Patio Demolition DIY Guide

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.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Patio Demolition Services
Jackhammering out an old patio

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

Patio Demolition Service Scranton, PA
The Best Demolition Company in Wilkes-Barre, PA

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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      Regina Pokrifka Avatar Regina Pokrifka
      August 11, 2020

      The 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

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      May 22, 2020

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      Kelly Stevens Avatar Kelly Stevens
      January 3, 2021
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      Tina Stella Avatar Tina Stella
      August 5, 2019

      Hard working guys got the job done in one day. I recently bought a foreclose property and have A+ Enterprises help do the clean up. Its a 3 bedroom house full of junk, and everything was gone at the end of the day. Image a house hoarders live in, 3 bedrooms, each with bed, dressers, night stand, TV and many other trash, you do not want to be in the room more than 1 minute. Kitchen full of dirty dishes, appliances and dining table with chairs. At the end of the day, whatever not bolted down was gone, including most of the nasty carpet. I will definitely use their service again. Great service and the hard working people.

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      April 7, 2021

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      Edisson Fajardo Avatar Edisson Fajardo
      February 16, 2020
    • Very nice to deal with. Showed up promptly. Worked throughout the entire day. Did a fabulous job! Would highly recommend.

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      June 11, 2020

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      May 17, 2020

      I 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 Avatar A Thur
      March 13, 2021
    • Called for estimate for tv removal, good price came that morning I called, Sal is great, will use again.

      Debbie Rumensky Avatar Debbie Rumensky
      March 15, 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 Avatar Meredith Rynkiewicz
      August 14, 2019

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      Jennifer Mieczkowski Avatar Jennifer Mieczkowski
      January 22, 2021
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      February 23, 2020

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      May 2, 2020

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      Doug Fedor Avatar Doug Fedor
      August 25, 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.