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.
[maxbutton id=”1″]
Request a FREE Patio Demolition Estimate
Call us today! 570-373-9996
-
Fantastic customer service. Sal was on time, very responsive to messages and professional. The price for the dumpster was very reasonable also. I have had issues with other junk removal companies in the past and wish I had found them sooner. I will definitely use them again in the future.
Erin G
October 17, 2019Great service! Was able to schedule a pickup very easily and quickly - at my convenience. The crew was very professional and worked quickly- with great results. Thank you!
E R
December 13, 2019The 3 man crew did a fantastic job in clearing out and disposing of several large and small items that still remained after a 2 day estate sale. Items removed included beds and mattresses, 3 couches, bedroom chest of drawers, old refrigerator and electric stove, computer desk, old and very heavy television, several tools plus much more.Very courteous workers and owner was great to work with. Highly recommend and you won’t be disappointed.
Rich Winslow
August 21, 2019 -
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, 2020Great 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, 2019They 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 -
Contacted 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, 2020Top notch. I called and spoke with a Guy named Sal. Very friendly and excellent Customer Service, 100%. I was set up in minutes. The pricing was great. Delivered it next day. When it was time for pick up I advised that I would be working and not able to hear the door so just knock hard. I went out on my Lunch break wondering what the heck? And the Dumpster was gone. Great service. Great Price. I called about 6 Dumpster Rental places and of all of them, A+ Was definitely the best and Props to Sal. Great Service. Truly is A+
Baby Cakes
June 10, 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 -
I never leave reviews but Sal (I think his name is) was great. Both times we used them they showed up the next day on time and did a fast and efficient job. Personable and reliable. Highly recommend.
Carissa Dewey
May 5, 2019I would highly recommend them they did a great job and the men were very hardworking and very nice I intend to get them back for more at another time
Regina Pokrifka
August 11, 2020Would definitely recommend this company for anyone needing junk removal! Super nice owner. He and another young man came to my home and were very efficient getting rid of our junk in about 90 minutes. If you’re looking for a junk removal service, definitely check out this company. Thanks, Sal!
Shannon Meier
August 10, 2019 -
Great company! They were able to come quickly on short notice. Excellent pricing. We added a bit from our initial quote and the cost changed very reasonably. Communication was quick, clear, and professional. Definitely recommend!!
Kelly Stevens
January 3, 2021Incredibly 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, 2020I 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, 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.
