan
Another great video.
Introduced to this by my son on a visit back to the UK, I am a 72 yr old mum who is totally gripped and fascinated. Thank you!!
Recent subscriber but long time watcher. Would share with friends if I had any.
Find people with common interests and befriend them! You must comply with Mr wadsworth's orders at all cost.
You got a friend in me fellow RUclipsr 😗
Best way to have lots of friends is to be friendly to lots of people.
Late to the project so....... RESPECT to the concrete workers.
Making those forms and placing the rebar gave me a head ache.
So, how accurate was your order?
I built a house for my family last year with no construction experience. I was a nervous wreck but I did it and I'm so proud of how the house came out. Watching this video series has got me nostalgic-- and wanting to do it again, this time a little bit wiser. Thank you.
Finally! It's been agonizing waiting to see the concrete go in. I'm sure you've been delaying on purpose...building up the suspense for artistic purposes...
This series has been wonderful. My only complaint - you cut them too much! I'd happily watch twice the video length if you uploaded it!
Probably not. Christmas would've delayed the pour I'm sure.
Working for a concrete construction company in southern Ohio I can say that this guy knows what he is talking about well done cannot wait to see the rest.
Howdy! Does the wood stay in in the concrete? Thanks!
Levi Godwin
When the concrete has dried(set) enough that it isn't sloppy anymore, the wood will be removed. That is usually a day after the pour kind of thing.
Ah okay sweet! Thanks!
The 2x4 in the middle is there to create a depression in the concete called a "keyway", which the wall they cast will sit in, sort of "embedding" it into the footing even though its cast separately. It provides more mechanical shear strength between the wall and the footing. The reinforcing bars will act to transfer rotational forces into the footing from the wall, which is why they stick up like that.
Levi, that is a big No to Any wood or other organic material left in the finished concrete. The Form Boards are always placed so that they can be removed. Any wood left in the concrete would rot away, leaving a void which could seriously compromise the structural integrity of the concrete.
This series is amazing. I am learning leaps and bounds. As a young carpenter in California this level of instruction and attention to detail is hard to find.
I appreciate the way you describe your thought process without just stating what is being done. This clarifies for the “handymen” watching how our minds should be sorting through the possibilities in order to come to an acceptable conclusion. Thank you and blessings.
I tell certain customers that there is a "Zen", principal to concrete. "That you let the truck do as much of the work as possible and let the concrete flow down to where it will exist forever" ( or until the big remodel job) . Some folks work way to hard at it or fight its natural tendencies. The pumps have taken some of the fun out of things for the conrete truck driver. Used to be in the old (?) days that we could swim around in mud up to the fenders and make a horrendous mess of the street and the quarter mile down the road with stuff flying out of the dualies. Now it's all pumps and pollution control, anti silting ordinances and my all wheel drive rear discharge mixer doesn't get put to the test quite as much. I used to say that I didn't need a four wheel drive pickup for fun because I got it out of my system at work.
the same principle of zen can be effectively applied to all building, but none more so than dry stone walls and Cornish hedging, in those instances, allowing nature to pull the stones to their natural resting place is essential, if done right walls with no fastening whatsoever can last thousands of years longer than a cemented stone wall will, with no maintenance.
I don't know how you let stones slide down a chute off the back of a truck to make a stone wall. However, I will say that stone laying is a fine and highly skilled sort of work.
Everything a tradesman does should be Zen. Efficiency of movement, planning ahead, never retracing steps. A proficient, experienced tradesman is well worth watching. They look to be not working very hard, but every single movement is carefully planned and is second nature.
Some people get into concrete work and you just have to wonder, what were they thinking? That's why I bring up zen or what I think zen represents. To try to get people to think about the flow of things rather than a battle to be forced to a conclusion.
I've helped some concrete pours in my youth, I was just their as a strong back, and yes I remember a few things;
1) it is HARD work, but when it's very rewarding when you see the finished product.
2) the guys who pour and finish concrete for a living work VERY hard and make it look easy, but it is not, it takes a lot of hours and a good teacher to become good at it.
Much respect to the concrete guys!
Love the channel.
Cheers from Tokyo Japan!
This is so so much better than hand mixing and humping it with a wheelbarrow.
So impressed that your batch plant donated all your mud. You must have a fantastic relationship with them.
🔨
I have always liked watching professionals while they work construction and building. No need to ask questions, just try to take it all in. Great job guys.
It is very rarely that you find someone who offers such solid and interesing commentary and reflections upon their means of living and passion as you do, Scott. I thorougly enjoy waching your professionalism, and hearing you speak about the very essentials in living that so many of us keep for granted.
Great series. I'm kind of addicted. UK based Surveyor and appreciate how informative these are in general.
emoji!
I sure hope more people find this channel. This guy could have a show on TV.
👍
There's nothing more entertaining than watch a professional crew at work .
Thank you for putting this together. It is great to see the entire process. As a young Civil engineer, this video series is proving extremely helpful. Thank you from Roanoke Virginia
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Kupoki, what's "emoji" mean?
never mind just watched the last part of vid hahaha
Watching in 2022 and it’s now my favorite channel
What a difference this channel is making to me. I'm in town and my shop is attached to the house. The house is about 150 years old and I think the shop is the old summer kitchen remade out of the old stable material. Since I plan to build a small forge and make a woodworking shop i planned on replacing the dirt floor with a concrete slab.
I had intended on doing it myself since I'm a handy kinda guy and how hard can it be. After watching the channel I decided to get quotes and learnt a lot about the local tradesmen. Looking at the construction of the building I feel it needs major revamping. So first in the new year it's off to a reputable engineering firm before I do anything. Looks like we'll be going for a concrete slab and a new and redesigned roof. Thanks to the advice and ideas from the Essential Craftsman, this old dog is still learning new tricks.
Always a pleasure to watch true tradesmen do their job. They make it look so easy. But it all boils down to preparation and execution. Great video.
I m a construction teacher in North Georgia being. showing your videos to my classes since i found you. Keep up the good work God bless.
I have been loving this series so far I'm a residential building apprentice in new zealand and love to learn new techniques and learning how other people build around the world and i have also thanked the concrete company what a wonderful thing they are doing for us supporting you
God bless
This is my favorite series of videos on RUclips. When I see a new video I make a cup of coffee, sit down on my couch and watch your videos. I always learn something.
Thank you for taking the time to film and edit all these videos for us to watch.
Thank you Umpqua Sand and Gravel!! Thank you Scott and Nate for putting this channel together and sharing your knowledge!
Hey Scott I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us I am a 19 year old apprentice carpenter out of York PA and I love what I do and I love watching your videos keep up the Great Work!
It's awfully good that people like you are on RUclips to offset all the other garbage. Keep up the awesome work E.C. - and greetings from upstate NY
This is a fantastic series you're making. The way you present and convey everything is so "to the touch" that if it was a cooking show, we'd be smelling the aroma of the kitchen coming through the screen. And you are so right, the only way to fully appreciate the information is to see it happening. Thank you for undertaking this, its refreshed a lot of things I did with my dad when I was a kid, just in time for some upcoming projects.
Your videos about this house build have taught me so many things I've been wanting to learn my whole life and didn't know I wanted to learn. Sooner or later I'm going to use all the information you've provided in conjunction with all the knowledge I had before stumbling onto your channel to dramatically improve my life. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
Just came apon your channel a month or so ago ... been loving the videos.. I worked in the Palm Springs area in So Cal 10 or so years ago doing kitchen and bath remodels with my dad.. im 38 now and your channel has sparked that love and fond memories i have of that time. Also learning about things ive never done before .. like these footings. TY for being these wonderful videos to RUclips
As many others have stated, I find this series to be fantastic. I grew up in a house that my father built himself and it never quite got finished (still to this day). Now I'm a homeowner rehabbing my own 1950s construction and have plans to build a future forever home from the ground up. This series is insightful and informative for the early processes my father went through when I was 5, and I'm sure it will help me in a few years when my son is about the same age and I begin construction of my future home. Really looking forward to seeing the plan for the house on this site and showcase videos for how you tackle any of the tricky or interesting building techniques required.
This is just a faaantastic series to watch and follow along with. I'm a banker and don't know the first thing about construction projects and have loved every video in this series. Thank you for teaching me something today!