How to remove a concrete patio

npsmama

Well, when i say patio it actually surrounds the whole house. The main reason we want to get rid of it is that we have very, very bad condensation and also the concrete gets as slippery as an ice rink in winter. Plus it's ugly!

Assume no knowledge of these things at all...

What do I need to do/know/etc?

Many, many thanks.

ormus

a sledge hammer, a pickaxe, a wheelbarrow.
a large skip, and plenty of helpers. get some beer in.

angelavdavis

Hiring a cango is also possible. I have used one in the past although you will need to be careful near the house and ensure you take rests regularly using it.

As Ormus says, you are best getting mates in to help as it is hard work.

Sounds as though the concrete level is over the damp proof course so removing it will prevent further trouble with damp.

ormus

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/kango.htm

its unlikely you will need a kango. paths are not very thick usually.

OddjobKIA

drill holes through concreate with a long ish masonary bit..if its around 6 inches then hammer away if thicker than a foot then get a freind to hammer away for you or hire a kango

angelavdavis

ormus wrote: »

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/kango.htm

its unlikely you will need a kango. paths are not very thick usually.

Hopefully this is the case.

I was unlucky enough to have a concrete path 8in thick to break up in my last house - and it was over 50 ft long. The old boy that had lived there used to work for BR and I think most of the materials, etc had been purloined in some shape or form from their yard! He had also built a shed from old BR office doors! The shed sat on a base that was nearly 10 inches thick!:eek: I didn't bother breaking this up - just built a deck over the top!

andrew-b

Before you begin, try and find out where any drains, water and gas supply pipes and incoming electricity mains cable run...you want to be particularly careful around any of these as damage to them from a misdirected hit from a sledgehammer or kango will be costly to fix (and dangerous in the case of gas and electricity). These services are probably buried deep enough not to be a problem but better to be cautious!

Before you do get the demolition tools out have a think about what your going to put in place of the old paving and try find out how much it's going to cost. No point digging it all up if you can't afford to replace it. We need to replace all our concrete paving around the house too but it'll have to at least wait until the inside of the house is done as i'm not sure our budget will extend to new paving.

Andy

wallbash

If you do think you are up to breaking up the concrete slabs. Small tip, get a long bar, if you can prise up a section, slip something underneath. If the slab is raised at an angle. smashing it into pieces is so much easier.

vansboy

As Andrew-b says, PLUS, are you sure the concrete isn't STOPPING any damp/water getting into the house brickwork.

Our house is partly below groundlevel, & our surveyor was verrrry keen for us NOT to disturb the concrete around our walls.

We're actually going to leave some & gravel over this, instead.

VB

thebaldwindowfitter

or if its in resoanable condition and around 200mm below dpc why not flag over it or tarmac or something .the reason i suggest this is £150+ for builders skip 8 yard then labour.there is also a spray on fine gravel for driveways you could use if its only to make it non slip but cant find a link to it at the moment it comes in lots of colours.found a link
http://pavingexpert.com/resin02.htm

Alias_Omega

I would invest / borrow a large sledge hammer and break some off the edge to guage the thickness.

If its too much for you to do, i would put a local advert in tesco, asda etc for labourers to clear concrete (cash in hand), some !!!!! will contact you for some weekend work.

Say £50 plus a skip to clear it...

I have a wheel barrow you can have, council left it here when they did the work a bit ago. Now have 2 u see, you can have the old one.

We live in grimsby...

Alias