For more than four inches thick use a demolition hammer.
Cheap ways to break up concrete.
For thin slabs of concrete use a sledgehammer to break it up.
Start to break the concrete starting six inches from the edge and working your way in.
For slabs less than four inches thick use a sledgehammer.
Hydrodemolition is done with various devices from handheld guns to robotic equipment.
Dig about 1 foot inward.
The water is directed at the concrete at 20 000 psi and 10 to 15 gallons per minute for handheld guns.
Dig out the soil gravel or other material from under the concrete using a shovel and a pickax.
To break up concrete start by covering the concrete with a plastic sheet to protect nearby items from flying debris.
Give it a try first before moving on to heavier rental equipment.
These chemical powders are mixed with water and poured into 1 1 2 in to 2 in dia.
Over the next 24 hours the agent expands with about 18 000 lb.
The surest way to decide whether to use a sledgehammer or a jackhammer is to experiment a few days before you begin full scale demolition.
A sledge can be surprisingly effective in breaking up concrete up to about 4 in.
Holes drilled in the concrete.
Dig under the concrete.
Pry off stubborn pieces.
To aid in breaking up the concrete use a spud bar in conjunction with the jackhammer.
If the concrete is too thick to break up with a sledgehammer you can use an electric jackhammer instead.
Breaking stone or concrete this way is clean quiet safe controllable and relatively inexpensive.