Published April 5, 2021
DIY Concrete Removal: Is It Possible?
Uneven roads can become a bother. Whether you’re driving on the road with many cracks or potholes, it can get challenging to navigate correctly. People fix these problems by breaking concrete and creating a new road structure. You may wonder what procedure construction workers follow when rebuilding roads or removing concrete, but what if I tell you that there is a way you can remove concrete on your own? It may sound intimidating and too difficult of a task to do, but concrete removal is possible on your own. Hiring professionals to remove concrete will cost you. The prices of these procedures may vary depending on the thickness and how sturdy the road is. Avoid having to spend too much on concrete removal by reading more of this article!
Is The Concrete DIY-Removable?
Before we discuss how to remove concrete, let’s discuss the conditions that it must have to make it applicable for a DIY removal. While non-professionals can conduct these steps, there is a specific limit to what kind of concrete is removable. Concrete that is more than 4 inches thick will be close to impossible to remove without the help of powerful tools and specific machinery. Concrete is usually embedded by some sort of long metal. The thickness of these metal rods will determine if the concrete is easily removable or will require instruments like electric saws. Lighter materials and reinforcement tools for concrete are easier to break, like wire mesh. You also have to find out if specific mechanisms are occurring beneath the concrete you will be removing. Once you are sure that the concrete you will be eliminating meets these characteristics, let’s proceed with the step-by-step process.
Removing Concrete
- Tools & Materials
This process is a DIY (Do It Yourself) process, but that does not mean we will do it entirely with our bare hands. You will need the help of particular tools to be able to do this procedure well. The tools and materials you need include the following:
- Shovel
- Sledgehammer (heavy-duty)
- Bolt cutters
- Pry bar
- Wheelbarrow/Hand truck
- Mattock
- Planning
The steps in removing concrete include having to formulate a plan. You cannot simply start the process immediately without making any prior notes and planning. Proper planning will help make the process go smoothly, so you will have to figure out where you will be dumping the concrete slabs and how you will keep the area free of bystanders and civilians to avoid accidents. Remember that this will take some time, so think hard about how you will go about performing the procedure.
Steps
- Empty the Materials Underneath
The first step is where a shovel comes in handy. Destroying concrete is not a straightforward process. You have to make sure that the contents lying underneath the concrete you will be breaking are disposed of before you start hammering. Removing the underlying contents, such as dirt or sand, will help break the concrete easier as they won’t absorb the impact of your sledgehammer. You may do this by digging under the concrete through cracks and holes. Use the shovel to dig up any dirt through a gap about 5 inches away from where you will be breaking concrete. After removing enough land, you may start using a pry bar as a lever to lift the slab of concrete and dig the remaining contents out. Once done, you may proceed to the next step.
- Slam That Hammer
Now, this is one of the most exciting parts. Having a hollow space underneath the slab of concrete will allow you to break it easily. All you need is a sledgehammer, a plastic sheet, and your safety gear, including goggles, ear protection, and construction boots. Place the sheet over the area you will be demolishing and hammer away! The sheet will prevent debris and any other bits of concrete from flying all over the place. Just remember not to hit the same area twice in a row if it fails to break. If the first hit wasn’t able to crack the concrete slab, aim for another area next. This will prevent bits of concrete and gravel from forming. You want to create small pieces of concrete but not too small to become a pain to collect/clean.
- Pull-Apart the Concrete
After destroying as much concrete as you physically can, you may lift the different sections of concrete off each other. You may use a hatchet for this step. Separate the concrete by inserting the hatchet into the cracks you’ve created and pulled the pieces of concrete from each other. You can cut off wire mesh that gets in the way by using bolt cutters. Put the pieces into a wheelbarrow to keep your area clean to avoid risks and accidents. Simply dispose of the contents after.
- Repeat
Now that you know how the procedure goes, you can just repeat the process over and over again until you are satisfied with your work. If you wish to cover the area with new concrete, you may do so as well.
CONCLUSION
Wasn’t that simple? People always assume that construction work is hard, which in reality, it is. However, in smaller cases, such as breaking a thin layer of concrete, the process can be done manually on your own. Do not be intimidated by the process of concrete removal. These steps can help make the job easier for you, so be sure to review each of them carefully. You will soon be able to master the art of demolishing simple structures like small areas of your garage, walls of abandoned homes, etc.
Interested In Cutting Technologies?
For nearly 40 years Cutting Technologies (CTI) has been the go-to demolition contractor for technically demanding, one-off jobs. Our wealth of experience enables CTI to bring “outside-of-the-block” approaches to achieve the impossible. Contractors trust CTI to get the job done right. Take a look at our demolition services on our website.
About The Author
As a writer at many renowned websites Krizzia Reyes has covered a wide range of topics in many industries. It has been her passion to only deliver the truth and nothing but the truth.