how do you remove a concrete path

How do you remove a concrete path?

• Step 1: Create a Void Under the Concrete. The best way to speed up concrete removal is to create a void underneath the...
• Step 2: It's Hammer Time.
• Step 3: Pull Apart and Remove the Broken Concrete.
• Step 4: Repeat Steps Until Concrete Is Demolished.

Full Answer

How do you remove concrete from your property?

If you’ve made the necessary preparations, concrete removal is a simple matter of gathering your tools, assessing the site, breaking the surface apart and cleaning up the fragments. As mentioned above, your specific situation may call for different tools in order to break up the concrete on your property.

What to do with a broken concrete path?

Offer the debris for recycling - clean broken concrete - to anyone who will remove it, eg patio makers. save you the bother etc and do some good. Depending on how badly made the path is, you might find that you can get a fork underneath it and force it up (sit on it!).

How to remove concrete chunks from the ground?

Concrete can be found in all kinds of places, like the edges of patios or along a basement foundation; sometimes you might encounter, chunks buried in the ground from a long-ago demolition. Using a rotary hammer to break up concrete. The solution for successful removal, in most cases like this, is a rotary hammer with a chipping function.

What is the best way to move concrete?

The main vehicles for moving concrete are a wheelbarrow or hand truck. For smaller bits and/or removal from inside a home, two 5-gallon buckets are hard to beat.

Can I remove concrete myself?

Tearing up concrete yourself can also save you a ton of money. Hiring a contractor just to demolish a 12 x 14-ft. patio could cost you $1,400 or more. If you do it yourself, the cost to remove a concrete driveway will run you about $400, including rental and disposal.

How do I remove an old walkway?

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What tool will remove concrete?

jackhammersA jackhammer is an ideal power tool used for concrete demolitions, and four subcategories of jackhammers exist, including rotary, demolition, combination and breaker options.

How do you update a concrete walkway?

0:456:20Refinish a Concrete Path - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipResurfacer. Directly into the opening. So that we're going to get better coverage. And actually aMoreResurfacer. Directly into the opening. So that we're going to get better coverage. And actually a little bit better bond.

How do you soften concrete?

Water is the most common way of softening concrete and is usually enough by itself to break down older materials. However, water alone may not be sufficient to break down concrete that has hardened over time. Adding other substances such as glycerin or alcohol helps loosen up the mixture.

How do I remove concrete from my garden?

The easiest way to find out is to grab a spade and dig to the base of the slab. If the distance from bottom to top is around three inches or less, you can use a metal sledgehammer to break up concrete.

How do you break up a concrete patio?

“Most concrete patios are un-reinforced, meaning that there is no rebar. So, in that case, a jackhammer is the best method to break the concrete into smaller pieces that can be shoveled away. If the area is very small, and the concrete is already cracked, a sledgehammer could also get the job done.”

What is the best tool to break up concrete?

Jackhammer to break up concrete that’s thick. If you’re trying to remove concrete 3 inches deep or more, a jackhammer is your go-to tool. Rentable electric units will likely knock out that run-down sidewalk at the end of the driveway or small patio. Concrete weight and removal. Concrete chunks become actual tons quickly.

What kind of hammer to use on concrete?

Here, a jackhammer or rotary hammer instantly pierces the surface, then can get wedged in the dirt. For thin, brittle concrete, blunt force is often best. It’s lots of work, but the shockwave of steel-on-concrete breaks up more in a few whacks than other tools can deliver at the sharp point of a chisel iron.

Do you need a jackhammer for concrete?

A jackhammer may be required depending on site conditions; a rotary hammer for sure. Mix, pour, and wait. The grout expands and breaks the concrete. Plan ahead and consult the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage.

Can you break up concrete with a sledgehammer?

Using a sledgehammer to break up concrete. Sledgehammers should almost never be used indoors. A notable exception is basement slabs in old houses where you might install a sump pit or perimeter drain. Basement slabs are often thin—just an inch of concrete over a substrate like coal cinders.

Is it easier to carry one bucket or one concrete?

Ironically, carrying one in each hand is easier than carrying just one bucket. For larger projects, you may consider a dumpster rental. Some carters don’t like concrete in their boxes so make sure to ask as they might decline the job or insist you only fill the dumpster partially.

Can you use a rotary hammer to drill holes in concrete?

Note: Rotary hammers are versatile. Use one to drill holes in concrete for basement wall framing, to chip up old laminate flooring, even to install a radon mitigation system.

How do you break up thick concrete?

Start to break the concrete, starting six inches from the edge and working your way in. For slabs less than four inches thick, use a sledgehammer. For more than four inches thick, use a demolition hammer.

How do you break concrete without a jackhammer?

When thinking about breaking up concrete, most of our minds jump straight to jackhammer. But you can probably do the work with a metal sledgehammer and a little elbow grease. Sledgehammer is the best tool to use if the slab of concrete is three inches thick or less. Dig at the base of the slab to find the bottom.

Does anything dissolve concrete?

Concrete is a durable building material that takes special materials to dissolve once it’s hardened into place. Phosphoric acid and trisodium phosphate are the main compounds used to dissolve concrete leftover from masonry work. Sometimes, that doesn’t do the trick.

Does Coke dissolve concrete?

The acids in the soda will safely and effectively loosen the grease stains, allowing them to be washed away. Wash away oil stains on concrete with cola.

How do you destroy concrete?

According to these methods, concrete structures or the like are destroyed by boring a hole in the structure, sealing quicklime and water in the hole to induce a hydration reaction which gives rise to an approximate two-fold increase in volume, and utilizing this volumetric expansion force to fragment or destroy the

How do you break concrete by hand?

Dig Under the Concrete. Dig out the soil, gravel, or other material from under the concrete, using a shovel and a pickax.

How do you remove the top layer of concrete?

The standard way to remove the top layer of concrete from concrete is via shot blasting. This might work for you. Obviously it depends on the relative hardness and shot resistance of the spilled concrete and the underlying brick. Since the concrete is presumably quite young, I think the brick wins.

What to do with broken concrete?

If the concrete cannot be used on your property, a roll off dumpster is a convenient way to get rid of heavy debris. Load fragments and chunks of broken concrete into a wheelbarrow to safely move them to the dumpster, taking care not to overload.

What to do after you break up a concrete slab?

After you’ve broken up and removed the concrete surface, it’s time to cleanup. Put away or return tools you no longer need and sweep or pick up smaller concrete fragments, using caution around former concrete slab location.

How to break up concrete with a chisel?

For breaking up concrete, a chisel point is the best option. Hold the jackhammer at a slight angle with the tip pointed away from you to minimize the risk of the point getting stuck in the concrete. Safety Tip: Always lift the jackhammer with your legs to avoid back strain.

What is the best tool to break up concrete?

Jackhammers can be equipped with various points and tips. For breaking up concrete, a chisel point is the best option.

How thick should concrete be before you remove it?

Assess how thick the concrete is. If it’s more than 4 inches thick or reinforced by wire mesh or rebar, you’ll most likely need power tools to break it.

How much does it cost to break up concrete?

Breaking up concrete costs between $1,500 and $2,500, according to the national average . However, concrete removal project expenses can vary depending on square footage, thickness of the slabs, whether or not you hire outside labor and whether or not the concrete is reinforced, among other factors.

Can you use rubble to fill holes in concrete?

If you had to shut off utilities before breaking the concrete, check with your provider to make sure it’s safe to reactivate them. If you have holes to fill in your yard or driveway, the rubble could be used as a filling material.

How to break off large pieces of concrete?

To break off large pieces, make a series of blows in a line to create a stress crack, then strike in the middle of the area you want to remove to break the concrete along the line. The size of the chunks you remove is limited by your ability to lift and dispose of the concrete. If you cannot lift heavy loads, break the concrete up ...

How to move large chunks of concrete?

Use a hand truck or dolly like the kind you use to move appliances to move large chunks of concrete. A hand truck is better than a wheelbarrow because you only have to lift the chunk of concrete an inch or two to get it onto the truck. Lift the concrete pieces carefully, using your legs and keeping the weight close to your body. Truck the pieces to your collection or disposal area.

How to make a low cost pathway?

Flip large pieces of concrete over, powerwash them, and turn them into a low-cost stone-look pathway. Stack the concrete pieces up and create a short garden wall. Make short retaining walls. Stack the pieces in a circle to make a fire pit. Use the pieces as edging for a pond to hold down the pond liner.

How to get a crack out of a drywall wall?

Use a pry bar or crow bar to open cracks and separate pieces that are resistant to falling away. Force the flat end of the bar into the crack. Wiggle it back and forth until it is at least 1/2 inch into the crack. Pry back until you can get your gloved fingers in to pull away the piece.

How thick should concrete be for demolition?

It is critical to wear eye protection to protect your eyes from flying shards of concrete, grit, and sand. Concrete that is no more than 4 inches thick (typical for a walkway or patio) is a perfect candidate for manual demolition. Beyond 4 inches, the work becomes exponentially more difficult.

Can you dispose of broken concrete?

Disposing of Broken Concrete. Never dispose of concrete in your regular garbage service. Most collectors will not take it. You can arrange for a dumpster through a trash pickup service, but be sure to tell them that you need it for concrete, and find out how much you can fill the dumpster.

Can you use a jackhammer to break up concrete?

Not only that, wielding the jackhammer can be a tough task on its own. Instead, many homeowners choose to break their concrete in a more leisurely and less expensive fashion with a sledgehammer. The trick to breaking up concrete is to dig underneath the slab before hitting it with the hammer.