Demolishing (or really grinding) a concrete fence post instead of extracting it?

Aplomikanika

Hello

I have a broken concrete fence post. Having looked at various forums, it looks like the best thing to do is to dig it out and replace. There are also a few threads about fixing with epoxy, jacketing the post, etc. Unfortunately I cannot dig as I have a sick tree at risk of falling on lots of things, situated practically next to the post and whose roots I do not want to disturb until it is felled in November. 

As you can see in the photos, the post has essentially been snapped off at the base (a large dead branch fell on it) so any repairs unlikely to last long.

So my question is, has anyone tried demolishing/breaking what is left of the post and its concrete anchor in the ground? I am thinking that I need to break enough concrete to make room for a new post. I will then need only a little more concrete to fix it to the existing ground anchor.

I am thinking of an electric breaker like  https://www.hss.com/hire/p/breaker-vibration-damped-110v

Is there any reason this would not work? I realise the existing posts rebars will be a little in the way but should be able to work around them. Hopefully not have to move the gravel boards either.

Thank you!

Aplomikanika

Thank you! I guess you used a decent enough breaker rather than a lighter, SDS hammer drill? On that basis, I may also go for the half panel idea. Or maybe I can get rid of the tree earlier... It all depends on the tree surgeon and looks like they are all on high demand right now!

grumbler

I demolished ridiculously huge lumps of concrete where wooden posts used to be.  Yes, I without a big demolition breaker (electric in my case) this would me almost impossible to do. I kept thinking about using some explosive .

Aplomikanika

Yes, looks like a large demolisher may help. For now though,  I will patch so as not to disturb the tree too much. Once it is felled I will attack the postcete...