Laying Solid (Grey) Granite Steps By Hand....
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- We are installing a ton of steps at this property, these 3' (Grey Granite) steps are only a portion of the entire job. These steps were installed in the backyard of this customers house and we had to do it all by hand because there was no way to access it with a machine... Enjoy the video!
Here is a link to the video I mentioned which explains my backfill method in much more detail 👉 • The BEST Backfill Meth...
Check out all the videos from this project by clicking this playlist link right here 👉 • Laying 20 Outdoor Step...
#granitesteps #hardscaping #landscapeconstruction #hardscapes #granite #graniteslabs #hardscapedesign #landscapedesign #landscaping
00:00 Intro
00:28 What are we doing?
03:48 Got the excavator
04:37 Removing the existing front steps and turf
07:34 We got the granite steps
07:51 I found something buried...
12:10 Unloading the granite steps
15:55 Building the staircase
33:17 That could have been worse...
33:48 Let's keep laying steps
35:05 What's next? - Jak na to + styl
Saturday morning, July 15, 2023. I enjoy watching you two work. You're a good team! The job you're on right now looks challenging but I'm *very* confident that you'll pull it off!
I think you are right. It is a smart idea to use the geo-grid as you go up he hill. It makes the steps act more like one unit than eight or nine separate steps. You are a smart guy!
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Thank you, that geo-grid is very useful and helpful in many ways. ✌
Kudos on the manual labor of this ... excellent example of work pace and work efficiency ... done a bit of this ... surprised no steel bar for pry adjustments. ... yall work well together ... never forget this work binds you for lifelong respect and honor of hard work accomplished together
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback. It certainly does bond you with your co worker. ✌
Great video! You guys work so hard, do fantastic work and make it look easy. 👍
Thanks! I appreciate all the feedback and support you have been giving my channel. God Bless! ✌
Awesome work as usual guys! Solid as a rock! Amen! 🤙
Thank you very much! ✌
That buried concrete thing is a subterranean receiver AKA and old school underground garbage can. I'm in Massachusetts too and my neighbor was telling me about one as hes old and had one growing up lol
Oh wow, that's cool to know. Couldn't figure it out... thanks for info ✌
@@bostonmike5981 That is very funny! LOL and it is really cool to know about those buried boxes for trash....LOL
@@TheChristianHardscaper Yeah only the old timers used those things for trash when I was a kid, but man did they stink in the summer. lol
@@bostonmike5981 I can only imagine the smell in the summer...LOL
Where would you put the trash in and where would you take the trash out? That hole doesn't look big enough for either
Great video. Thanks. If I just want to put some 16”w x 12”d x 6”h retaining wall blocks into a 30° steep hill for stairs, can I just cut into the dirt and not use crushed stone and geo fabric. What would be the problem with not using them? Maybe I could use geo fabric over the dirt? Thanks.
Working in style !😎😎
He sure is! 🤣
Great work guys !! Very informational
Thank you, glad it was helpful! ✌
Looking good guys I know its not easy doing the big rock old style, I've done a few of them back in the day not so much now. Got bit a few times to and that wasn't fun but the job must go on. good work👍
Thanks! It can definitely make for a tough day, but helps you sleep at night... 🤣 And it is not fun getting bit by those steps at all... ✌
Love your work brother. Really clean !
Thank you very much, I try! ✌
Hey Bro... Just some info. You gave me inspiration to do my own patio. Almost done. Your videos are great.. By the way my man Benny looks like a young George Carlin.. Spitting Image!! God Bless bro.
That is awesome! congrats on the project, fun work right? tiring but very rewarding... And now that you said it, he kind of does! 🤣 God Bless✌
And people wonder why it costs so much to have steps put in like these... GREAT job !!!!!
Yep, thank you!
Thank you
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I got a back ache just watching you two lifting those steps.... they look good though... great video.
🤣 it was definitely a long day and we slept great… But worth it in the end! ✌🏻
Glad to hear you make mention of the locates. I also work full time for the gas company and just last week I was on 3 damages of hit lines from contractors that didn't order locates. They're usually free and they do expire! so make sure you cover your A$$
Yea man, very important thing to do for sure. I don't want to be responsible for any damages like that... ✌
Hey brother! You guys are top notch badass!!! Nice work as always and you’re straight savages! Much respect brother! Love them steps!
Thanks brother!! That staircase was no joke…. 😂 but came out pretty good, thanks as always for the support! ✌🏻
I came across your video last week and I really admire your craft. I've lived in my home for 23 yrs and always wanted steps leading from driveway to front door. Everybody is expensive! I'm encouraged by your work that I may be able to pull it off eventually. You make it look easy but I know it's not. I have slopped yard and I need those steps you are building in my life! I❤
Thank you for the step by step process👏👏🙌
Sweet steps dude. Hahaha you guys remind me of me and my guy wheelbarrowing stone steps 🤣
Thanks man! Always an interesting day when you set steps by hand....LMAO 🤣✌
Great job! You guys just gave me the boost I needed to tackle my steps. My question how you determine how many steps you need
Glad to hear it! I use a straight shooting laser and put it on the elevation I am trying to meet and find the height difference. Once I get the measurement, it is just a few math problems to figure out how many steps I need. Most steps are 6-7" high. So find the height needed and divide by the height of the steps plus about 1/8" per step to compensate for the pitch
My goodness this guy is a HAWWWTIE!!!
🤣 ✌
Love your method for the steps! I am putting dimensional stone steps in our very steep hillside for access right up to our pond. What do you recommend for a barrier for the stone base right up to the pond water so the stones don't wash away? The steps will be coming right up to our floating dock which is attached to 2 poles. I wasn't sure if I should use some kind of lumber barrier or garden edging?
It works very good. As far as your situation, the geotextile fabric I use will typically hold the stone in place unless you are building right in the water... At that point you will need a little extra planning for sure, Not quite sure what you should do because I don't know exactly what you are dealing with.
How deep below grade do you cut in to ensure enough crushed stone to level at preferred stair height (above grade). And what’s the minimum depth of crushed stone? Great video btw, very helpful!!
Can you install pavers on a slope ( more than your normal runoff slope)? If the yard is pitched but not really enough to install steps.
You certainly can. Every once in awhile we do jobs like that, where the customer does not want steps in the walkway so we follow the grade of the land. Definitely possible. ✌
Thank you for the informative video! I still have a strong back but low on buck so I will try to do this job myself. Using geogrid on each step sounds like a good investment. In Scandinavia they recommend using concrete ("earth wet" as they call it) on top of that crushed stone you backfill with. I guess the purpose is the same to stabilize the base. I wonder if any of these methods is superior in all cases or it depends on some factors or it's just a matter of habit. I also wonder if you would ideally stamp on the sides of the steps as well (in this video the stamper is too broad for the job so I assume you do not do it).
My pleasure! I'm not sure if that concrete would really help or hurt... I always lay my steps straight on the clean, crushed stone. It allows water to travel through it and flex's with the ground as it shifts slightly through the seasons. But maybe in your area that is a better method... Good luck with your project ✌
Could you talk more about pricing jobs and your estimating process? Also maybe how you settle on the design of the project with the customer? I am about to get started here in Minnesota doing the same sorta stuff you guys are and want to make sure I’m not under or overcharging customers. I’ve been watching all your videos and going to model my work after yours.
Hey man, congrats on getting into this trade. It is not easy but very fulfilling and rewarding. I get a good amount of comments about pricing of my jobs. I do plan on doing some videos based on that at some point but I am waiting until I can really go over it in detail. Been thinking of the best ways to make a video like that just have not nailed anything down yet…
Welcome to the hardest part of business. What I learned is you have to know your costs to do business. Insurance, vehicle payments, employees, fuel, equipment and what that all costs you as a baseline. Now you cant expect to cover all that in one job. But you have to have a formula.
I personally never bid a job by the hour. Ever. Can I calculate and roll man hours and equipment hours into a job price? Every time. The client gets one number for the job. Small jobs take the same amount of time to mechanize and move equipment as medium sized jobs. Often times smaller jobs are a bigger pain in the butt. Just remember however you price the job, that the quality of your past work that you can show in a portfolio or by personal recommendation will help the customer feel comfortable with your pricing and I am always will to explain the methods I use and why that price is what it is. I made the mistake of working cheap at the start to get work...but I couldnt pay my bills working for break even.
Profit has to be made in business to STAY in business. I offer free estimates for a basic walk thru and average price. Complicated drawings and designs that will take me hours to do will not be free. Esp when they say thanks and move on to the next guy. Also it is ok to decline a customer. Walk away from people with unrealistic expectations and tiny budgets that try to get you to lower your estimate. I know I didnt hit specifics about estimating but those change with the area you work in and the job. I cant charge $30 a sq foot for a ten ft long x 3ft high wall whereas I can all day for a 100 ft long x 4ft high wall. Dont know if any of that helps...but hope so lol
Excellent comment Mike. I agree with all of that! Knowing your cost of business is absolutely key.
When you are just starting your company, it will take time to get used to estimates and bids. But just like you said, don't sell yourself out cheap just to get the work or else your business will not grow.
There is give and take on pricing for every project. The more experience you get, the easier it is to discern those things. ✌
@@TheChristianHardscaper exactly.
I’m hoping to do a small 4 step DIY stair this summer with 4’ (400 lb) cast concrete. I was thinking I could move them with a heavy duty hand truck (dolly) and lower them onto iron pipes instead of bricks to position them. I also plan to burry a row of Versa Lok Standard blocks under each step. Am I in over my head?
I would say 400lbs is a little to heavy for a dolly unless it is very heavy duty… which even if it can hold it, wheeling it into position and over grass will be very difficult. I also think laying them on block is not necessary. I recommend laying them on crushed stone like I did in this video. But you will definitely need a couple guys with you if you plan to do it by hand… ✌🏻
Thanks for your advise. I’ll rethink the plan.
Great video. Fun to watch you guys work. I may have missed it but what company makes the great granite steps
Thanks, glad you like it! I'm not sure exactly where my masonry supply store gets them but they come from different granite quarries around the country / world.
Let's get Benny on the machines, he's earned some stick time. Chuck Taylor work boots 👢 nice
He gets some time here and there for sure, But he isn't super interested in it... But those Chucks are styling for sure! 🤣✌
❤❤🙏🙏
what did those stairs weigh per piece? Nice job so far...
Thank you, they are about 300lbs.
What brand fabric you use?
Typically (SRW) Products (SS5 Woven Fabric). Here is a link to it srwproducts.com/products/fabric/woven/
Loving the accents! Smoking's bad for you. ha.
I don't know what the law is there, but here in the SE, you have to clear the property yourself. Utilities are only required to mark up to the property line. It sucks and has caused me a ton of grief in my profession, but it is what it is.
Speaking of roots. I have tall trees around my property just like this.. how do I know which roots I can cut without killing the trees? Size and all..
Great channel.? I just priced the exact stairs at my local quarry. They quoted $1,100 per stair. For 10 of them. How does that compare to what you paid?
Thank you, and that price is INCREDIBLY high... For 3 foot granite steps like this, they cost $200 - $250 each. I would run very fast and far away from those thieves quoting you that much money... You would save thousands by ordering somewhere else. They should be in jail for charging that much...LOL.
@@TheChristianHardscaper thank you very much. Good channel!
My pleasure, glad you like it! Good luck with your project ✌
20 steps. my gosh. there is a heater on the shovel benny
🤣 yes sir! He definitely warmed up quick…😂✌🏻
I bet working on a slope like that is a hard job, i have quite a few slopes thats a pain.
Sore back tonight
It was a very difficult project... tough grades on that property. We slept good that night, that's for sure... 😂👌
Bennys gotta lay off them butts! He’ll thank me later!!😎
Listen, I smoked from 14 to 61…I had switched to vaping…BAD idea!! Yea just gotta stop. I give all the glory to God because so many days, if not for Him, I’d have been smoking again! I didn’t have the strength or will power….but I had my love for God and commitment to not hurt Him by smoking again. Ya just gotta…I should have long, long before I did…but I didn’t have Jesus!! I’m learning a lot from you. I’ve got both a grill patio on slightly sloping ground and, a set of stairs to put in at home and I’m following you for the best way. My wife wants a pea stone base…no pavers…road layer base and pea stone on top for the finish. I’m thinking of building 4x4 boxes for steps. I’ve got a Kioti tractor with a backhoe so excavating isn’t a problem… knowing the proper way to excavate, is.
Schools in session! And Benny got rid of the butts! And the surgery doughnuts too!! Take care of yourself now gentlemen! You’ll save God a lot of work in the future!!😎
New subscriber…right north of you in NH.
Thanks for the awesome feedback brother! I smoked from 16-22, it started effecting me pretty bad so I quit cold turkey. And as you said, the only way I was able to do it was with the strength given to me by Gods Spirit. Life changing thing. I hope to never smoke them again, I have zero urge to now that I am 32.
Those sound like a few cool projects, I wish you luck on them. Thanks for the support of my channel and it is cool that you are just above us in NH! ✌
Looks like they may need some walls replaced pretty soon
Yea, those old stone walls have seen better days for sure...
I think I got a hernia just from watching this video.
🤣✌🏻
What do you do for a living? carrying small heavyweight papers here and there
Dangerous way of hauling the Granite... scary.. but good job!
This was a sketchy one for sure... Thank you! ✌
I'm with Benny - anytime someone asks me if I'm 'having fun' when I'm bustin' my butt and they're not - yeah. ;-)
🤣 I can feel that, been there plenty of times... ✌
Why do you put bricks underneath the step and then remove them?
That is so we do not pinch our fingers. We lay them on the bricks and then lift / lower the step one side at a time. ✌
Gotcha ... thanks for the info, it's appreciated. You guys do great work. Blessings 💪 🙏 😊
@@andrewdestin No problem, thank you✌
Why the bricks?
We set the granite on them 1st so we don't crush our fingers and then drop 1 side at a time.
@@TheChristianHardscaper Ah, I see and understand now. Thanks brother and great work! If you ever get the chance, you should make a video about how to install these going down into a body of water. Have not found a video on that one yet!
Need to grease the wheelbarrow bud…
😂 it is like beautiful music... LOL ✌