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How to Break Up a Concrete Slab
Concrete Demolition is Easier
than You Think
By Mark J.
Donovan
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Breaking up a concrete slab or patio is not as difficult as one may think,
albeit it’s a pretty strenuous job. You can save a small fortune in
contractor costs by doing your own concrete demolition. A 12 lb sledge
hammer is often all that is required for concrete demolition. A sledge
hammer works fairly easy on a concrete slab that is no more than 4 inches
thick, which is the maximum thickness of many patios, sidewalks, and
basement floors. With any concrete demolition project start out with the
sledge hammer to get a feel for how thick the concrete is, and how easy and
how much time it is going to take to break up the concrete.
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If the concrete slab is only 4 inches thick but has a very large surface area
you may want to use a more automated tool.
For concrete slabs thicker than 4 inches or very large slab areas, visit your
local tool rental store and rent some heavier equipment for breaking up concrete. An electric jack hammer is easier on your body than a pneumatic one as
it is lighter and not as brutal to use. This said, the electric jack hammer
lacks the weight and power of a pneumatic jack hammer, thus it doesn’t save a
lot of time in breaking up the concrete. An electric jack hammer, however, does
help to save your back, shoulders and arms from not having to swing a heavy
sledge hammer. If you elect to rent a pneumatic sledge hammer keep in mind that
they way nearly 100 lbs. Also, you’ll need to rent a compressor, hose and bits
as well.
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If you’re breaking up a concrete patio or slab near the side of a home or
windows cover the slab or patio with plastic first to prevent shards of concrete
from flying. Also, make sure you always wear eye protection, pants, a long
sleeve shirt and work gloves when performing concrete demolition.
Besides the sledge hammer and/or jack hammer it also helps to use a prybar,
mattock and bolt cutters when breaking up concrete. The prybar and mattock help
to lift up and split apart large loosened sections of concrete. |
Many concrete patios and slabs have reinforcement wire mesh embedded in them.
The bolt cutters are used to cut away reinforcement mesh that may be imbedded in
the concrete patio or slab.
When breaking up a concrete slab it is best to work in small sections or bites.
Too large of a bite may be difficult to break and broken slab pieces maybe too
heavy to lift.
Hauling and disposing of a broken up concrete slab is also heavy and time
consuming work. To speed up the effort and reduce the wear and tear on your body
consider renting a dumpster and a power wheelbarrow. If you use a manual
wheelbarrow make sure it is a heavy duty one and only fill it half full with
concrete debris. This way you’ll save your wheelbarrow and your body. Also, if
the wheelbarrow bucket is plastic line it with heavy duty cardboard to protect
it from sharp concrete edges.
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Related Information
Tools for Breaking up a Concrete Slab
from Amazon.com
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