Breaking up concrete

[divuk83]

Got a decent sized area of concrete to destroy. It's about 4m long and half a meter wide. It's at least 3 inches thick and it's the concrete with the pebbles in it that is pretty hard to drill into.

Rather than waste my time going at it with any tools I own, I think I'm just going to hire a breaker. I think I'm going to need the heavy duty breaker? If anyone thinks I can easily get away with a smaller one or if there is anyone who has done this before and has any useful advice that would be great.
https://www.hss.com/hire/c/breaking-and-drilling/electric-breakers

Thanks

Dave

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

You would probably get away with a light to be honest.

When getting prices I would go Speedy, Brandon rather than HSS first

HSS have the highstreet branches but the other 2 generally have kit more focussed for real builders.

Its the right tool for the job by the way

If going to Speedy ask for cash discount, you may well get 30-40% if your lucky.

 

[DXP55]

I had similar to you only much longer and in end got something like this from screwfix - worth every penny

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2200W-El...e-Breaker-Drill-Chisel-Tool-Kit-/253459949080

 

[cheesyboy]

This guy is a right tool [for the job]

 

[ttaskmaster]

If money is no concern, get the bigger one just to be sure.
I always found for things like this that the medium breakers were OK for doing the job, but awkward to actually use because they were smaller.
I also tended toward a sledgehammer, as it meant larger chunks and fewer piles of small chips, which made the rubble quicker and easier to clear away.

 

[divuk83]

I think for the slight difference in price I would rather go for the heavy duty one and get it done in half the time! I have an SDS drill and that will barely scratch it! I'm less keen on using a sledge hammer as it runs right next to my house and under 3 patio doors!I'm planning on covering them over with thick sheets to protect them from any chips or concrete. I'm probably not going to use HSS, I just wanted a link with a selection of different size breakers. I was looking at buying one for about £100, but I think it would be better value just to hire one for a couple of days as I can't see me ever needing it again. I suppose I could buy one then sell it afterwards?

Thanks

Dave
Edit: Just looking at this: https://www.screwfix.com/p/z1c-ds-65-14-25kg-hex-shank-breaker-230v/9158v £100, reckon I could sell it for at least £50 second hand afterwards so cheaper than renting and I wouldn't have to rush to complete the job in the short hire time.

 

[Gaijin]

I've generally used a Hilti medium breaker (from HSS) for getting out gate posts, but breaking a path recently I cut channels using a con saw and used a sledge with a long iron spike (looks like a javelin)

 

[BigBoy]

I used a combination of the Hilti 1000 and 3000 to break up 30sqm of patio (18 inches thick in places) last year, best investment ever and I didn't have to pay for them as the wife's cousin is a builder and uses them regularly. The 1000 is easier to handle because of weight and does a decent job but the 3000 is a beast and will mince up anything you throw at it, but it is very heavy to handle if your not use to it.

 

[Amp34]

For what you've just suggested a sledge hammer, 5ft breaker bar and 20 minutes of your time will be all you need. There really isn't any need for a breaker.

If it's absolutely chocka with wire mesh and rebar then you may need to change that, but it sounds like a path rather than anything structural.

Just pick up one of these https://www.lawsons.co.uk/product/b...-bar-(60-)-chisel-and-point-6060010/v59000034 (assuming you have a sledge hammer), there are some advertised for £15.

Technique wise you want to lever one corner up with the bar (you can use a piece of brick or broken concrete as a fulcrum and then wedge so there is a gap between concrete and ground) then hit the corner with the sledge hammer where theres a gap. Then rinse and repeat, there really shouldn't be much material flying as you usually have to hit an area only once for it to snap into a chunk.

 

[mrbazmondo]

I've broken up similar. An old garden path. 8m by 70cm, about 10 inches deep laid on broken bricks. I dug under it a bit and then went at it on the overhang with a 4.5kg sledgehammer. Make sure you wear goggles if you do the same, bits fly everywhere.

 

[kindai]

When we needed to do a clean cut on a long bit of concrete used one of these floor saws:

https://www.hss.com/hire/p/floor-track-saw-petrol-350mm

Ran a few lines down the length and went at it with a sledgehammer, just fell to pieces and left a clean edge.

 

[divuk83]

Thanks all, I'm not sure that 20 mins with a sledge hammer is going to do it! Plus I don't really want to be swinging a sledgehammer so close the the patio doors! I'm going to buy a £99 breaker from screwfix, then sell it (hopefully for £50-70 ish) once I'm done. That will be cheaper than the cost of hiring one and means I can do it at my own pace rather than rushing to do it in the hire time. It's annoying that it's been cut half way across the back door. If it went the full width of the house then I would just start the patio from the edge of it, but it will just look rubbish otherwise!

Thanks

Dave

 

[Jez]

A breaker will make light work of that, i did similar at my house with some awful 1970s concrete paths which looked like that.

 

[R3X]

For what you've just suggested a sledge hammer, 5ft breaker bar and 20 minutes of your time will be all you need. There really isn't any need for a breaker.

If it's absolutely chocka with wire mesh and rebar then you may need to change that, but it sounds like a path rather than anything structural.

Just pick up one of these https://www.lawsons.co.uk/product/b...-bar-(60-)-chisel-and-point-6060010/v59000034 (assuming you have a sledge hammer), there are some advertised for £15.

Technique wise you want to lever one corner up with the bar (you can use a piece of brick or broken concrete as a fulcrum and then wedge so there is a gap between concrete and ground) then hit the corner with the sledge hammer where theres a gap. Then rinse and repeat, there really shouldn't be much material flying as you usually have to hit an area only once for it to snap into a chunk.

Thanks for info, I may try this tatic with crowbar and some digging up sounds easier to unearth already lose old broken concrete but from the looks of ts pictures a breaker maybe better.

 

[JBuk]

I did some a few years ago with a sledge hammer, I’d lay a sheet of wood over the windows though whatever you do

 

[danlightbulb]

only 3 inch thick a large sledge hammer will do it. dont need to get closeto windows as chunks will pull away easy when broken off.

alternative sds drill with chisel bit.

 

[Scrutinize]

If using a breaker definitely cover your windows with a wood sheet.

You could do it with a sledge hammer but it is way easier with the proper breaker. Although the Titan breaker is somewhat overkill.

However, you could do it easily with one of these at only £59 using the included bits.

The pointed SDS chisel will go through that in minutes.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb278sds-6-3kg-corded-sds-plus-drill-230-240v/97533

 

[Martynt74]

Word of advice. That breaker at screwfix isn’t stocked yet.

I had one I’d bought from Lidl last year. Went to use it today for the first time and it set on fire!

Ended up buying the Titan one. It’s more than I’d have liked but I have 2 jobs to do and one is this weekend and the other will be in a few weeks so 2 separate hire sessions wouldn’t cost far off the cost of the Titan anyway.

 

[JBuk]

I tried a breaker on an sds drill and it isn't as effective as the sledge hammer but it depend on the toughness of the concrete

 

[thezappa]

If if I had to break it up I’d use a breaker (not an sds). I had an area about 1500 x 2500 x 200 and got thought it in about 3/4 hours with one m. The next lot to do which is considerably bigger outside our kitchen I will use the same - it is sooo much easier. Wear ear defenders though, they’re loud.