Breaking up concrete patio

[RonR]

Our patio had settled near the house to the point water was standing there. Since we're wanting to build a deck anyway, it was time for the patio to come out.

Here's the before shot. Notice the step is poured one piece with the pad.

Second post is the size of each BOULDER we loaded in the FEL of the BX2200 and hauled to the front to place in the pickup--they were HEAVY.

Will post Deck Pics when we get further.

Ron

 

[RonR]

The Thick hunks. I'm guessing 14-18" thick. We jackhammered it into five chunks. Lifted one chunk at time with the BX2200 (it grunted!). Set each chunk on a sheet of plywood in the back of the pickup, then pushed the plywood forward with the loader.

2/3rds of the rest of the patio, we overloaded our trailer and hauled to fill in some washouts in an uncle's pasture.

Man, it was hard work! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Ron

 

[RonR]

My son running the BEAST! He's in much better shape than I am. For the past four years, he's been in weight/strength training to play football. Been in college one year, but he still has the muscles! He's a great kid and great helper.

I got my share of running the jackhammer, don't worry!

I plan to cross "running a jackhammer" off my life's list of things to do! I don't need to ever run one of those again. (This was the first time for us).

 

[RonR]

Done with the Beast. Now about as much work to pick up the big pieces. Left the "smaller than a fist" size to use as fill.

Will get some fill sand to backfill.

Deck project might start over the July 4th weekend........! That will make Mom happy.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Best wishes.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Best wishes. )</font>

Get some help on the deck......it goes faster..... don't ask how I know.... Working 2 years on the same deck and it is a continuation of a deck that was started 20 years ago... There is always man~ana.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif¿Is it Mañana Yet?/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif......... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[polecat]

One thing i would like to say...If anyone runs a jackhammer...pleas where boots...preferably steel toed...a jackhammer can take a toe off in a nanosecond!!!!!

I'll bet yer glad that whomever poured that baby didn't hit it hard with the rebar or steel mesh!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Lookin forward to seein the deck!!!!!and thanx 4 the pics!!!
Wish everyone would use more of them!!!! They make us feel like were involved!!!...Well that goes for me anyway!!!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

TODD

 

[RonR]

Thks Polecat. Yea, I thought about the boots deal, but Son and I talked about keeping our toes BACK! Notice in a couple of the pics, you can see we are wearing EAR PLUGS and eye wear. Man that thing was LOUD.

Several neighbors wandered over to watch, but quickly departed when we offered to let them try our new tool /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

For half the pad, the wire mesh was UNDER the concrete, which made it nice to remove the rock. The half that contained the wire was a mess to pick up/cut the wire. There were some short chunks of rebar near the house, but none in the step (thank goodness!).

 

[fishman]

Oh that brings back memories. I rented a similar jackhammer to break up a slab that had settled, just like yours. Mine was bigger though, about 12' x 24' /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Had to haul it all out by hand (no tractor then) and then haul away with my old truck. LOTS of work. Built a deck similar to what you are proposing and enjoyed it for about a month, then got a job in another state and moved. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I'm sure someone is still enjoying that deck though, and the fact that the basement is no longer leaking.

 

[polecat]

2 things i'll always wear steel toes with!!!min!! a chainsaw and a jackhammer!! i've run all the way up 2 90# hammers and u jist never know ..i'll have to scan some old pic of what happens when u don't!!!! trust me on this one!!! ive gatt a 4" scar on my left foot ...this is the voice of true life experience speaking here /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif..not jit a warning!!! i am seriously lucky to have a left foot!!!...a jsit lookin out for all of u guys out there and care to boot!!! It is never worth the pain and risk....

Yer try to b protector!!!
polecat >>>>>IE...TODD HALL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[blakesfav]

I guess it's easy to say at this point, but why did you remove the patio? I would have set the footings off the corners of the patio and simply decked over it.

Wait - I get it. You got to pick up the pieces with your tractor! Now I understand, since I'm also guilty of the "work creation method" of justifying to my wife the cost of my tractor ("Honey, I would have been here for weeks moving this cement if it wasn't for the tractor").

All kidding aside, I'm impressed with your son's jackhammering skills. I've removed several smaller slabs around my house by simply lifting the whole slab from the corner with the FEL, then letting it drop and break into several smaller pieces I could pick up. Good luck with your deck.

 

[RonR]

Ah, good question "why remove the patio".?

This project started when the rear half of the patio cracked across the 15' width and began settling. I didn't know how much more it would settle (leading to future deck problems if I built over it) AND water from this 7x12' section would drain right down the edge of the foundation.

I guess one option would have been to dump more concrete on top of it, but what of the sinking problems down the road??????

The step would be in the way of my ledger plate anyway, so it had to come out no matter what. And since it was integral with the patio, that part would have to come out as well. Thus creating more hole for the water to reach the foundation with.

Thus my logic..........

Yep, my son is a great asset as an assistant and just a great kid. He was a starting guard on a 6A school football team last year--they went to #2 in the state! He's in "KOLLEGE" now gettin' an education. Makin' good grades to.

 

[blakesfav]

Thanks for the explanation. Controlling the flow of water has become the focal point in my life (see my post on "creating a shallow drainage ditch") much like religion or family becomes for others. I'm in a full scale battle now, and I plan to win no matter the cost.

There's nothing quite like a jackhammer to make a kid want to do well in school. I spent my teen and college years working at a golf course - digging ditches, driving a tractor, weedeating, mowing, and swearing all day that I would get a good education so that I could work somewhere with air conditioning. Now I'm a surgeon, and I spend all day in the finest AC systems in the world, wishing I had a job outside where all I had to worry about was driving a tractor. Go figure.

 

[BotaGuy]

Those Jackhammers are way too much work. I rented one, broke up one section of a walkway...and then rented a Bobcat with a HYD. breaker.....MUCH BETTER. More money but a lot more fun.

 

[RonR]

If I ever use a jackhammer again, it WILL be hooked on the front of a bobcat. Then I'll use the loader bucket to dump the stuff in a dump truck or trailer!

I learned my lesson.

Ron

 

[RonR]

Blakesfav,

I've had that indoor/outdoor discussion myself!

I worked outdoors for the MARINES for 4 YRS, then for a private company for 5 years, now indoors for 20, and I'm longing for outdoors again (retirement).

Best wishes,
Ron

 

[Hap]

I used a Bobcat with a pallet fork on front to pry underneath the slab (non reinforced) and broke it off that way. It was 12" thick by 12' by 50'. Piece of cake.

 

[TORQUIN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Deck project might start over the July 4th weekend........! That will make Mom happy.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!
)</font>

Don't pour footings. When I had my deck built, and they used 6x6 posts so it can support a future hot tub, they used those cinder block "feet" for the posts so no concrete had to be poured. They dug holes to put the feet in so that you could not see the feet when finished. This project had a building permit so they must be up to code.

See attached pic.

Chris

 

[Boondox]

Ron -- That is some seriously thick concrete!!!

Pete

 

[bandit67]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Those Jackhammers are way too much work. I rented one, broke up one section of a walkway...and then rented a Bobcat with a HYD. breaker.....MUCH BETTER. More money but a lot more fun. )</font>

That's what I plan to do when it comes time to break up a couple of big concrete slabs at our "new" old house. Still haven't decided how I'm gonna break up a couple of narrow concrete sidewalks - think I'll just try a sledge hammer for those, since I want to do those first.

 

[KYFARMER]

If you can lift one side/corner just a little with FEL or other means, concrete will break rather easily with sledge hammer.
Good luck.