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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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, 2019Absolutely 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, 2020Professional Service and Very Affordable. Fast and Efficient. I highly recommend.
Doug Fedor
August 25, 2020 -
Hired A Plus Enterprises last year to remove some old pool equipment, old yard equipment, and old furniture from my house. There timing, professionalism, and reasonable pricing was overwhelmingly amazing. Great job and look forward to hiring you again!
Ryan Croughn
May 4, 2020The A+ Crew led by Joe G were very courteous and professional. I highly recommend A+ without any hesitation
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Kevin Kittrick
May 6, 2021 -
This is an excellent company to deal with. I highly recommend! They were punctual, friendly and communicative throughout the entire process. From the first call, to the estimate, to the contract details, to start day/time, to what to expect day of and clean up day. It is very hard to find this level of customer service anymore! We hired them to tear down an old cinderblock/wood garage. It was right on the property line and didn’t have much room for error. A+ took the garage down no problem and did a great job with haul away and cleanup. You can tell they know their stuff. Sal always returned calls and emails. We got a fair price and a job well done! I definitely recommend and would work with them again if the need ever arises.
Alura B
April 14, 2021Omg you guys were very efficient and did such a n amazing job cleaning out all the junk our tenants left behind. Very friendLy staff and you’re pricing was very reasonable for all that you guys did. Thank you so much. Keep up the awesome work!! Highly recommend!!
Jon Mcleod
July 22, 2020They cleaned out my grandmas house today in under 6 hours. And we had a lot of stuff! Friendly guys and great work!! Definitely recommend.
Grace Baker
July 25, 2020 -
Kyle and Joe were wonderful! Very efficient process. I called and gave brief information to a very professional person. They came out the next day. Wiped their feet, quoted me a very fair price, and removed my furniture. I’m very pleased with their service and friendliness. I will definitely recommend them to my family and friends! Meredith R.
Meredith Rynkiewicz
August 14, 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, 2019Contacted Sal to have some old boxes removed, called me the next day to set up a time to estimate the work. Came first thing the next morning and gave me a great quote. We agreed on a wonderful price and literally 15 minutes later he was here with his truck cleaning out our boxes. He was done quickly and efficiently! Very nice man, We will be contacting him again in the near future! My family and I highly recommend!
Lakin Parsons
October 17, 2020 -
Very nice to deal with. Showed up promptly. Worked throughout the entire day. Did a fabulous job! Would highly recommend.
Sandra Hill
June 11, 2020Requested a free estimate and they called me back in seconds! They were much more affordable than other big name companies in the area and provided service the day I requested. The movers were friendly and awesome! They moved out my awful bulky sofa with no issues! Absolutely would recommend to anyone! They are efficient and completely organized!
Jennifer Kobeski
April 6, 2019EXTREMELY PLEASANT AND PROFESSIONAL! Gave them a call to remove some old furniture and assorted boxes of junk. They said the had a crew in my area the next morning and could be here at 9am. Arrived right at 9 on the dot and got straight to work. They battled through all my cobwebs and work quick and efficiently. No trouble or damage from moving some big items in narrow areas. The price they quoted was great value for all the work they did. I have already and will continue to HIGHLY recommend them.
Michael Machion
August 3, 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.
