Concrete pumping our patio

[Vintage Veloce]

Around here, they use a concrete pumper for most residential jobs. It's the city, and its just easier and much, much faster. A couple other threads indicated to me that many are not familiar with this type of delivery, so I thought I'd post a couple quick videos of our new patio being pumped.

This one starts with a good shot showing the wireless controller used by the guy on the end of the hose.

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GcwBcMm1h6E" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[73surffisher]

Hey Vintage
Nice vid, quite the process, , thank you for posting, , was there any thing different done to the concrete to make it pumpable?

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Hey Vintage
Nice vid, quite the process, , thank you for posting, , was there any thing different done to the concrete to make it pumpable?

I'm not sure... the pumper orders the concrete, but there were no special notes on the order: "FP30 3/8 3000 PSI", tinted Thyme.

 

[grissom]

Don't they use pea gravel?

 

[Ggg]

Slump looks really soupy, I assume to allow it to be pumped

 

[73surffisher]

3000 psi is standard for sidewalks / patios, I don't know what FP 30 means or the 3/8 neat process, , beats ******* by wheel borrows , , in my younger days

 

[1jjpop]

Did you ever see how they clean out the tube the concrete is pumped thru. When they get done pumping they take a foam ball & wet it & put soap on it & run it thru the tube . Do it over & over till the tube is clean..

 

[Firebrick43]

Actually doesn't look that soupy, the pumper I used required 5-6" slump but defiantly small stone. The hose is pretty small so it probably can't handle 3/4" stone. Probably 3/8 fp stands for 3/8 fill pea

 

[wssix99]

Thanks for posting. Many aren't aware of this option (or conveyor trucks) vs. the big pumping trucks.

 

[77Birdman]

Pumping used to be a luxury used only when all else fails. Now its fairly commonplace. However I'm in the country and we use large pump trucks. My block mason has a small trailer unit like that he uses to grout the walls when he is done. It certainly does make a miserable job a little more palatable.

 

[NUTTSGT]

A couple great little videos for those that have never seen it done. Thanks.

 

[6768rogues]

Around here when it is pumped it has more slump and an ad mixture to make it more slippery.

 

[joes169]

Trailer pumps work well for small jobs with hard access, but keep in mind that they are not all that common in many markets. I've only seen one around here, at least one that will pump concrete, and it's owned by a foundation contractor. THey only use it for their own jobs, no rental or subbing it out to other contractors. Truck mounted pumps and conveyors, on the other hand, are much easier to find.

For something like a small patio like this close to the alley/street, we would just dump it with our power buggy. No extra concrete to order, no real significant additional labor needed, probably doesn't take any longer when you figure pump set-up and clean-up, no additional admixtures needed, can use 3/4" stone (can't get 3/8" low-chert stone here, which would be another issue), and you can pour a 4-5" slump vs. the 6-7" they are pumping at.

That said, it's up to the contractor on how they want to place it, this guy obviously prefers it for his own reasons.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Just for background: it seems most residential jobs here in San Diego, that are not right in front like a driveway, are pumped.

I've never seen a buggy. Different places, different ways. But I suspect A buggy would trample stuff or not fit in most of the back yards around here. All the homes are from the 1920s on small lots (typically 5000 sqft or less, many on 2500 sq ft lots).

For the job in the video, the concrete pumper charged $180. The concrete finishers were $500. Concrete, delivered: $800. My contractor did the forming and oversight and that was bundled with other work, so hard to pull out separately.

 

[flat tire]

they work ok for a short run and if the concrete is mixed properly
I have worked in concrete for 10 years as a laborer. I hated to see that %$&%*I%$ pump pull on the job.
ever have to find a plugged hose in 40-60'

 

[kbs2244]

They used one for my shop floor.
Maybe 200 feet from the curb to back of slab.
No extra charge, he said he had the pump and it saved him labor.

I got a kick seeing a worn spot in the hose patched with duct tape.
It was either very good tape or less pressure than I expected.

 

[n20junkie]

Around here when it is pumped it has more slump and an ad mixture to make it more slippery.

Super plasticizer

 

[joes169]

Different places, different ways.

Absolutely, you won't get a disagreement from me on that.

I'm surprised how cheap the pumping is, as well as the labor there. I love the weather in SD, but I guess I'd have to change my career (or retire) if I ever decide to move there.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

I'm surprised how cheap the pumping is, as well as the labor there. I love the weather in SD, but I guess I'd have to change my career (or retire) if I ever decide to move there.

Not really that cheap... is it really much more in WI? Pump was here maybe an hour, with one guy. So $180/hour.
The finishers were here, 2 guys about 4 hours for $500. So at least $50/hour. Actually I was surprised at that one.
Head carpenters/contractors typically charge $45 to $65 / hour, depending on skill and marketing. Regular construction guys under them maybe $30/ hour. And of course the head guy chargers 15% on top of everything.
Of course the big guys charge "by the job" and round up from these prices to cover contingencies...

 

[like2wheel]

For something like a small patio like this close to the alley/street, we would just dump it with our power buggy.

What if the site has rebar on chairs?
Is there a way buggys can deal with that, or are you limited to mesh on the bottom & hooking it up during the pour?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Not really that cheap... is it really much more in WI? Pump was here maybe an hour, with one guy. So $180/hour.
The finishers were here, 2 guys about 4 hours for $500. So at least $50/hour. Actually I was surprised at that one.
Head carpenters/contractors typically charge $45 to $65 / hour, depending on skill and marketing. Regular construction guys under them maybe $30/ hour. And of course the head guy chargers 15% on top of everything.
Of course the big guys charge "by the job" and round up from these prices to cover contingencies...

$180/hr. Keep in mind most contractors that have a specific piece of equipment to be used on a job also charge drive time, set up/clean up charge and a minimum charge. So technically, it may not have been $180/hr but thats what the bill read for a small simple job.

Your concrete guys doing a small job, was it Saturday or a weekday job ? If they were between jobs and you paid cash, it may have went right into the pocket. Sometimes, a small job isn't billed at an hourly rate but just a job rate so they can still make decent money.

 

[lakeroadster]

Thanks for posting the video's Vintage Veloce.