Concrete removal in Pittsburgh, PA
Whether you are clearing an old garage slab, tearing out a patio for a garden or getting ready for a new pour, we can break it up, load it and haul it away. Concrete is heavy, and access is what sets the price.
Job ticket: Concrete Removal
- Weight
- About 50 lb per sq ft
- Tools
- Saw, breaker, skid steer
- Time
- Usually 1 day
- Haul off
- Included
Rough guide$3 to $7 per sq ft
What we remove
- Old driveways and aprons
- Garage and shed slabs
- Patios and walks
- Concrete steps and stoops
- Basement floors
- Pads and footers from old sheds or pools
What moves the price
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Thickness | A 6 inch slab can cost half again as much as a 4 inch slab |
| Steel | Rebar and mesh slow the work down |
| Access | Hand carrying from a back yard can double the price |
| Haul distance | Concrete is heavy, so loads are short and frequent |
| Saw cutting | Cuts near a slab you are keeping cost extra |
Protecting what stays
Before breaking anything, we have underground utilities marked and look for water, gas and electric lines that may be close to the surface. We saw-cut where old concrete meets anything you want to keep, so that a crack doesn't run into your garage floor or your neighbor's walk. A skid steer can tear up a lawn, so we lay down boards over soft ground.
What happens to the old concrete
We haul it to a place that takes clean concrete, where it can often be crushed and reused as base stone. It is a far better end than a landfill. If your concrete has oil, asbestos-containing materials or other contamination, let us know, since disposal rules are different.
Removal and new pour together
It nearly always costs less to do both with one crew. We remove the old slab, check the base and pour on the same schedule. See our concrete slabs and concrete flatwork pages. If the existing concrete is still sound, ask about leveling or resurfacing before tearing it out.
How the work goes
- Measure and mark
We check thickness and access, and have utilities marked.
- Saw cut
We cut clean lines where old meets anything staying.
- Break and load
Concrete is broken up and loaded, with mesh and rebar pulled out.
- Haul and tidy
Everything is hauled away and the area is left graded and clean.
Common questions
How much does it cost to tear out concrete?
Usually $3 to $7 per square foot around Pittsburgh, including hauling. Thick slabs and hard access cost more.
How much does it cost to break up concrete?
About $2 to $5 per square foot to break it up, plus hauling. Most quotes combine the two.
How much does it cost to break up concrete driveway?
A two-car driveway usually costs about $1,500 to $3,500 to remove and haul.
How much does it cost to break up concrete slab?
Usually $3 to $7 per square foot, depending on thickness, steel and access.
How much to remove a concrete slab?
Around Pittsburgh, $3 to $7 per square foot with haul-away. A 12x16 slab usually runs $600 to $1,300.
How much to remove a concrete pad?
Most small pads run $300 to $900, as long as a machine can reach them.
How much does it cost to rip up concrete?
About $3 to $7 per square foot with hauling. Hand work in tight spaces can double that.
More concrete services
- concrete slabs in Pittsburgh
- concrete garage floors
- concrete basement floors
- concrete flatwork
- exposed aggregate concrete
- concrete footers
- shed slabs and hot tub pads
- concrete leveling in Pittsburgh
- concrete resurfacing in Pittsburgh
- concrete sealing
- epoxy garage floors