BACK SIDEWALK DONE!!!

There is always something to fix or repair when you have a century old home.  One project that I've been putting off is fixing the back porch stoop.  The concrete had settled next to the house about 10 inches so everything tilted toward the house and created a BIG step.  When it rained or snow melted, the water would run under the porch. 

The hardest part of getting something done is simply getting started; to commit to the task at hand.   Well I worried and thought about how I was going to brake up that old 100 year old concrete slab.  Did great granddad use steel or rebar?  Was I going to simply create a bigger problem or what? 

When the weather cooled, I grabbed the sledge hammer, got down on my knees (bad back!) and let go.  To my amazement, it started to crack, right where I wanted it to.  It broke up in manageable sized pieces.  I sorted out the large from the small.  The large stuff got hauled out to the farm and the smaller pieces were set aside for fill. 

Back Porch of Oft's Bed & Breakfast

I priced delivered concrete and ready-mix along with the tools and mixer I would need if I did the job myself.  I found it would cost a little more doing it myself because of the cost of a mixer but I would have it for future work which would be a big saver.   I have several sidewalk panels that need replacement.


I checked reviews on mixers and got a good one at Lowes for about $300 and started hauling bags of ready-mix.  I staked out the form and added the old, broken-up concrete where I needed.   I was getting started when Larry Witt drove up, parked and got out with his working clothes on.  He saw what I was doing and stopped by and offered his assistance.  He is a professional concrete man!   Well, I started to mix concrete and it started to run uphill to the project.  

Gordon Mueller mixing concrete

Larry handled the 'mud' at the project sight; shoveling, packing and smoothing.  I had split up the project into three sections.  I figured this would allow me to get a better idea of how many quick-crete (80lbs) sacks I would need.  I didn't want to run short; that is something you don't want to do when pouring concrete.  Anyway, I had hauled two loads of 80 lb sacks; a total of 24.  Just about a ton of ready-mix. 

Larry Witt: the Master at work!

We just kept mixing and pouring and before I knew it one section was done and the second have done.  Larry thought we had enough to finish the second which make up about 80% of the project.  Sure enough, the 20 sack finished the two largest sections of the walk.  They were simply beautiful!

We had to let the concrete set a little before edging so we sat on the porch and enjoyed a cold brewski.  The edging then got done and we broomed the surface to make it a little rough so no one would slip on this new masterpiece.

I pulled the forms after the third day and laid the last little section which only took three and a half of the remaining four sacks.   I'm just as happy being lucky as smart!  I had nailed my estimate on the nose. 

Now with the afternoon temperatures hitting the high 90's; I am soooo happy this project is done.  Every day I go out and admire the project.   As I think about it; the worry about getting started was worse than the physical work itself.  Especially, when you have a good friend that jumped in to help.  Thanks Larry!