How to Break up Concrete by Hand

1. Dig Under the Concrete

   Dig out the soil, gravel, or other material from under the concrete, using a shovel and a pickax or mattock. Dig about 1 foot inward from the slab’s edge, making a gap of 1 inch or so; the void does not need to be deep. A pickax or mattock is handy for cutting through roots, breaking up rock or shale, and scraping material out from under the slab.

2. Strike the Concrete

   Lightly sprinkle the concrete with water to minimize dust. Grasp the sledgehammer handle with your dominant hand close to the head and your other hand toward the end of the handle. Use an arching motion with plenty of leg action to lift the hammer as high as possible but not directly over your head, and then let it fall as you slide the dominant hand down the handle. Strike the concrete along the edge of the void you dug underneath, as though you are breaking something over the edge of a table. Repeat as needed, striking in the same place each time until the concrete breaks.

   Tip

   Don’t apply a lot of force on the sledgehammer on the downstroke; let the hammer do the work. If anything, you can use the handle as a lever to increase the speed of the head, but don’t wear yourself out trying to strike as hard as possible. The impact and weight of the head will do the job.

3. Pry Off Stubborn Pieces

   Use a pry bar or crow bar to open cracks and separate pieces that are resistant to falling away. Force the flat end of the bar into the crack. Wiggle it back and forth until it is at least 1/2 inch into the crack. Pry back until you can get your gloved fingers in to pull away the piece.

   Tip

   If the concrete slab has been reinforced with rebar or metal fabric, you may need to sever the metal bars or wires with a reciprocating saw as each piece of concrete breaks off. This is more common with driveway or patio slabs, but even sidewalks are sometimes reinforced in this way.

4. Move the Concrete Chunks With a Hand Truck

   Use a hand truck or dolly to move large chunks of concrete. A hand truck is better than a wheelbarrow because you only have to lift the chunk of concrete an inch or two to get it onto the truck. Lift the concrete pieces carefully, using your legs and keeping the weight close to your body. Truck the pieces to your collection or disposal area.

Disposing of Broken Concrete

Never dispose of concrete in your regular garbage service. Most collectors will not take it. You can arrange for a dumpster through a trash pickup service, but be sure to tell them that you need it for concrete, and find out how much you can fill the dumpster. Often a dumpster filled with masonry materials, which are extremely heavy, should not exceed the maximum tonnage set by the service company.

On the other hand, broken concrete does not have to be sent to the landfill. There are plenty of uses for it around the yard:

• Flip large pieces of concrete over, powerwash them, and turn them into a low-cost stone-look pathway.
• Stack the concrete pieces up and create a short garden wall.
• Make short retaining walls.
• Stack the pieces in a circle to make a fire pit.
• Use the pieces as edging for a pond to hold down the pond liner.
• Use the small rubble as French drain material.
• Use the concrete as fill material when you want to build up an area of your yard.

Tips for Breaking Concrete by Hand

If you don’t pace yourself, this can quickly turn from a moderately challenging project to a grueling task that you may have to give up on and hire out. Work slow and steady, and keep a few expert tips in mind:

• It is critical to wear eye protection to protect your eyes from flying shards of concrete, grit, and sand.
• Concrete that is no more than 4 inches thick (typical for a walkway or patio) is a perfect candidate for manual demolition. Beyond 4 inches, the work becomes exponentially more difficult.
• Breaking up concrete is highly strenuous work. Take frequent breaks and keep yourself well-hydrated.
• To break off large pieces, make a series of blows in a line to create a stress crack, then strike in the middle of the area you want to remove to break the concrete along the line.
• The size of the chunks you remove is limited by your ability to lift and dispose of the concrete. If you cannot lift heavy loads, break the concrete up into small pieces of rubble.
• You can use a grinder and masonry wheel to score concrete about 1/4-inch deep where you’d like it to break to guide your work. A cold chisel (for masonry) can also be used for the scoring.