removal of concreted area from garden

gasbill

Hello
We have a concrete path and a slab of concrete about 4m x 3m that we would like to remove from the garden (previous owners, not us!) Not sure about best way of doing this. I tried phoning up a local 'garden services' outfit, but got a very sniffy woman who said they didn't do 'that sort of thing'. Too scared to phone any one else now. So not sure what sort of person I need. I know it's not fancy garden design work - or did I just have the bad luck of phoning the wrong person first? I've tried to look for general labouring advertisers, but not found any.

If I did find someone, would it be likely they would be able to arrange removal of rubble, or would I have to organise that? I'm assuming a skip would be the best way?
sorry if this seems really obvious, but i haven't had much experience of this sort of thing.....
hope someone may be able to offer a little advice...

System

Don't be put off by Mrs Sniffy. Most garden clearance guys will do that sort of job. They will take it away, but it is quite likely that they may have to charge extra. In fact if you ever go to a council recycling tip, where they have a many big skips, there is always one for concrete/hardcore.

An alternative might be to SELL it yourself. You could advertise "hardcore, buyer collects", then when they ring up, you could tell them what is involved. You might be lucky.

Another alternative is to join your local "freecycling" group, (everybody has one), and again advertise "free hardcore, buyer collects".

There now, I hope I've given you food for thought.

conradmum

Hooray! Somone's removing concrete rather than concreting over. Makes a change. Thank you!
Most garden 'builders' would be able to do that job for you, such as people who lay patios or build garden walls. I would get it done sooner rather than later as the garden hard landscaping season is coming up and most will be busy with bigger jobs.

navig8r

I dont know your gender or physical capabilities but you could have a go your self, there is a chance that it is not too thick and if you start a few inches in from the edge working along it and keep hitting it with a sledge hammer bits should break off.If they dont and hollowing out underneath does not help then get some one in ..dont forget to wear eye protection.

Dave

Twopints

If the sledgehammer doesn't work, hire a "breaker" from e.g. HSS. We had a concrete slab about twice the size of yours and I broke it up in a day (1 day hire of breaker was about £30). Then the hard bit! Took me 2 days to get it into a skip, mainly because I had to wheel barrow it from our back garden out to the front of the house where the skip was - it filled the skip!

Skip hire was approx £65.

gasbill

Thanks everyone. Not sure if I'm up to it myself! OH works v. long and unpredictable hours so don't like to suggest a weekend of hard digging when all he wants is a rest. It looks pretty thick actually - on a slope, and high side is quite deep... The neighbours have said that when previous owner did something, he did it thoroughly. I'll try the advertising free hard core way first, and if not I'll hope to find someone with slightly fewer illusions of their own self importance!
thnks.

WestonDave

Its worth keeping your eye on the local postoffice/newsagent window to see if someone is advertising to do odd jobs as its mainly a question of simple hard graft, and having a skip to put it in. You may have to hire the skip this way but there's usually someone around willing (often semi retired) to do this sort of thing.

System

All this talk has reminded me of something. When we were making "our mark" on our garden, we came upon something hard. After much digging round the thing, it appeared that someone had dug a hole and poured leftover concrete in it. Wit a great amount of effort, with crowbars, we managed to eventually ease it out. We put the flat side (which would have been the top when it was wet) on the ground and have an irregular "lump" which believe it or not, looks great now that it has been washed and weathered. Often visitors ask if they can have it, if only to attach their house number on it for their drive.

beer2006

Just checking, but does it definately need to be removed, What do you want to do with the space?

angelavdavis

Hire a breaker!!! Its my favourite toy and great for relieving PMT :T

System

I hope no-one minds me including this, but I've just read on my local freecycle board, that someone is asking for 40 slabs, sand, cement, gravel, sack barrow and wheelbarrow. Gee whiz, I wonder if they'll be asking for someone to come and do it!.