If you have an old patio made of concrete or pavers, it may be time to update it. The first step in upgrading your patio is to demolish the old one. Patio demolition is a very simple DIY project, although it is very labor intensive and requires specialized tools.
This article breaks down how to demolish a patio yourself, and when to call in a professional for help.
Patio Demolition Preparation
Any demolition job big or small begins with preparation. First, clear your patio so it’s ready to be broken apart. Next, figure out what tools you need to demolish & remove the patio. Most tools you don’t have can be purchased cheaply or rented.
Below are some of the tools you will need to demolish an old patio
- Jackhammer
- Shovel
- Pickaxe
- Sledgehammer
- Wheelbarrow
- Dump Truck/Dump Trailer
How to demolish a patio
Many paver patios can be easily torn out by prying the blocks up with a shovel or edging tool. After the pavers are ripped up, simply load them into a dump trailer for disposal.
For poured concrete patios, the project is a little more involved. You’ll need to assess the thickness of the concrete you’re taking out. Thicker concrete can be much harder to successfully demolish on your own.
Begin at one corner and jackhammer the patio until it breaks into pieces. Continue to move inward, breaking up the patio. Stop to remove the chunks of concrete into a wheelbarrow, and then load the debris into a dump trailer..
DIY Demolition Notes:
Safety precautions in DIY demolition projects are essential. There are several safety hazards to be aware of when performing demolition on your own.
Once you’ve successfully broken up the concrete or pavers of your patio, you have to remove all of it. This can be extremely labor intensive. It’s important to use proper form when lifting heavy materials to ensure that you do not injure yourself.
Don’t forget about disposal of the old patio debris when you have finished with your project. If you use a dump trailer, it is much easier to load & unload than a pickup truck.
Most clean fill sites will accept broken up concrete and bricks. This means you can dump for free or a small cost at those locations.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Patio Demolition Contractors
If you want to have a professional demolish your old patio, give A+ Enterprises Demolition a call. We are fully licensed & insured demolition contractors in both Scranton, PA and Wilkes-Barre, PA. Our company serves a 100 mile radius of Wyoming, PA and can handle any-sized demolition project.
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The A+ Crew led by Joe G were very courteous and professional. I highly recommend A+ without any hesitation
Joe McDonald
February 11, 2020I called and it was picked up immediately and scheduled the service with ease. Crew arrived and job was completed as promised. Crew was professional, friendly and courteous. Very impressed.
A Thur
March 13, 2021This company is not just professionals at their work but also very kid and hardworking. During the scheduling the staff was very helpful and were able to work with my last minute call with no issues. I received a reminder of my appointment witch was very helpful. The team that arrived to the job took care of business before I knew it it was all done. Very respectful and hard working team. Will definitely recommend anyone and will definitely use this company on my next project.
Edisson Fajardo
February 16, 2020 -
Sal was great to work with. I was so stressed about a large deck in the back of my house that was collapsing. Sal came right over and gave me a very fair price and two days later the job was done. And a really good job. He even hauled away a piece of junk for me at the last minute. I highly recommend this company and plan to use them again as the need arises
Pam cortese
April 10, 2019Called A + enterprise junk removal to have a few items removed from my apartment. Sal and his team were GREAT!!! Fair price and fast service plan on using them again.
John Steve
March 20, 2019I highly recommend A+ Enterprises. Sal the owner called and was great. Joe and Richard were prompt, efficient, honest, respectful, kind and took their time listening to what I wanted done. They really went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied. I couldn't believe they came, did the estimate started the job and were out of my house in under two hours! And I had lots of stuff to get rid of...lol!!! I will DEFINITELY recommend to others and use again. Thanks for a job well done!
Lou Ann Naughton
November 18, 2020 -
First class operation. Recently completed a demolition of a kitchen and bathroom to the studs in my house. Crew was efficient, careful and concerned about doing a good job. Fair prices. Look no further this is the company to hire.
Frank Mclane
March 22, 2021Very nice to deal with. Showed up promptly. Worked throughout the entire day. Did a fabulous job! Would highly recommend.
Sandra Hill
June 11, 2020Absolutely amazing! Highly recommended! I recently moved to Pennsylvania and purchased a fixer upper in Luzern County. I had a large pile of debris from the house that I needed to get rid of. I called A+ Junk Removal and spoke with Sal. He was extremely professional and very personable. He was able to work with my schedule which was greatly appreciated. Sal also contacted me through text to remind me of my scheduled appointment. Joe and Andrew showed up on time to give me an estimate for my junk pile. They gave me a great price and got right to work. Both Joe and Andrew were very polite and extremely professional. Very friendly as well. They did an amazing job! I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to come and do this job for me. I am extremely appreciative for Sal, Joe and Andrew. I highly recommend this company and will definitely use them again on the future. Thank you so much A+ Enterprises!
Rebecca DeKonty
March 26, 2020 -
Great service , They came the same day I called. Very friendly and efficient. Great price for removal. Highly recommend this company. Very professional and A plus rating. Arrived on time and ready to work.
Tina Stella
August 5, 2019I would highly recommend this company. Very respectful employees. Worked efficiently, were conscientious and very careful. Fairly priced and made this cleanup of 50 years worth of “things” easy.
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October 10, 2020Incredibly professional and responsive to all of my questions. Each time I called I spoke directly with sal. No need to leave a voicemail and wait for a call back. Sal, Shawn and Mackenzie have been amazing to work with. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for dumpster rentals.
Jennifer Bitters
May 17, 2020 -
AMAZING!!! 30 years of junk in a HUGE truck garage. We could not have done this job without A+ Enterprises. Thanks to Sal, Joe and the entire staff. I've never met in this day and age such HARD WORKERS!!! Also extremely polite and professional. I HIGHLY recommend this company to everyone. My rating is A+++++++++++
Bunny Degilio
August 8, 2019I would highly recommend A+ Enterprises. Very professional staff. Fast response to my request for information. Sal is very friendly, answered all my questions and set a date for pick up, much faster than I had expected. Day of pick up was better than prompt. Joe called en-route to say he was a little ahead of schedule and could actually be at my house sooner. Great Job at a reasonable price. Would definitely refer family and friends. Thank your for A+ service!
Barbara Siana
October 16, 2020A+ is a first-rate, highly professional outfit. They offered courteous, efficient, same-day service at a more-than-fair price. I recommend them with great confidence.
Joel Shuman
July 8, 2019
Patio Demolition FAQs
What does patio demolition cost?
A DIY patio demolition project will cost roughly $300. To hire a professional service will cost roughly $950, on average.
Where can I get equipment to demolish a patio?
Most rental companies have jackhammers, wheelbarrows, and other tools available for rent.
What do I do with the patio debris?
Most patios are made of either brick or concrete. Many recycling facilities take this material for free or little cost as clean fill.
How hard is it to break up concrete?
The difficulty level of breaking up concrete depends on how it was constructed. Thinner concrete with no rebar will break easily. Thick concrete with rebar requires heavy equipment to break up.
