Construction tips:

Keep a slow and steady pace while doing mind numbing manual labor. I have seen weight lifting college kids put to shame and left gasping in the dust by Central American laborers who knew this trick.

When soldering a water line, open a couple valves or faucets to let the steam out or you'll never seal the joint.

A sledge hammer will bust out concrete easier if you take a shovel and undermine the soil below.

When cleaning up a jagged concrete edge using a chisel (as opposed to a rented Stihl saw) strike a chalk line along the edge and and score the length but smack the chisel only once before moving it. If you do it right, by the end of the run, a hairline crack will appear and the whole edge will drop free and clean.

Dirt is cheaper than concrete. Fill in the low spots before pouring.

If you use a cutting torch, clean the tip frequently. A sharp knife cuts cleaner.

Well begun in halfway done. ;~)

Yerz,
Tweed