Planning a Concrete Removal Job

If you've never had concrete taken out before, it's hard to know where to start. This guide covers getting a quote, what affects the price, how to get ready and what the day looks like.

How to get a quote

Call and tell us what you've got. The more we know up front, the closer the quote will be to the final number.

• What it is: a driveway, patio, steps, a slab, footings or a pile you've already broken
• Roughly how big it is, even if it's a guess
• Whether you know if there's rebar or wire mesh in it
• Where it sits and how we'd get equipment to it
• What's going in next: a new pour, pavers, grass or nothing yet

Photos help a lot. A wide shot that shows the access and a close-up of an edge, so we can see the thickness, tell us most of what we need.

What affects the price

Every job's different, so we don't guess at a number without the details. These are the things that move it:

• How much concrete there is
• How thick it is, and whether there are footings under it
• How much steel is inside
• How easy it is to reach with a truck and equipment
• Saw cutting, if only part of it is coming out
• How many loads it takes to haul
• Whether it's clean concrete or mixed with dirt and trash

That last one matters because clean concrete goes to a recycler instead of the landfill. Keeping it separate helps keep disposal costs down.

Prep checklist

• Clear everything off the concrete: furniture, pots, grills, hoses
• Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the work path
• Mark sprinkler heads and lines, landscape lighting and buried pet fences
• Get buried utility lines marked before any digging
• Check your HOA rules on work hours and truck parking
• Check with your city if the next step might need a permit
• Unlock gates, or share the code ahead of time
• Give your neighbors a heads-up about the noise

What to expect on the day

First we look over the area, confirm what's coming out and set up. If only part of the concrete is going, we cut clean lines so the edge left behind is straight.

Then the breaking starts. It's loud, so it's a good idea to keep kids and pets inside.

The broken pieces get loaded and hauled. Rebar and mesh are pulled out and go to metal recycling.

When we're finished, the area is left clean and level. Smaller jobs like patios and walkways are usually done in a day.

Common questions

Do I need to be home?

Not always. If the gates are open and we've already talked through what's coming out, you often don't. A lot of people like to be there at the start just to walk the job with us.

Can you take out just part of my driveway?

Yes. We cut clean lines where the new concrete will meet the old, then break out only what's going.

Will my lawn get torn up?

We protect the lawn and landscaping around the work. If access is tight, we'll talk through the path in and out before we start.

What happens to the concrete?

Clean concrete is crushed and reused as base rock, so it goes to a recycler instead of the landfill. Rebar and wire mesh go to metal recycling.

I already broke it up. Can you just haul it?

Yes. We'll load the pile and haul it away the same day. Let us know roughly how big it is and where it sits.

Do you pour the new concrete?

Our work is breaking it out and hauling it away. You're left with a clean base, so whoever's doing the new pour or pavers can get started.

What if something is buried under the slab?

Tell us anything you know about, like old pipes or wiring. If we find something unexpected, we'll stop and talk with you before going further.