Reviewer: Peter R.

These DVDs are another in the “amateurs playing with cameras” series. Originally shot on tape, then transferred to DVD with no additional material, or value added. The video quality was low when they shot it, and burning it to a DVD doesn’t magically improve its quality. This DVD serves as an example of what *not* to do when you make an instructional video.

Educators know, that to take a student from point A, to point B, this involves a structure. One that breaks down each larger task into smaller ones. Then he/she teaches the individual skills and knowledge to competency levels for each step. Graphics are developed to illustrate necessary steps. Terms are defined and illustrated along the way.

That’s not what you are going to find with this series. The presenter, Bruce Neal (sp?) rambles through the process of making a foundation without much educational structure at all. Nor has much attention been paid to who the audience for this “tape” might be. Terms aren’t defined, or illustrated at times when they could be very helpful.

For instance, do you know how they square up stakes as they mark out where to excavate? Me neither. That’s one thing I expected to learn from this “tape.”

Here’s how this material is covered: There’s an unnecessarily long, single camera shot while Bruce’s employees stake out the entire house. We watch *from 20-30 yards away* as they do this. That’s a guy, standing at a distance in a field for 10 minutes talking in the wind. It doesn’t make for compelling video.

I say “material is covered,” to distinguish it from *education*. Someone interested in training, would make “staking out a house” a task, and teach to it. Bruce talks over his team while they do task. It’s not the same thing.

This topic could be broken down like this: “here’s our issues with this lot and the layout of the house (with graphics). Here’s where we place the first stake. Here’s why it goes there. Here’s where we place the second and third stakes. Here’s why they go there. Here’s how to make sure they are square. Here’s how we make sure these stakes are where they need to be for the plan, and for the excavator. Here is what excavators need to do their job.” ... I think you get the idea. A larger task broken down into everything needed to do the smaller tasks. Bruce isn’t that organized.

In addition to lacking educational merit, the production quality is very minimal. The “tape” was produced using a single low end video camera that never moves, pointing at Bruce at unflattering angles.

In addition to the long, “Bruce standing in a field” shot, there are long, uncut “Bruce sitting in his office” shots too. The camera looks down on Bruce, as he looks off to the side and rambles on. His desk isn’t that attractive either.

Graphic support consists of some line drawings, and the plan that he refers to occasionally without much effect. As you know, house plans show *a lot* of detail, and it isn’t often clear what Bruce is referring to when they show it. Additionally, the plan is often shown upside down, which makes it a little difficult to read.

Apparently, they didn’t think about the need to plan lighting, sound, background, or illustrations for this production.

Something like this really makes you appreciate the effort they put into quality videos, like the Hometime series produced by Dean Johnson. You aren’t going to find anything that professional here.

I ordered this series looking for answers like, how do foundation forms work, what are the various styles of forms, how do you make sure that they are plumb and level, how do you make sure that they stay that way during the pour, what to do in case of a blowout, how do you handle windows, and multilevel foundations, what are the differences in concrete, and what should you ask for based on the weather and ground conditions, how do you protect the foundation while it cures.?

You won’t find any of these answers here. I canceled my order for the other in the set after viewing the first one. I can’t imagine the second would fill in these huge holes.

So, here’s the outline of what the producers say is on the first video. Then, I tell you what they actually deliver:

Setting the stakes -You get to watch the “Modern Foundations” team pound in stakes from 30 yards away. You do not learn how they placed the house on the lot, or assured that the stakes were square. There is a little discussion about safety, underground services, and very little about what the excavator needs here. Strangely, after this, excavation magically occurs. There’s nothing on this.

Erecting the forms -Yes, his team puts up the forms. No content about things that they look for, check for, watch for while doing this. How do they assure square/plumb walls, for instance? I don’t know. No discussion about various form systems, waterproofing, insulating, etc.

Ordering the concrete -That’s right. It gets ordered, and magically appears. Apparently, just the right amount and right kind too. But, you’ll never hear about how that happens.

Reinforcing with rebar -Yes, they do that. You don’t learn anything about how. There’s nothing here about protecting the rebar, or electrical grounding. You also don’t learn anything about “post-tensioning,” or even what that means.

Placing the mudsills -Yes, Neal points them out. They are right there on top of the wall.

Pouring the concrete -Somehow, this ends up inside the forms. You aren’t going to get any tips on how they make sure it’s distributed or poured correctly, though.

Striking the forms -As in “we take the forms off after 24 hours?” This is covered. Maintaining the forms, finishing the walls, dealing with any problems in the mix/foundation? Not covered.

From the “Contact Us” link on the DVD, “www.moldvideos.com” this company isn’t even in the foundation contracting business at all. They do mold inspections and microbial surveys. There is no mention whatsoever of this video on their website. They can’t be too proud of it.

Not recommended.