Hydrodemolition is done with various devices from handheld guns to robotic equipment.
Cheap ways to break up concrete.
Dig out the soil gravel or other material from under the concrete using a shovel and a pickax.
The water is directed at the concrete at 20 000 psi and 10 to 15 gallons per minute for handheld guns.
Start to break the concrete starting six inches from the edge and working your way in.
Breaking stone or concrete this way is clean quiet safe controllable and relatively inexpensive.
For thin slabs of concrete use a sledgehammer to break it up.
For more than four inches thick use a demolition hammer.
If the concrete is too thick to break up with a sledgehammer you can use an electric jackhammer instead.
It can cut clean lines or remove the surface as deeply as desired.
To aid in breaking up the concrete use a spud bar in conjunction with the jackhammer.
Jam the flat end of the spud bar into the cracks formed by the jackhammer firmly grip the handle with both hands and use leverage to pry chunks of concrete from the pad for removal.
Dig under the concrete.
Over the next 24 hours the agent expands with about 18 000 lb.
Give it a try first before moving on to heavier rental equipment.
The surest way to decide whether to use a sledgehammer or a jackhammer is to experiment a few days before you begin full scale demolition.
For slabs less than four inches thick use a sledgehammer.
Dig about 1 foot inward.
To break up concrete start by covering the concrete with a plastic sheet to protect nearby items from flying debris.
A sledge can be surprisingly effective in breaking up concrete up to about 4 in.
Move the concrete chunks with a hand truck.