Concrete Removal in Memphis, TN

Concrete removal is the first step in a lot of Memphis projects: a new driveway, a bigger patio, a garden where a slab used to be, or clearing a lot after the house is gone. Concrete is heavy and often reinforced, and on many older lots there is more of it buried than anyone expects, like an old patio under the sod or a second slab beneath the first. We break it out, haul it away and leave the subgrade ready for whatever goes in next.

When concrete needs to come out

• Driveways and walks that have cracked, heaved or sunk past repair
• Patios that slope toward the house and send water at the foundation
• Slabs from sheds, carports or garages that are already gone
• Concrete steps that have pulled away from the house
• Old pool decks after a pool fill-in
• A slab in the way of an addition or new construction

With a median build year of 1970 for Memphis homes, per Point2Homes' Census summary, plenty of original driveways and patios here are past 50 years old.

How the breaking is done

The method depends on thickness, reinforcement and access. Thin walks and patios can be broken with jackhammers and loaded by hand or skid steer. Driveways and thicker slabs usually call for a mini excavator or skid steer with a hydraulic breaker. Where only part of a slab comes out, such as a section of driveway or a strip for a new sidewalk, we saw-cut a straight line first so the concrete that stays has a clean edge. HomeGuide's concrete removal guide lists saw cutting at $5 to $15 per linear foot.

Rebar and wire mesh add work, since the steel has to be cut and separated. HomeGuide puts that extra at $1 to $3 per square foot.

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Where the concrete goes

Clean concrete, without dirt, wood or trash mixed in, can often be crushed and recycled as base rock instead of going to a landfill. We keep it separate on site where we can. Disposal and dump fees are a real part of the price. HomeGuide lists hauling at $30 to $65 per pickup load and dump fees at $90 to $160 per ton, and broken concrete gets heavy fast.

What we check before breaking

• Buried lines. Gas lines, water service, sewer laterals and irrigation often run under driveways and walks. We have lines marked before any digging or breaking.
• The public walk. Concrete in the street right-of-way, like the apron and public sidewalk, may fall under city rules. We sort out what is yours.
• Neighbors and trees. Breakers are loud and dusty. We plan the work for daytime hours, wet down dust, and keep equipment clear of roots you want saved.

After it is gone

Once the concrete is out, we grade the area. If a new slab is coming, we leave a firm, level subgrade for the concrete contractor. If it is going back to lawn, we spread topsoil and slope it away from the house, since Memphis rain will find any low spot.