Tool To Break Up Concrete Slab

Sledgehammers vary according to head weight and handle length.

Tool to break up concrete slab.

This classic heavy headed hammering tool is the traditional manual method of breaking up concrete. The weight of these tools gives them the power needed to break up a few inches of concrete without being so heavy that they demolish the entire pavement. If you don t do this the dirt or sand under the slab will absorb the blows from the sledgehammer making it harder to break up the concrete. Create a void under the concrete.

The best way to speed up concrete removal is to create a void underneath the section of slab you re working on. A 12 x 14 ft. The pavement breakers weighing 60 pounds and more can handle medium to heavy demolition jobs with reinforced concrete and are used to demolish pavements roads and thick concrete. Even after concrete is broken the chunks remain locked together making the surrounding concrete harder to break.

Now what do you do with all those chunks. A cold chisel is the right hand tool for breaking up small areas of concrete. Knowing how to dispose of all that concrete is a big part of the job. Sledgehammer head weights range from around 6 pounds to more than 15 pounds.

It might seem like a big job but removing a concrete slab is something you can do yourself. So clear away the rubble after you ve broken up each 2 to 3 ft. If the concrete is too thick to break up with a sledgehammer you can use an electric jackhammer instead. Most concrete demolition projects call for the use of a jack hammer or hammer drill.

You can create a void by digging under the slab. Don t use your hands to pry out the sections a mattock is the best tool for this job. Patio can weigh up to about 5 000 pounds. With small slabs of concrete such as patio squares or air conditioner pads you can also have one person pry up the slab a few inches using a demolition bar while another person strikes the slab with the hammer.

Occasionally very small areas of concrete must be removed from a larger project or you may simply need to clean up the ragged edges left by a larger tool. Alternatively you can pry up the slab and shove a rock or piece. To break up concrete start by covering the concrete with a plastic sheet to protect nearby items from flying debris. All you need is some careful planning the right tools and a little bit of know how.

We ll show you how to break up the slab into smaller pieces cut through steel reinforcements and then remove and dispose of the concrete properly. For thin slabs of concrete use a sledgehammer to break it up.