How To Remove Concrete Path

Physical Demolition Tools and Tips

Updated: Jun. 24, 2022

Tips for a fast breakup—even if you're not a torso builder

Man uses a sledghammer to break up concrete Family Handyman

Save time and energy when breaking up a concrete slab or steps: Tips, tools and planning communication guide yous through the job and save you big bucks.

Calculate the savings first

You lot might think that demolishing concrete is backbreaking, dotterel work. But that'due south only one-half truthful. In that location's more to it than merely swinging a sledgehammer. And a bit of know-how can save y'all lots of fourth dimension and sweat and possibly a visit to the chiropractor'due south office.

Tearing up concrete yourself tin as well save y'all a ton of money. Hiring a contractor only to annihilate a 12 x 14-ft. patio could toll y'all $ane,400 or more than. If you lot do it yourself, the cost to remove a concrete driveway volition run you lot about $400, including rental and disposal. That's a savings of about $one,000 on the cost to remove a concrete driveway. On the other hand, if you're hiring a contractor to pour new physical, doing the demo yourself could actually toll you more once yous pay disposal costs. Compare the costs of removing information technology yourself with what the contractor would charge for removal.

Choose your weapon—sledge or jackhammer

Photograph one: 12-lb. sledge

A sledge can be surprisingly effective in breaking up physical up to well-nigh four-in. thick. Give information technology a endeavor first, earlier moving on to heavier rental equipment.

Photograph 2: The jackhammer pick

A rented jackhammer powered by a big compressor is the all-time option for large or thick slabs. But a plain old sledgehammer is fine for most jobs.

The surest way to make up one's mind whether to use a sledgehammer or a jackhammer is to experiment a few days before you brainstorm full-scale demolition. Simply take a few whacks at the slab with a 12-lb. sledgehammer (Photo i). Within 10 minutes, you'll know whether it'southward a job for a sledge or a jackhammer. Consider renting an electric jackhammer to make the job easier. It won't salve you much fourth dimension, but it'due south a lot easier on your body.

If your slab is large or actress thick, rent a pneumatic jackhammer (with a hose, bits and a trailer-mounted compressor; Photo 2). It has much more power than an electrical jackhammer. Simply it's also heavy (xc lbs.) and difficult to maneuver. Don't automatically assume you should rent this every bit your first choice—it's overkill for most dwelling house concrete breakup projects.

Plan your disposal strategy

Trash container with gate

Rent a trash container with a gate then you can dump your wheelbarrow inside. Tossing chunks over the side is hard work.

Concrete can't go in your trash tin, so check out your disposal options at least a calendar week alee. Some concrete recyclers (search online for "recycling services") accept it gratis or charge a small fee per load. Most add an actress charge if the concrete contains steel mesh or rebar. Unfortunately, y'all won't know if yours has metal in it until yous start breaking it apart. So figure your total price based on the higher rate. Also exist aware that the typical 12 10 xiv-ft. patio weighs nearly 5,000 lbs. That means you'll be paying the charges for at least 3 loads and making at least three trips, fifty-fifty if you have a 1-ton pickup truck.

Your other choice is to rent a trash container (check the yellow pages under "waste disposal"). Don't judge on the proper size. Instead, give the waste haulers the dimensions and thickness of your patio and allow them figure out the correct size for your job. Make sure any trash container yous rent has a walk-in gate for easier loading.

Round up a crew

This is one project where it really pays to have actress bodies around to exercise the heavy lifting. So plan ahead and nail down firm commitments from friends who owe you favors. Friends who own heavy-duty wheelbarrows are especially valuable. Ideally, your crew will consist of two to suspension upwardly the concrete and a team of two to four to haul the rubble away.

Finish flying shrapnel

Comprehend the slab

Stop flying chunks of concrete with a sail of plastic. Concrete shrapnel can damage siding and intermission windows, and it'due south a real chore to clean up.

Flying shards of concrete can damage siding, break glass or even cut you. Rather than setting up plywood to protect windows and siding, roll 6-mil polyethylene (at home centers) over the patio or sidewalk. Go out it in identify while you hammer or jackhammer. The sheeting catches all the shrapnel and traps most of the grit. Just exist certain to watch your footstep while walking on it—poly tin be very slippery.

Don't simply hammer—pry, likewise

Photograph one: Pry and suspension

Break upwardly concrete faster past forming a two-person team. With ane person prying up while the other strikes, physical breaks more easily.

Photo 2: Pry bar

Utilise a 5 to six-ft. long chisel-tip pry bar to lift concrete edges.

After you've covered the slab with plastic, information technology'due south tempting to just start whaling abroad. Don't! The sand base under the slab will absorb the energy from each blow. You'll finish up exhausted with very picayune to testify for information technology. Worse, you'll pulverize the tiptop layer of the slab instead of creating deep cracks.

The key to a quick job is a two-person squad: ane with a sledge or jackhammer; the other with a 5 to 6-ft. long pry bar, sometimes chosen a "San Angelo bar" (available at some rental centers or at home centers; Photo 2). Start at the corners and work in. If the concrete doesn't crack with the beginning accident, aim your next hitting a few inches away. Never strike the same spot twice. That merely chips the surface, creating a cushion of fine rubble over the slab, and makes information technology harder to suspension.

How to employ a jackhammer: Jackhammer tips

How to use a jackhammer Photograph ane: Jackhammer technique

Accept small bites with a jackhammer to scissure the concrete. If y'all begin to drill a pigsty without creating a scissure, Finish! Otherwise, yous'll become the bit stuck in the concrete.

How to use a jackhammer Photograph 2: Chisel-point scrap

Employ the chisel-point bit for faster results.

Rental jackhammers come up with an array of bits, just only utilise the chisel-point bit (Photograph 2). The betoken concentrates the jackhammer'due south force and cracks the physical faster than the wider bits can. Hither's an of import jackhammer warning: If you lot try to crevice off large pieces, the jackhammer volition literally drill itself into the concrete and go stuck. You lot'll spend more than time getting it unstuck than it takes to crevice more than but smaller pieces. So movement the flake no more than than two to 3 in. back from the nearest crevice before you striking the trigger. As with a sledgehammer, breakdown is faster and easier if y'all have a helper pry up with a long bar every bit you piece of work.

Separate the chunks

Pry out concrete chunks

Loosen locked-together chunks of concrete. A mattock is the perfect tool for prying them autonomously or pulling them upwardly.

Even afterward concrete is broken, the chunks remain locked together, making the surrounding physical harder to intermission. So articulate abroad the rubble after y'all've broken up each 2- to 3-ft. department. Don't apply your hands to pry out the sections—a mattock is the best tool for this job. To divide the chunks, swing the pointed end of the mattock into the crack and pry up. Push the pieces far enough apart so you can switch to the larger flat blade. If the chunk won't budge, move the mattock to the opposite side of the chunk above the flat edge under the concrete. Then lift up to 'unlock' the stuck edge.

Dealing with mesh or rebar

Snip reinforcement wire

Snip through wire mesh to separate chunks of concrete. Bolt cutters are the all-time tool for this job; don't fifty-fifty effort using a wire cutter.

Many slabs incorporate reinforcing steel mesh to resist smashing. That can double or even triple the time it takes to tear out the slab. If you lot try to suspension off large pieces, the reinforcing mesh volition practise its job and resist cracking—making your job much harder. So it's especially important to crack smaller sections. Cut the mesh with a bolt cutter equally you piece of work. Watch out for the sharp wire spikes left sticking out of the concrete chunks. If the physical contains rebar, cut it with a reciprocating saw and metal blade or an angle grinder and metal cutoff cycle.

Get a heavy-duty hauler

Power wheelbarrow

A rented power wheelbarrow makes rubble removal a cakewalk—peculiarly if you lot can find someone else to do the loading.

For most jobs, a heavy-duty wheelbarrow is the best hauler for rubble. Don't use a light-duty model—information technology won't survive the day. And don't haul large loads or you won't survive the day. 10 total loads volition wear you out faster than twenty half loads. If the path to the trash container is uphill, consider renting a power wheelbarrow.

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you'll save time and frustration.

You'll also need leather gloves, a mattock, bolt cutters and peradventure a jackhammer.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips past having all your materials ready ahead of fourth dimension. Here's a listing.

Originally Published: June 24, 2022