Most of this week I've spent my time standing on a concrete slab behind a rack, on what feels like a very slow install. Each say, by the time I leave my feet and legs feel a little more sore than the day before. Tonight everything from my feet up through my legs and hip hurts to even sit. Even after a strong drink and heat, my hip is killing me. What happened to this job being fun?

You should get yourself one of these;


[Link: americanfloormats.com]

I rarely encounter concrete, it doesn't make sense to buy a mat. But, this job is a commercial project with a kitchen. Today I thought about stealing a mat out of the kitchen until I finish. Monday I may see if there is one I can take that won't be missed. By 5:00 I feel like I've been sitting on a rock in by right back pocket

Sears/Rockler/Woodcraft all have them, might not be a bad idea to keep one rolled up in the van, even if its only used once or twice a year.

Or even those snap together packs you get at Costco or a sporting good store if its a small space.

So how many days a year of pain is $50 worth?

I have a fold up chair I use to watch my kids play sports. If I am going to be spending a lot of time on concrete, I will bring it. I did one on tile once too, and it was just as bad.

I did a job on some uneven small tiles and it was pretty bad.

Working on a ladder all day kills my feet. It's excruciating by the end of the day.

I've had to be on a ladder a lot too on this one. Maybe I'll get a mat and leave it behind the rack for when I also have to service it later.

I would put it behind the seat of the van/car/truck- if you leave it somewhere, you'll need it later.

Here ya go- it's 60" long, so you can cut it in half-

[Link: rockler.com]

A good pair of insoles inside the work boots goes a long way......

+1.. good shoes, no work boots.

I hate concrete too.  One of the remodel jobs I'm doing right now is concrete construction with post tensioned slab and floor.  Between myself, the electrician and the HVAC contractor we've had a crew onsite for almost three weeks now doing all the core drilling and there's still more to do.

For standing on the concrete the mats really are a good idea.  I just use the thin black ribbed door mats and they help a lot and are easy to store.  I keep 4-5 of them of different sizes in the van all the time.

Aside from standing on them, they're great to carry around for finish and trim work to put your tools on and place under areas you're working in case you drop tools to minimize risk of damaging floors.  A good example is to place one against the base board when you install keypads.

[Link: amazon.com]

 

Harbor Freight has cushioned floor mats for 10 bucks. I use them in my kitchen.

Exactly.


Ding ding ding! Another person given the exactly right answer objects to it!

When I started installation, my only drill was wall-powered. I soon bought a Makita; back then even a 12V was an incredible tool. Imagine me saying that I hated dragging the extension cord around all over the job, someone telling me to get a rechargeable, then me having some kind of objection to it.


Most commercial jobs are on concrete floors. Do what you need to do to be comfortable. I tell beginning installers that they must make the work situation adapt to their comfort if it's at all possible; they'll be able to work longer and will be happier at the end of the day. If they are standing on their head to install connectors, I tell them to pull the wires up (if they can) so they can get comfortable. There's no point doing anything on the scale that ends with killing yourself just to get this work done. Get a mat.


I know you're not being literal, but this tells me you don't have any kind of personal relationship with the restaurant management. I've never needed to ask for a mat but every restaurant I've worked in, they'd be happy to help with my comfort.


Yeah, ask. When you do that day after day, you recover less and less and end up with pain or irritation that stays with you.