Sometimes a concrete slab or wall on your property is in the way. You may want to install an asphalt driveway where a concrete one exists or create a garden where a cement patio now is. Whatever the reason, you may find you need to remove some concrete and wonder if you should do it yourself or hire professional concrete removers.
While going over the pros and cons surrounding who should take care of the concrete removal task, you need to be honest with yourself. While you don't need a special degree to get rid of a concrete slab, but some attributes and tools exist that you need to get the job done properly and safely.
Strength
Swinging a sledgehammer takes a lot of strength. When you consider that the job requires more than one or two swings, you should how much you can handle. You do not want to hurt yourself or take a long time to get the job done. Professionals do this type of work on a daily basis and can get it done without the need to stop every couple of swings to regain their strength.
Equipment
You may have a sledgehammer. However, a sledgehammer is not the only tool or piece of equipment you need to remove concrete. At a bare minimum, you need to have a pry bar, shovel, and safety gear like goggles, leather gloves, a respirator, and steel-toed boots. The basic equipment can be bought easily at a department or hardware store.
Professionals have not only the basic equipment but also larger pieces that make the job easier. A concrete removal company has jackhammers, concrete cutting saws, and breakers. They may also have a backhoe or front-end loader for moving the heavy pieces out of the way.
Experience
If you attempt to demolish and remove a concrete slab from your property yourself, you may find some surprises you did not expect or know how to handle. The slab may look to be a couple of inches thick, but once you start hammering away, you find that it is much thicker and deeper into the ground. You can still do the job yourself, but the job will likely take much longer and require a lot more endurance and strength.
You may not realize what is underneath the concrete pad. Electrical wires, water or sewer pipes, or even a gas line could have been installed before the pad was originally poured. Professionals know to be on the lookout for these things and how to work around them without causing any problems.
Another surprise could be that you find steel rods or rebar in the concrete. Not only do steel bars make it harder to break the concrete into manageable pieces, but they also need removal. Professionals who work with concrete all the time have the proper equipment and know how to get the rods out too.
Finally, professionals understand the safety issues involved with removing concrete. They know the proper body mechanics to avoid back and leg injuries, understand how to use all the equipment, and wear all the gear necessary to keep from being cut from flying pieces of concrete.
If you find yourself wondering how to remove a concrete slab or wall from your property, contact Capitol City Concrete Cutters. We can break up the concrete and get it off your property safely and efficiently so you can use the area any way you want. We do not want you to have to put off your plans for the area while trying to do the job yourself. We are happy to meet your concrete removal needs.
