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Demo of 15" concrete pad with 3/4 inch rebar 12" on center..

Asphalt/Dirtman

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Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
66
Location
Ohio
Picked up this strange job by chance that involves demoing a concrete pad retaining structure that is 40X20 that is 15" thick and has footers (speculation) with rebar 12" on center (pretty much given).
20 ton excavator, 8 ton excavator and hammer. skid loader if needed

The grand question is should we rent a big concrete saw to try and cut the concrete and rebar.

It would take a very large saw diesel powered saw and just not sure if its worth it.

Any thoughts?
 

mitch504

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Messages
5,776
Location
Andrews SC
A 20 ton should just break this up fairly easy, since you have the 8 ton with the hammer on it anyway, you might want to hammer the footers.

I have done a bunch of similar jobs without the hammer, but it will make life much easier on the 20 ton. Just hammer the footers, then start at the edges and break it going in. Once you have the concrete breaking, you may want to torch, or saw, some of the rebar. Mostly though, it'll be fastest to just break it up. Uae a narrow bucket and a thumb on your 20-ton.

Good Luck,
Mitch
 

danregan

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Joined
Dec 10, 2008
Messages
67
Location
Wayland, Massachusetts
Occupation
Contractor
we use a wrecking ball. i just pick it up with the thumb on my 315. junk yards sometimes have them, or you can use an old counterweight off something like a D8.
 

CM1995

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Jan 21, 2007
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13,250
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Alabama
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Running what I brung and taking what I win
Do you know if the slab has any rebar in it? You will probably need a large slab saw to at least score the 15" slab in order to make it easier to break up. If you have a concrete cutting subcontractor around town I have found once it's all said and done, it's about the same price to hire our local concrete cutter to come in and cut slabs as it is to go and rent one and do it yourself when you calculate your time,rental, etc.

I would also have a torch and/or a cut-off saw handy to cut any rebar that gives you any hassle.
 

Asphalt/Dirtman

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Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
66
Location
Ohio
Well after much debating, I decided to have a concrete cutting company come in and cut sections. Also after much conversations with other contracters it seamed like the safe bet to do. They have a call out for 3/4" rebar 12" on center. But I spoke with the guy who wrote the specs in the contract and that was just a guestimate. He couldn't find the exact specs for this location.

There is a concrete pad that sits beside it two that I would like to isolate with a saw cut and we don't have anything large enough to cut that deep. We will have a torch and cut off saw with us.

I've done alot of asphalt and concrete tear outs but none this deep with this much rebar. So just doing some research and q/a.
 

CM1995

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Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
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Running what I brung and taking what I win
Sounds like an interesting project, I like to take on stuff like that. Keep us posted on the progress and a few pics always feeds the hungry HEF hounds.:D

A torch goes a long way in making a difficult demo day much easier.
 

Asphalt/Dirtman

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Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
66
Location
Ohio
Quick update.

Day one in the books. It went good but things keep getting weirder and weirder on this job.

Saw cutting went good, took all day but I think due to the sensitivity of the area we are working in, it is essential.

I fail to mention that this project is at a Landfill. Well within 20 minutes of digging I found the Landfill's leachate (landfill byproduct) main line. Now this is all fine and dandy if it didn't happen to run practically on top of this 4 to 5 deep footer for this concrete pad. Also, the pads footers are 5 feet deep................. And that LEACHate line is 10-12 inch line that is big no no to tear up.

Now I know this is all worthless without pictures but I fried my phone last week when it was 100 degrees laying asphalt so once it gets above 80 degrees the screen starts trying to select everything. Pictures soon I promise.
 

norite

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
483
Location
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
If you have a written spec. for the job does it require you to remove the footings and walls completely. Often it is acceptable to demo 18" below grade and leave whatever is below that.
 

clansing1

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Joined
Oct 30, 2008
Messages
146
Location
Iowa
Saw Cutting the Concrete

From the pictures, sawcutting looks like the right choice.
 

Wolf

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
1,203
Location
California
wrecking ball

yeah, try it with a wrecking ball. that should smash the heck out of it.
 

Asphalt/Dirtman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
66
Location
Ohio
Saw cutting worked very well and if there wasn't the huge footer walls, it would have been done in much quicker. I rented to small of a hammer (1500 impact class), and had a lazy owner operator in the big hoe. Other than that it went very well.

To much sensitive stuff around for the old wrecking ball.
 
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