Manually breaking a conrete patio?

[Mojooo]

I have a section of concrete patio i need to break tomorrow and dont wnat to hire a tool due to cost time

some of the concrete is already broken so I have access to an edge.

I also have a sledge hammer. whacking it doesn't do much!

Any ideas?

[svm]

TNT?

Failing that, a few crates of beer should get your mates out to help.

[sparkythecat]

You need a crowbar to lever it up.

[eldar]

Whack harder. Wont break the concrete, but you'll feel better.

[mr_fibuli]

Could try an SDS Drill with a chisel bit in it, about £30 from Argos. Mine goes through concrete like butter, only problem is getting the chisel stuck if your not careful.

[Shaolin]

sparkythecat said:

You need a crowbar to lever it up.

Yup - or scaffolding pole etc. It'll start to break apart, if it doesn't do it in carry-size bits whack em with a sledge hammer. Brute force and ignorance are what are needed.

[Bigfatnath]

Drill into it with an SDS drill bit......10mm holes or so then smash the crap out of it with the sledgey.



The holes will give it some weak points and will break up pretty easy......

[bdx]

Attack the outer edges of the concrete and work inwards. Starting in the middle is no good. If you get a crack forming, use a chisel.

[robinhood21]

Shaolin said:

sparkythecat said:

You need a crowbar to lever it up.

Yup - or scaffolding pole etc. It'll start to break apart, if it doesn't do it in carry-size bits whack em with a sledge hammer. Brute force and ignorance are what are needed.

+ another yup. Once you take away the backing absorption the concrete will break. Oh, and don't forget the eye-protection.

[Strangely Brown]

Stuff the cost, save time and hire a breaker. The job will be a hell of a lot easier, and quicker, with the right tools. They're not that expensive.

[Strangely Brown]

Just about...

http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/directory/prodVie...

For the sake of a few quid it will save a st load of effort.

[The Black Flash]

Strangely Brown said:

Stuff the cost, save time and hire a breaker. The job will be a hell of a lot easier, and quicker, with the right tools. They're not that expensive.

Yes, seriously. An electric breaker (not a kangoo, a proper thing like a mini pneumatic drill) costs only 17 quid for a day from my local hire shop. And you'll have it done in a couple of hours, tops.
No brainer.

[hman]

Hire a hydraulic breaker and the job will be done in no time at all. BTW the leccy ones just bounce around on the surface, and the hydraulic ones have a petrol engined pump which makes it a must have for any PH'er

[Busamav]

+1 for levering it up , I found a pick axe perfect for the job.

In case you are the unlucky sort , protect any french / patio door glazing within the vicinity .

[Qcarchoo]

For ease and cheapness - lever it up with a bar on a brick or piece of wood. It only needs to be raised a small amount. Slip a stone in underneath, remove the bar then smash it with a sledge hammer.Better still, have someone else lever it while you break it. I've never found a better way of doing it, even mechanically.

[Simpo Two]

[Mojooo]

My neighbour has a massive concrete breaker which runs off a generator, he did the bulk of it for me in the end.

I also had to hire out an electric kango, its not great but does the job slowly if you hit the right spots. the vibrating is crazy though, would do somes erious harm after regular use I imagine

[prand]

Seriously, save yourself some time and effort and hire a proper jackhammer/chisel for a day (or a half day if possible). My friend and I tried to smash up a concrete path in his garden. It took and hour of furious thumping with sledgehammers to go 1 metre up the path. mate got knacjkered & peed off, went and hired an electric jackhammer and did the rest (6 metres) in 45 minutes.

[Roop]

thegavster said:

Mojooo said:

My neighbour has a massive concrete breaker which runs off a generator, he did the bulk of it for me in the end.

I also had to hire out an electric kango, its not great but does the job slowly if you hit the right spots. the vibrating is crazy though, would do somes erious harm after regular use I imagine

Indeed, a friend of a friend ended up with Vibration White Finger

VWF is nasty.

[rocksteadyeddie]

prand said:

Seriously, save yourself some time and effort and hire a proper jackhammer/chisel for a day (or a half day if possible). My friend and I tried to smash up a concrete path in his garden. It took and hour of furious thumping with sledgehammers to go 1 metre up the path. mate got knacjkered & peed off, went and hired an electric jackhammer and did the rest (6 metres) in 45 minutes.

What he ^^^^^ said.

Seriously I started with the same mentality and I'm pretty fit. Half an hour and muchos swearing later with a sledge hammer and I went and hired a breaker. Ripped it up in a couple of hours. Seriously it's a no-brainer.