Concrete Placing on the Farm

cjpm · 09-09-2020 10:29pm #1

Have a good bit of concrete work to do around the farm over the next few years.

Silage Pits, Cattle holding yards and roadways mostly, possibly a slurry pit too at some stage.
Not looking forward to dealing with 45 Newton concrete for a silage slab!!

Was thinking that maybe I should look at purchasing a power screed ( the one man operated type)
I'd imagine there is no point buying a poker as its a thing that can be hired in whenever I've shuttering hired.....

Any opinions would be appreciated

Say my name · 09-09-2020 10:47pm

Are you already experienced in concrete work?

Cavanjack · 09-09-2020 10:49pm

cjpm wrote: »

Have a good bit of concrete work to do around the farm over the next few years.

Silage Pits, Cattle holding yards and roadways mostly, possibly a slurry pit too at some stage.
Not looking forward to dealing with 45 Newton concrete for a silage slab!!

Was thinking that maybe I should look at purchasing a power screed ( the one man operated type)
I'd imagine there is no point buying a poker as its a thing that can be hired in whenever I've shuttering hired.....

Any opinions would be appreciated

Get someone else to do it would be my advice.

foxy farmer · 09-09-2020 11:59pm

Great yoke. Bought one last year. No more screeding with a 4x2 or as I saw once an 18 ft length of 7x3 that must have been soaked in lead. Feck that carry on. 2 lads with rakes and a good eye another pulling the magic screed and you'll never look back.

cjpm · 10-09-2020 6:34am

Say my name wrote: »

Are you already experienced in concrete work?

Have laid plenty over the years, but need to be a bit more savvy about it. Hard to get lads to help with that type of work, hence the need to take some of the effort out of it. I’m thinking a power screed would be a big help....

cjpm · 10-09-2020 6:35am

foxy farmer wrote: »

Great yoke. Bought one last year. No more screeding with a 4x2 or as I saw once an 18 ft length of 7x3 that must have been soaked in lead. Feck that carry on. 2 lads with rakes and a good eye another pulling the magic screed and you'll never look back.

What type exactly did you buy Foxy? Thanks

listermint · 10-09-2020 6:56am

Cavanjack wrote: »

Get someone else to do it would be my advice.

You'll end up with empty pockets and learn nothing doing that

foxy farmer · 10-09-2020 7:05am

cjpm wrote: »

What type exactly did you buy Foxy? Thanks

Honda engine and 10 ft angle profile blade. Bought a 12ft blade after for another job.

cjpm · 10-09-2020 7:21am

Thanks for that Foxy. Where did you buy it and what did you pay? If you don’t mind me asking. PM if you wish

Do you think it would manage 45N concrete with a 16ft blade? The 45 is tough stuff.....

K.G. · 10-09-2020 9:59am

Well its either water or sweath,its your choice

foxy farmer · 10-09-2020 10:35am

cjpm wrote: »

Thanks for that Foxy. Where did you buy it and what did you pay? If you don’t mind me asking. PM if you wish

Do you think it would manage 45N concrete with a 16ft blade? The 45 is tough stuff.....

A good eye for levels is a real help. Cuts out a lot of the raking. I saw a100 m3 pour done with a16ft screed free hand. Wet up the concrete or else the sweat dripping off your nose will do it for ya

Dunedin · 10-09-2020 1:09pm

foxy farmer wrote: »

. Wet up the concrete or else the sweat dripping off your nose will do it for ya

Adding water weakens the concrete

K.G. · 10-09-2020 1:35pm

Dunedin wrote: »

Adding water weakens the concrete

Yeah probaly shortens the life span from 100 to 80 years.silage slab poured here and levelled with just a rake and a tamp in 95 still doing the job 25 years later.whats underneath is more important than the drop of water

Lime Tree Farm · 10-09-2020 3:20pm

Dunedin wrote: »

Adding water weakens the concrete

and invalidates the quality guarantee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xG-pYrmKrs

Cavanjack · 10-09-2020 4:02pm

listermint wrote: »

You'll end up with empty pockets and learn nothing doing that

Or a sore back and a bad job if you don’t know what you are doing.

_Brian · 10-09-2020 4:50pm

I see the sense in doing smaller bits yourself to build competency at concrete work.

But larger More complex jobs I’d rather see done by someone already skilled at the job.

Wildsurfer · 11-09-2020 9:22am

Just a point when using a power screed, my builder who's at the job all his life(not to say that makes him an expert!) but he tends to leave slight hollows in yards when he's power screeding large areas without guide timbers. Any narrower passages where he has timbers to work off are perfect.

Tonynewholland · 11-09-2020 10:17am

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Just a point when using a power screed, my builder who's at the job all his life(not to say that makes him an expert!) but he tends to leave slight hollows in yards when he's power screeding large areas without guide timbers. Any narrower passages where he has timbers to work off are perfect.

You right about the magic screed not being as good for a perfect finish. Like you would get working off timber. You also need the concrete wetter but it’s a really super job that makes concrete work so easy. If it’s not the parlour floor your doing it doesn’t have to be millimetre perfect. If anyone will be doing work themselves it’s a great little machine for ithe price

Dunedin · 11-09-2020 10:35am

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Just a point when using a power screed, my builder who's at the job all his life(not to say that makes him an expert!) but he tends to leave slight hollows in yards when he's power screeding large areas without guide timbers. Any narrower passages where he has timbers to work off are perfect.

Very difficult to get it bang on with no small hollows using power screed alone as opposed to screeding with timbers. It’s only after rain you notice the hollows.

But it’s a hard days work pulling timber screeds as mentioned in posts above.

sandman30 · 11-09-2020 11:02am

cjpm wrote: »

Have a good bit of concrete work to do around the farm over the next few years.

Silage Pits, Cattle holding yards and roadways mostly, possibly a slurry pit too at some stage.
Not looking forward to dealing with 45 Newton concrete for a silage slab!!

Was thinking that maybe I should look at purchasing a power screed ( the one man operated type)
I'd imagine there is no point buying a poker as its a thing that can be hired in whenever I've shuttering hired.....

Any opinions would be appreciated

Power screeds are easy to hire, from any hire centre. Would have to hire it good few times before it's paid for. Also no issues with engine seizing up from lack of use etc.

Water John · 11-09-2020 11:30am

The other way of looking at it is, if one was doing a handy bit over a year or two, a screed and poker would be enough kit. You'd also probably save on one labour unit, which is often the most difficult part. Once you had your job complete you could always sell the kit.
Having the option of hiring is great and came in very useful some time back when the poker gave up on a job. A back up plan is important when sh1t happens.

Grueller · 11-09-2020 2:09pm

I am paying 50% tax on farm income due to off farm job. There are 2 brothers locally here that will work for €120 per man on a Saturday through the books. They do serious work too as they are at it every day with a specialist concrete crew. What they would do in one day would take myself and the boss three days. Also the boss is now in his seventies so help for heavy work is scarce.
Point is through the books they actually cost me half from my hand so €120 paid out or passing favours back and forward with neighbours, hiring gear etc. I know what I do.

Concrete Placing on the Farm

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