4"thick concrete drive demolition

[wambanger]

great forum chaps and chappasses.
has anybody tackled the above?drive is approx 15 foot in length.what is the best way to get stuck in?....pneumatic or slog it with pickaxe?i want to get rid to free up the garden and grass job lot?

 

[TexMex]

Forget the pickaxe, just a 14lb sledge hammer, and one of these things (it's called a Chisel & Point Bar - 1500 x 28mm) Very useful

 

[masona]

Hire a Kango breaker will make life easier.

 

[Nige F]

And a hydraulic breaker with donkey engine is even easier Just ask @hire center

 

[countygardens]

Or a road breacker. They work pretty good if the conc is only 4" thick!

 

[wambangers]

very kind of your info.got a 7lb lump but not 14.probably a cheaper way of doing it. might hire big daddy breaker from center.one question to texmex..would you staart smashing from the corners(weak points??) givin it some flog then using chisel as backup

 

[Hitachimad]

A 3cx with a pecker on the back

 

[countygardens]

Sorry, I know I'm not Texmex but yes, start from the corners whatever method of breaking you use. The shorter the break you try to make, the less effort it will take.

 

[wambangers]

cheers cg

 

[Thermo]

stitch it with some holes in a line with the breaker at first or on any tough bits and it will weaken it and make it easier to break.

 

[TexMex]

would you staart smashing from the corners(weak points??) givin it some flog then using chisel as backup

You have to experiment a bit. The idea is to break it into lumps with the slege, then use the prybar to lift the lumps out. It's surprising how obstinate those lumps can be, even when they've been completely brocken through. Nothing like a serious bit of leverage. The prybar is also handy for lifting the edge of a lump that would, otherwise, be unmanageable. If you can lift it, shove another piece of rubble underneath, this creates a hollow beneath. Once there's a hollow, smacking on top of it with the hammer, really works well. There's no point nancying around with a chissel.

In all honesty though. The kango is still the easier option.

BTW If you have any well built, teenagers around, they generally enjoy playing with sledge hammers. Offer them the opportunity to "have a go" and they may well get hooked. Then all you need to do, is sit back and watch and maybe point, now and again, to let them know what you want them to hit. Even exploitation has it's place eh?

 

[countygardens]

Also, if you do use a sledge, be prepared for some very fast moving chips of concrete, watch eyes and windows, always use goggles!!! If using a mechanical breaker also use ear defenders. (All good hire shops will tell you this but you never know whos out there)