Can I just smash this up?

[Matt42]

Hi,

Missus wants this pathway cleared for new slabs and stone chips. However, there is a raised platform at the end that at the very least needs to be levelled. It seems to be cemented into the shed base I guess. I thought I could get a spade under it to lift it out but it's big and well cemented in. I have a sledgehammer but concerned I might do more damage... Any advice gratefully received?

John

 

[muh3]

Be careful with the sledge, you might get chips flying around and breaking your glass door. Make sure you cover everything up very well.

 

[jj4091]

Do you have an SDS drill, if so use it with a chisel, if not hire an electric hammer breaker from your local tool hire shop.

 

[Matt42]

I've got a hammer drill! Do I need a special 'chunky' bit though? How would I use a chisel with it? I guess hammer and chisel after I've loosened up some of the brickwork with the drill and a 'special' bit?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I've got a hammer drill! Do I need a special 'chunky' bit though? How would I use a chisel with it? I guess hammer and chisel after I've loosened up some of the brickwork?

Not a hammer drill, a sds drill with roto-stop, and a chisel bit in it. You can turn off the rotation, so it only hammers, and use flat ended chisel bits in it..

 

[Matt42]

Oh wow! Is there anything I can do to just modify my 'normal' bosch electric drill? I don't have a hire shop near me.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Oh wow! Is there anything I can do to just modify my 'normal' bosch electric drill? I don't have a hire shop near me.

No, they are a completely different technology. Worthwhile just buying a cheap one from Lidl/Aldi/Screwfix, rather than hiring. Just make sure it has the roto stop feature.

 

[bernardgreen]

I would be cautious about breaking up that large slab. It may be a manhole cover over a sewer chamber.

 

[Alec_t]

It may be a manhole cover over a sewer chamber.

Agreed. My parents one had a property with a cess-pit cover about that size.

 

[Matt42]

No. It's just a patio slab at the end which matches the rest of the patio out of sight. It was just put there to put plant pots on etc. The other small square brick thing was going to be a little storage box or something built up but was a stupid idea. Hence the idea to have the pathway all the same now. Anyway, I covered up the patio doors and then tried taking a sledge hammer to it. Let's just say that the sledge hammer bounced off!

 

[Odds]

Why not build over the existing slabs and level up with the raised platform at the end?

 

[Matt42]

Why not build over the existing slabs and level up with the raised platform at the end?

Not enough height. The stones would then at the same level as the base of the door ledge. Plus I'd need so many bags of chippings and at £13 a bag from B&Q they were the more expensive ones.

 

[Matt42]

Just to close out this post! My old builder was passing and he had a tool that look like a small hand held pneumatic drill and he 'top sliced' it. He said it was a real tough one and really bedded in. Charged me £20 for 15 mins work. Gave him a bottle of wine as well as I thought that was too cheap.