Concrete Slab Removed??

[KrayzKajun]

I have a long time customer who wants me to bust up and remove the concrete slab thay have behind their house. The slab is 11'x10' and 4" thick. How would i go about pricing this. I was thinking of renting a small jackhammer, Remember this will be me doing this solo. Thanks in advance:weightlifter:

[PSUturf]

For something that small an electric jackhammer should be good.
-Time to pick up a jackhammer at rental store
-Rental fee
-Not more than 1 hour to break up and load the concrete
-Concrete disposal fee
-Time to haul concrete and return jackhammer

[Total.Lawn.Care]

If you are doing this Solo, I would rent a skid steer, or at minimum, a mini skid with a jackhammer attachment and a bucket. This way you can bust up the concrete, and have a non-back breaking way to load it into the trailer or dump for disposal. Also, you can then grade out the area where the patio was at and leave a nice, clean yard for the homeowner.

[Team-Green L&L]

If you are doing this Solo, I would rent a skid steer, or at minimum, a mini skid with a jackhammer attachment and a bucket. This way you can bust up the concrete, and have a non-back breaking way to load it into the trailer or dump for disposal. Also, you can then grade out the area where the patio was at and leave a nice, clean yard for the homeowner.

I have to say that renting any more than a jack hammer for this TINY job would be excess overhead. You can do this in a few hours with a pick ax and a sledge hammer, but a jack hammer will have you done and ready to go in 1/3 of that time.

[GreenMonster]

I have to say that renting any more than a jack hammer for this TINY job would be excess overhead. You can do this in a few hours with a pick ax and a sledge hammer, but a jack hammer will have you done and ready to go in 1/3 of that time.

If you're passing along the costs associated with the rental, how is it overhead?

I agree that a mini-skid with a hammer attachment, and the bucket for clean-up is the quickest and easiest way.

A pick ax and a sledge hammer... 4" thick concrete, possibly reinforced. With all due respect, you're nuts.

[kkls2006]

I definitely would not bother doing it buy hand...


I would saw cut it into six pieces and load it into the truck via skidsteer, very little mess,quick and painless.

[Uranus]

Jack hammer is the way to go. With a skid steer your going to pay at leastand $150 for half a day and a jack hammer is about $75 for the day. Hope you got a dump trailer. Your going to get winded by yourself.

[GreenMonster]

I definitely would not bother doing it buy hand...


I would saw cut it into six pieces and load it into the truck via skidsteer, very little mess,quick and painless.


Cutting it isn't a bad idea either, but rebar could complicate the process.

[kkls2006]

Cutting it isn't a bad idea either, but rebar could complicate the process.

My Partner saw and diamond blade has no problem with rebar....:)

[Team-Green L&L]

If you're passing along the costs associated with the rental, how is it overhead?

I agree that a mini-skid with a hammer attachment, and the bucket for clean-up is the quickest and easiest way.

A pick ax and a sledge hammer... 4" thick concrete, possibly reinforced. With all due respect, you're nuts.

If you're passing on the costs of rental, then it's still money out-of-profit. Here's what I mean: We own our skid steer and "Joe's Quick Cut" (made up name) doesn't. He charges $750 for a job and we come in at $675. The homeowner can choose either company, but I guarantee that (with a lower estimate) our profit margin will sow more benefits because of us not renting equipment, the customer got the better estimate, and the job will be done correctly.

If we did not own a skid steer, we would estimate the job the same because our inability to produce the equipment needed for the job is not the customers fault and "we" should suffer from the rental overhead, not the customer. It is our job (as the contractor) to own the tools for our trade. If we do not, it is our duty to suffer the consequences (or buy the tools you need to do the work you promote). I have noticed that companies that have to rent equipment are normally doing work they are not versed in, thus is the reason they lack the equipment. Most painters will buy a brush before the sell a painting job.

[Total.Lawn.Care]

I have to say that renting any more than a jack hammer for this TINY job would be excess overhead. You can do this in a few hours with a pick ax and a sledge hammer, but a jack hammer will have you done and ready to go in 1/3 of that time.

Drew, I agree that a Jack Hammer can bust it up quickly, but then you have to consider the time and physical stamina required to haul that much concrete to the dump trailer. It would be one thing if he had a helper that could be hauling while he was busting, then they could finish it up together. But I would not want to hand carry pieces of a 10X11 ft concrete slab by myself. The Mini-Skid seems the best option to me... all costs would be passed to the homeowner as part of getting the job done.

[KrayzKajun]

There is no rebar. Its is just a small slab they put behind the houses as patios. I dont want to use a skidsteer because i will tear up the yard and it wont fit through thier gate anyway. What would you charge say hourly? I really dont know how long it will take me.

[KrayzKajun]

Bump , Bump

[markam70]

There is no rebar. Its is just a small slab they put behind the houses as patios. I dont want to use a skidsteer because i will tear up the yard and it wont fit through thier gate anyway. What would you charge say hourly? I really dont know how long it will take me.

How bad do you really want this job? If you need the work, price it as you would any other job. Myself, I would walk away from it but we are big enough we can pick and choose our work.

Are you sure there's no rebar? And are you sure of the thickness? Reason I ask, we did a patio install not too long ago. Removal of old concrete 15'x18'x4", no big beal. Half way through the demo aspect and the concrete goes to a thickness of 12". The contractor poured a 12" thick by 18" wide footer right in the middle. Luckly this job was time and materials so our profit margin didn't suffer.Just make sure you expect the unexpected and price accordingly.

Good luck

[KrayzKajun]

im gunna give them an hourly price. and let them pay for the dump fee and jackhammer rental fee

[KrayzKajun]

any idea what i should charge hourly

[markam70]

our labor rate is $58/hr. not sure about your area, but it should be woth at least $45/hr or so

[MudslinginFX4]

I would probably charge around $1000 for this. People don't know what is involved in removing a patio. If they thought it was easy, they would just do it themselves. I know it shouldn't take long, but I would charge $1000 and be out in 2 hours or so with 2 guys. You being solo, I would think you could do it in 2-3 hours, depending on how you load the truck.

[LB1234]

IMO, humping that much concrete by hand (solo) is a little crazy. It can be done but at what expense. You still have to use wheelbarrels push those up some sort of ramp to get it into a dump trailer/containter, etc.

I would rent a tracked mini-skid that fits through a 36" gate...Rent a jackhammer attachment with narrow bucket. If its a 48" gate you can get get a larger bucket through the gate.

Yuo should be able to rent the machine plus jackhammer for between 225-250 per day. I would only plan on one day. I would say 2-4 hours depending on the scenario.

[LB1234]

If you're passing on the costs of rental, then it's still money out-of-profit. Here's what I mean: We own our skid steer and "Joe's Quick Cut" (made up name) doesn't. He charges $750 for a job and we come in at $675. The homeowner can choose either company, but I guarantee that (with a lower estimate) our profit margin will sow more benefits because of us not renting equipment, the customer got the better estimate, and the job will be done correctly.


I have to disagree.

Don't you now have to factor the cost of storing the equipment, maintaining the equipment, insuring it, etc.? I don't think its as simple as you put it. And, I don't think 75 is going to sway the customer THAT much. A good salesman could have the customer going with the higher priced company b/c of various other reasons...not just price.

I think its an interesting debate...

I have noticed that companies that have to rent equipment are normally doing work they are not versed in, thus is the reason they lack the equipment.

I disagree here as well.

Perhaps its cheaper to rent...if you only use the machine (or whatever) for particular jobs say once a month for 6 months out of the year and lets say the rentals 400 a pop. Thats a total of 2400 per year. Well you were to purchase it it would cost 500 per month for 12 months. That's 6 grand per year. I think it depends on the company and their financial situation. It might make better business sense to rent/lease instead of own.

Another thing, ever notice the general contracting companies that do roadwork (state/federal). You usually see there names on a lot of equipment...but you also see a lot of equipment with rental yard names on them as well. I don't feel they are "not versed in" the work b/c they rent.

[RAlmaroad]

Krazy: I'll probably get a lot of trash from others, but I'm from the south, love the south, and would never move from the south, even sold a beautiful oceanfront 4800sq. ft house because the state had north in it. However, if your client has been with you for a while and you have a good relationship, I would think very long and hard about charging him/her too much. Could you go over there after work for an hour or so, use the jack hammer and sledge, let them remove the debris the next day. I think soomething like $50/ per evening would make you client happy (Not over an hour and a half) They will see how hard the work is, they would do the clean-up and pay for the jack hammer. That way they may--just may get out there with the sledge and break up and remove some of the smaller stuff and make the job go easier. If not then you'd make $50/evening and not have anything in the job--Pure profit. Being from the south, they'd probably give you a cold glass of tea and a sandwich or even southern fried chicken. Yea, I'll get a lot of greif from this. Roy

[TURFLORD]

There is no rebar. Its is just a small slab they put behind the houses as patios. I dont want to use a skidsteer because i will tear up the yard and it wont fit through thier gate anyway. What would you charge say hourly? I really dont know how long it will take me.
I usually bust out slabs with a jack hammer and 2 helpers. Of course it's more work this way, but it's alot less impact on the property. Use an 85lbs hammer w/point, a 5' pry bar, and a pick ax. It won't have rebar, but it might have a reinforcing grid. If it has grid the pry bar can help chop through it. Oh yeah, I'm not talking about the pry bar with the flat flared end. That thing is a piece. The one I mean has a square end that tapers to a point. In NJ I get to charge $45 ph for myself. I would guess 8 hours to do the job. Not including any regrading. Remember, prep, drive, and job time included in that estimate.

[KrayzKajun]

thanks everyone