What did you guys do this weekend?

Cement costs are high these days thanks to the international market buying so much of it now. I want to pave my driveway this year, but it was quoted at 12k for the job....it was half that 6 years ago.

I think the price is going to keep going up, so if you want to do it Mo, do it now.

One way to find a deal is to contact any construction in the area. Every job normally over-estimates the yardage needed as a cushion and would love to be able to sell the rest of it rather than dumping it.

If you are not in a hurry, contacting the local job sites will get you that slab for about 1/3 of the price....but it will wait until it fits their schedule.

We have rental places here that will rent you a little trailer full of concrete or cement, it opens in the back to dump right in a wheelbarrow

So you just pull it behind your truck and refills are cheap.

forming for concrete is pretty easy especially for a driveway, just do it in sections making sure to account for drainage

This all reminded me of a video I watched years ago where Bob Villa was asked to smooth a slab of a driveway pour.....he butchered it and then handed the trowel back to the guy and walked away.

I will try and find that video....it must still exist.

Don't think I want to attempt to do that on my own. I would probably pull a Bob Villa. I was quoted 600.00 for labor and cement today.

Yea concrete is one of those things best left to the pros, you only get one chance to get it right and a limited about of time to do so before it goes off.

Thats a good price if done right It's easy with all the right tools, only if its not 110 out and the cement truck comes late at 10:00 instead of 7 when he was suppose to and your kids who have never poured before are helping you and you almost lose it even though you ask for the slump to be wet to cure slower. Cleaning carpets is much funner

Just spent 800.00 getting most of the house painted. The painters that climb these ladders are nuts. The dude must have been hitting 60 and overweight don't know how he does it. The painter cleaned carpet for 20 years and hated it

Thats funny i spent over 25 years painting and doing evertying except HVAC and carpets are a nice change. 800 is a good deal with or with out paint included, I use to be able to charge 2.00 sf to paint exterior but after the crash of 08 had to bring it down a Heck of alot less because everyone decided to be tight wads and now there are so many painters that I have no idea what they charge probably .25 a foot. I even see carpet cleaners advertising painting on the van.
It must be some sort of a cycle in every trade but thankfully we are in a capitalistic society with free trade so do what you enjoy and do it with all you got and charge for the service because a workmen is worthy of his hire.

Good thing to know I got a goo deal. The only downside is I had to go and pick up the paint and the 1 gallon that was oil based opened up and spilled all over my truck bed  

Carpet cleaning is definitely less hazardous you don't have to worry about breaking bones and killing your self every time you go to work.

You had to go pick up the paint, I like customers like you that go the extra mile instead of me having to go the extra mile all the time and costing time and $'s. That oils based is some good trim paint though and good for direct sunlight, built and painted this cover so we wouldnt have to buy canvas tops any more. 175 a gal. Red

Yeah I used it for the gutters. You painted the canvas? Good idea.