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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:06 pm
by waynefeltham
Before deciding to take on the job of laying my 85 sq meter drive I want to tackle some of the jobs that initially "scare" me.
I have a solid concrete path that runs along the side of the house.
It's approximately 1.5M wide and 7M in length.
Will a digger make easy work of this or will this need to be broken up before a digger can be brought in?
If before, what should I use to break up the path and how "easy" a job am I looking at...not that I mind a bit of graft but already having to dig out a 20yrs+ old tree + roots from the front of the house so I've got more than enough to be getting on with 
Cheers
Wayne
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:04 pm
by Stuarty
a digger will lift it but depends on what size, a 1.5 ton digger will just play with it, so your probably better off hiring a breaker for a day just to smash it all up. Start at an edge and work back
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:09 pm
by axel
Try it with a sledge hammer first, nothing to lose. If it is between 50mm and 75mm thick, which is likely for a path, and unreinforced then you should be able to smash it quite easily with a sledge hammer. If it is 100mm or more then you will need a breaker.
Axel
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:05 pm
by Munster
Hi Tony
I have a Victorian house with a concrete yard outside the back door, about same dimensions as in the post below. I want to break it up and lay random pattern rectangular paving instead but I'm worried bout breaking two rainwater gulleys, a soil vent pipe and a PCC IC (see I have read the technical terms on your website!) that are set into the concrete. The concrete butts right up to the house on one side and our neighbours' raised concrete slab on the other. I estimate it's about 1-2" thick
I was going to hire a kango and crack on with it but don't want to do more damage than good. Any advice?
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:48 pm
by lutonlagerlout
the main thing with breaking up concrete as anyone who has done it over a peroid of time will understand is READING the concrete
when i was a youth we used to use feathers for breaking concrete these were like special chisels that slotted inside each other and you hammered them in to crack the 'crete,then we used a 6 ft pin to lever the bits out,surprising how much you can do ,but it is an experience thing.....
if you DIY you only have to hit 1 mains electric cable ,or gas main,or water main,or public sewer, and suddenly you are £100s out of pocket paying for repairs. i know this because even after 23 years we still hit pipes and cables etc. but we have ppl teed up who can come quick and sort it
only last week one of our labourers cut through the cable on the kango .... with the kango
regards tony
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:02 am
by seanandruby
if concrete isnt too deep and has cracks then try and lever it up and place a brick under to form a void. then wack it with a sledge hammer. it will break easier. careful you dont injure your back.