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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Amazing customer service!! Very nice people and easy to work with. Will definitely use again!
Tracey Koonrad
December 14, 2020AMAZING!!! 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, 2019The price was amazing and the workers were professional. They completed the job within a short period of time and I’m having them come back for more work. Thanks A plus
Maurice Oates
May 22, 2020 -
Can’t thank the guy we spoke to enough! He was wonderful to us! We were in a last minute crunch to get rid of stuff and he worked with us and even went way out of his way to accommodate our needs! He truly has great customer support and was beyond generous! Can’t thank this awesome company enough! It meant a lot to us!! We highly recommend!
Kaitlyn Szorady
July 11, 2020Sal 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, 2019These guys are the best! Very professional and super courteous and easy to work with! We had a tight space to get it into driveway and they made it look easy and didnt even leave a scratch !! Great prices too!! Thanks for helping us out!!! John and Maryjo
john morrissey
July 18, 2020 -
I 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.
Kathleen Doyle
October 10, 2020A+ Enterprise . . .gave an accurate estimate. . .did a PROFESSIONAL job. . .the team was "on-time" completed the work on schedule. . . very easy to work with. . . Highly Recommend!
Wes Coates
January 22, 2020Hired 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, 2020 -
Very professional. Very polite. Efficient. I will use this company again. Prices were reasonable.
Mary Jane Meaney
February 23, 2019Sal and his team are amazing! They came and did a clean out the same day I called. They are honest, flexible, quick, and professional. They are worth every penny they charge. I wouldn't consider calling anyone else. Ryan K.
R K
March 8, 2019These guys are awesome! They came here when promised, were really nice and friendly, and they did what they were supposed to do in a timely fashion. The price quoted was changed because I had more “stuff” to get rid of. However, they quoted the difference before getting the rest of the things out and we agreed. I will certainly call them next time. Thanks, A+!
TJ Belt
March 26, 2019 -
I got a 100% accurate estimate from the owner and he dispatched a crew to clean out my house the next day (!). The guys were professional and very nice and personable, making a tough situation much easier to handle. Moreover, they worked until the job was done way over my expectations. This company has the best prices in our area and they are complete pros. I would recommend them to anyone...don't hesitate and call A+ first! They will be my first call in the future!
Daryl Williams
September 26, 2018I can't say enough about Sal. He was very patient, knowledgeable, and went out of his way to ensure my company was taken care of. I absolutely recommend anyone to use this company. They get in and out very quickly and offer a great price. They also stick to their word which is very rare now-a-days!
Mark Van Dyke
October 25, 2019Omg 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, 2020
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.
