3x3 Slab Demolition

[Hadamona]

I've got a 3m x 3m slab in backyard which used to have a shed on it. I'd like to break it up and get rid of it. One problem, it's about 12 inches thick! and reinforced.. Now I've attacked it with a 24kg jackhammer which barely made a dent (just chipped the corners of the slab). How on earth can I break it up easily, I've got some ideas:
- Demo saw.. make a series of cross cuts at 6 inch depths then jackhammer?
- Drill lots of 12mm holes then jackammer?
- Above two ideas together?
- Drill 12mm holes and fill with expandanding demolition stuff ($300 at least)
- Get someone out to remove it for me $$$$ ?

[pawnhead]

OK. Who votes that he builds a new shed on it. :2tsup:


I think you've got the wrong forums :wink:

[Hadamona]

No you're absolutely right, I will build a new shed in it's place, a 9mx6m to be exact :D But the existing slab is too high, so it must go.

[Honorary Bloke]

Drill several holes. Fill with dynamite. Wire to a blasting cap. Push the plunger. Apologise to the neighbors and the Council. :)

[toecutter]

Drill several holes. Fill with dynamite. Wire to a blasting cap. Push the plunger. Apologise to the neighbors and the Council. :)

hahahaha.

get the next backhoe cruzing past and give him a cartoon

[Make it work]

That is a lot of rubble to get rid of once you do manage to break it up.
Do you have access to get an excavator with a hammer in?
What area are you in? I know a bloke in Sydney who has the machinery and the tipper truck.

[Terrian]

No you're absolutely right, I will build a new shed in it's place, a 9mx6m to be exact :D But the existing slab is too high, so it must go.

now we are getting somewhere, how much too high do you think it will be ?

[Hadamona]

For the proposed 9x6m slab, there's about a 100cm drop from the corner of the existing slab to the opposite corner of the proposed slab. I'd really love to just clear the site completely and start a fresh.

[pawnhead]

Well since you're rebuilding a shed, and not just getting rid of one, I suppose I can try to give some advice. :U

Can you get in there with a Bobcat (http://www.hwycontractor.com/articles/NewProds/images/br08-04bidlst4.jpg)? Or perhaps one of these (http://www.ihchh.com/images/research/1988.jpg) :wink:
If you can get a Stone Buster (http://www.mining-technology.com/contractors/crushers/fractum/fractum5.html) in there, I'm sure it would make light work of it. :D

If you can't then you'll have to hire a 90lb pneumatic jackhammer and a compressor. They've got a serious amount of grunt compared to an electric demo hammer.

Sawing it up would cost a small fortune, and you wouldn't go through 12" anyway, although I'd imagine that it's just 12" around the thickened edges, and it's probably only 4" thick when you go in a foot or so. Try to punch a hole in the middle with your electric hammer, and work your way out to the edges. It may be easier, but it will be hard work until you get an exposed edge to chip away at. Once you have the perimeter exposed, you may be able to get a big lever under it and whack a fulcrum close to the slab. If you can lever it up and stick something under it, then it will break up a lot easier.

[RufflyRustic]

Hi Hadamona,

We had the dingo's bigger cousin come into the backyard, lift the edge of the concrete and drop it. It got dropped 3 times without breaking so HWMNBO threw a firewood round under there and then it broke! We also had a dump truck to take away the concrete and other junk. Well worth the effort!

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=40802&d=1172301071

[Hadamona]

First photo shows where I've attacked it with a jackhammer.

Second gives you and idea of the thickness.. They certainly don't make slabs like they used to!


http://members.optusnet.com.au/jahdur/Picture%20058.jpg

http://members.optusnet.com.au/jahdur/Picture%20062.jpg