A Homeowner's Guide to Safe Concrete Removal

Did you know that concrete is one of the most widely used substances on the planet after water? If you are currently working on a project where you are getting rid of some of the concrete in your home or driveway and are wondering what is involved in concrete removal, you are in the right place.

Keep reading to learn all the ins and outs of safe concrete removal.

1. Demo

The first step in removing concrete is demolition. One of the most common tools that a concrete demolition contractor uses is a jackhammer. This tool can be a bit much to use yourself if you have no experience using a jackhammer.

Another tool option commonly used is a Bobcat. A reputable company like this skip hire will save their backs with this equipment because it is much easier on the body than a jackhammer. It uses a hydraulic breaker attached to the front to demo the concrete that needs to be removed. According to the experts at homecarecontractors.com/demolition/, there’s something really important you need to keep in mind with the demolition process. And that’s taking care of the fact that you adhere to the state laws and regulations and have all the necessary documents before starting the process. Thus, it is better to seek professional help just to be on the safer side.

2. Dumpster

If you call in a professional to take care of the removal for you, they will usually also bring a roll-off dumpster to the site. As the concrete is broken into pieces they use the Bobcat to load the concrete into the dumpster. After the job is complete the dumpster is taken away to a concrete recycler or to a landfill.

3. Doing It Yourself

If you prefer to tackle this as a DIY option you can with the right tools. You can opt to use a sledgehammer, which is the go-to tool to break concrete for those doing it themselves. You can use a 12-pound sledgehammer if the concrete is less than 4 inches thick and it does not cover a really large area.

Another option for a DIY job is a jackhammer that is operated by air. There are plenty of shapes and sizes for jackhammers to choose from depending on the size of the job. There are also drill bits on the end that are interchangeable such as pointed chisels, narrow chisels, and wide chisels.

Doing the job yourself involves also gathering safety equipment like work gloves, sturdy boots, and safety goggles. This will help prevent any accidents and if possible opt for steel toe boots to give your feet extra protection. Also, make sure you have a respirator to prevent you from inhaling any cement dust.

Get a plastic sheeting as well like a 6 mil polyethylene plastic to contain the dust and to keep concrete pieces from flying all over the place. This will help it stay contained and will avoid a bigger mess to pick up afterward.

Ready for Concrete Removal?

Now that you know the ins and outs of concrete removal you can get to work with removing the concrete yourself or opt to hire a professional. Don’t forget that concrete is super sturdy which is what makes it so hard to remove without the right tool or the right help.

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