Wheelbarrowing a 15 yard pour...

[mike93lx]

Looking for a sanity check here.

I have a 1200 sq ft pool deck going in soon and due to very soft soil, the concrete company is proposing that they will wheelbarrow it all from my driveway.

I am hoping they mean buggies, but even that feels wildly impractical.

Is there any legit concrete company that wouldnt use a pump truck?

The closest point is about 30-35 feet and farthest is over 100' away, all through wet,mushy clay.

 

[Shiftless]

Unfortunately, this sounds like the prelude to another concrete horror story thread. Better do some checking around to see how long this will take to unload.
Your total volume is what, maybe 15 yards of mud? Two trucks?

 

[mike93lx]

Unfortunately, this sounds like the prelude to another concrete horror story thread. Better do some checking around to see how long this will take to unload.
Your total volume is what, maybe 15 yards of mud? Two trucks?

That's my concern.

Besides the speed, i don't even think wheelbarrows are possible due to the site conditions.

Yeah, about 15 yards, maybe slightly less.

 

[Shiftless]

I suppose somebody could lay out a plywood pathway.

 

[mike93lx]

I suppose somebody could lay out a plywood pathway.

Good point. Although at today's prices, a pump truck might be cheaper !

 

[PelicanPines]

4 wheel barrows, 6 men, plywood path... it can be done

 

[acer66]

I just did a 5 yard pour with 2 guys with pre mixed bags to a 20‘ away pour.
Was a drag but I am in my mid 50’s so that might explain the drag.

I would call them again voice your concern and see what they say and go from there.

 

[mike93lx]

I just got a price of 1300 for 6 hours to get a pump truck that would reach over my house

 

[mike93lx]

I just did a 5 yard pour with 2 guys with pre mixed bags to a 20‘ away pour.
Was a drag but I am in my mid 50’s so that might explain the drag.

I would call them again voice your concern and see what they say and go from there.

I sent a response. We'll see.

Based on the weather lately, I'd expect 90 degree Temps for this as well

 

[couch67]

Each yard will take 5-6 wheelbarrows, depending whos on the business end of it. So thats 75 to 90 trips. If they have a crew of 4 or 5 guys slugging it out, sure. But with the wet clay I can see your concern. Would likely need planks or plywood.

 

[benjy]

Was about $700 to pump my 35 cy shop slab ~200'

 

[acer66]

I sent a response. We'll see.

Based on the weather lately, I'd expect 90 degree Temps for this as well

Smart and fingers crossed.

 

[mike93lx]

Each yard will take 5-6 wheelbarrows, depending whos on the business end of it. So thats 75 to 90 trips. If they have a crew of 4 or 5 guys slugging it out, sure. But with the wet clay I can see your concern. Would likely need planks or plywood.

Part of me looks at this as just stupid from a safety perspective. Based on how hard it has been to get any work done, I doubt they have enough staff to do this, let alone afford the hit of an injury.

 

[mike93lx]

Was about $700 to pump my 35 cy shop slab ~200'

I only called one place, but that is a lot cheaper.

It amazes me that people make such dumb decisions over such small dollars. Let's have a half dozen guys attempt to replace a machine that can do it faster, better and safer for under a grand

 

[TobeyA]

Buggies are definitely doable. I had a 2100sf pour last year that was completely done with two buggies.

 

[mike93lx]

Buggies are definitely doable. I had a 2100sf pour last year that was completely done with two buggies.

That definitely makes sense. Maybe they just said wheelbarrow to keep it simple...I doubt it though.

 

[Ilikeike]

The guy in the truck is gonna like it when some guy with a wheelbarrow is standing there.
and
Clean up on isle 5, lol. it's inevitable.

I ran a wheelbarrow on a backyard pour once, it sucked. I was maybe 16-17yrs old in the mid 80s, I was cheap slave labor.

 

[mike93lx]

The guy in the truck is gonna like it when some guy with a wheelbarrow is standing there.
and
Clean up on isle 5, lol. it's inevitable.

I ran a wheelbarrow on a backyard pour once, it sucked. I was maybe 16-17yrs old in the mid 80s, I was cheap slave labor.

The prep was months delayed due to staffing issues. I can't imagine how they can come up with enough hands to put on this job. 5-6 guys moving mud, two guys placing and screeding, at least another finishing.

If I just let it fly, I feel like 4 guys will show up with two wheel barrows. One guy will basically pass out from the heat, one wheelbarrow will break and the second truck will go off before any of its mud is spilled all over my driveway.

But what the hell do I know, I'm just an accountant

 

[unslow1]

I did 11 yards from the street to behind my house with 1 buggy. Three guys working the fill and 1 on the buggy. Wheel barrows were possible but the buggy wasn't that expensive.

 

[Dagny]

I wouldn't do it with half a dozen school teachers but 6 experienced cement guys can do it.

 

[Bucko]

I just got a price of 1300 for 6 hours to get a pump truck that would reach over my house

If you have a path for a wheelbarrow you shouldn't need a pumper that goes over the house, those are a much more costly unit. You just need a guy with a trailer unit and some hose, should be much cheaper than the $1300 pump and will save your laborers strength for the finish work. Would stink to have your guys exhausted and trying to get a good finish on the mud or drop out all together.

 

[Toolfool]

What about a pump trailer ?

 

[Firstram]

I ran a wheelbarrow on a backyard pour once, it sucked. I was maybe 16-17yrs old in the mid 80s, I was cheap slave labor.

That's how it was done in NC in the early 80's. I grew up hand digging footings and pushing the wheelbarrow on 2x12's! I was amazed the first time I saw a pumper.

 

[mike93lx]

If you have a path for a wheelbarrow you shouldn't need a pumper that goes over the house, those are a much more costly unit. You just need a guy with a trailer unit and some hose, should be much cheaper than the $1300 pump and will save your laborers strength for the finish work. Would stink to have your guys exhausted and trying to get a good finish on the mud or drop out all together.

To be clear, I am not paying beyond the price contracted. Despite how it feels to me, I am not the GC here. I'm just dealing with people that don't seem to have a clue on how to do things properly and safely.

I'm just trying to look at options so that I am informed when they come up with excuses.

They "prepped" the area leaving at least 13 soft spots. Not just a little soft. These feel like standing on a water bed.

Its a **** show, to say the least. At this point, I am awaiting resolution on the prep and have made it clear that not a cubic centimeter of concrete is being poured until it is resolved.

 

[Ilikeike]

That's how it was done in NC in the early 80's. I grew up hand digging footings and pushing the wheelbarrow on 2x12's! I was amazed the first time I saw a pumper.

on the pumper, yeah, me too !

Also did a lot of digging and mucking out of footings…
Mom and step dad owned a construction company.
I actually got taken out of school early because it rained and needed to clean out footing before inspection.
Lol.

 

[ybnormal]

4 wheel barrows, 6 men, plywood path... it can be done

a yard barely alive
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it
We have the technology
We have the capability to make the worlds first bionic yard
Better than it was before
Better, Stronger, Greener, Faster

 

[mike93lx]

What about a pump trailer ?

So a hose running across the yard? Guess I didn't think that was an option due to weight and handling the hose, but maybe it is small enough to work? What size hoses are run?

 

[mrvm]

Cement +wheel barrow? From my younger days: did it, done that, never again...Cement guy saw me flip the wheel barrow after the tenth one, had sympathy and helped me with the rest LOL

 

[mike93lx]

Cement +wheel barrow? From my younger days: did it, done that, never again...Cement guy saw me flip the wheel barrow after the tenth one, had sympathy and helped me with the rest LOL

To be fair, it's not just cement. There is aggregate and sand in there too... Maybe that changes it?

 

[dutchgray]

Done loads of wheel barrow concrete pours over the years. If there is enough people it's not that hard, you need a firm path to roll on.
Since its being finished you need the people for that so they may as well barrow the stuff as well, 15 yards isn't that much concrete really.
4 barrows would be the minimum I would think, 6 would be about ideal.

 

[couch67]

We should get an Engineer to figure this out

 

[mike93lx]

We should get an Engineer to figure this out

I've hired 6 already. Engineers know everything. At least thats what @joey1320 taught me

 

[larry4406]

What about a pump trailer ?

So a hose running across the yard? Guess I didn't think that was an option due to weight and handling the hose, but maybe it is small enough to work? What size hoses are run?

The pump trailer as suggested might be a good option. I think wheel barrows for that size of pour is recipe for disaster.

I had a house with an almost 500SF rear covered porch that we needed to pour the concrete slab. Due to the house height and depth, a boom type concrete pump would not reach over the house. The lot constraints were such that we could not drive around the house.

The solution was a pump trailer. We ran the pipe literally thru the house and out the back to pour the porch slab. At the end of the pipe, there was the typical flexible hose (not pictured).

Worked slick. Was a first time for me.

 

[gtae07]

The solution was a pump trailer. We ran the pipe literally thru the house and out the back to pour the porch slab. At the end of the pipe, there was the typical flexible hose (not pictured).

That's how my shop was poured (~15cy). Worked great. Wish now I'd paid extra for a smoother finish though.

 

[acer66]

The pump trailer as suggested might be a good option. I think wheel barrows for that size of pour is recipe for disaster.

I had a house with an almost 500SF rear covered porch that we needed to pour the concrete slab. Due to the house height and depth, a boom type concrete truck would not reach over the house. The lot constraints were such that we could not drive around the house.

The solution was a pump trailer. We ran the pipe literally thru the house and out the back to pour the porch slab. At the end of the pipe, there was the typical flexible hose (not pictured).

Worked slick. Was a first time for me.

I read this on my phone so I only saw the text at first and was thinking you ran that pipe through a finished house and pictured all the precautions you had to take to do that.

 

[mike93lx]

I had a supervisor out from the concrete company yesterday to go over the issues.

He strongly advised against an overhead pump truck in completed construction as he's seen hoses break and concrete get dumped on the house.

Their plan is to transfer from the truck to the pour with a bobcat then distribute with wheelbarrows. Before I asked, he said he doesn't like to use buggies for these jobs.

I dunno. This guy is the pro and they aren't a fly by night operation. I have another rep from the pool company coming out on Monday. We'll see where this goes.

I appreciate the insight everyone gave

 

[JoeMcGov]

If you pump you need to have a competent person running the business side of the pump hose.

Also know that any pump will need to have water and a place to wash all of that pump piping/hosing when work is complete. They're gonna need to do that on your property.

Ready mix concrete (truck batch plant concrete) is perishable. It has a time limit. There are additives that can be added to slow it down a bit. You need a competent person leading this concrete initiative. Not so sure I've read that you do. Yet. Good luck.

 

[mike93lx]

If you pump you need to have a competent person running the business side of the pump hose.

Also know that any pump will need to have water and a place to wash all of that pump piping/hosing when work is complete. They're gonna need to do that on your property.

Ready mix concrete (truck batch plant concrete) is perishable. It has a time limit. There are additives that can be added to slow it down a bit. You need a competent person leading this concrete initiative. Not so sure I've read that you do. Yet. Good luck.

Up to yesterday, I hadn't talked to anyone that felt competent. That did change though.

 

[drwheels]

Look at muddyfeet concrete pumping on Youtube. They do a lot of pools with the trailer pump.

 

[mike93lx]

Well, 17.5 yards is on the ground and they did in fact wheelbarrow it. It hadnt rained for a bit, so the ground was firm.

The drivers weren't happy, but the guys got it done. 3 running wheelbarrows and 3 placing/finishing.

It was an 11 hr day, but almost half of that was waiting for the trucks to arrive.

Looks good. One of the form lines and the channel drain could have been a little straighter, but overall, I am happy