ForConstructionPros.com

In our recent company newsletter, we talked about the trials and tribulations of a high-end countertop pour at our studio. Like a finely tuned sports team going into battle to win the big game, we had strategized with the pump company, the ready mix producer and the helpers, stressing that this pour had to go absolutely as planned.

Roughly 30 seconds into the big game (or in our case, the big pour) the pump blew up. We had the equivalent of about five wheelbarrow loads of concrete inconveniently resting inside our heavily reinforced $3,000 form. Now what? We literally had to wheelbarrow the remaining concrete into our showroom and scoop the concrete into the forms using 3-gal. buckets. I'm pleased to say the pour was a huge success.

After a few of our customers/friends read that story in our newsletter, it jolted some on-the-job mishap memories of their own, both of which involved their concrete contractor fathers. Although I could fill a book of all my own fond and not-so-fond memories as a young man growing up with an extremely motivated concrete contractor father, I thought it would be fun to share a few recent stories that I was honored to be on the receiving end of for a change.

As told by Domenic Mattei:

As I read your most recent newsletter, I couldn't help but chuckle over the headaches that you went through with your pump company while installing the concrete reception desk. Please don't think that I was laughing at an unfortunate situation. I am merely sympathizing with your heartache as I was also brought up in the concrete business.