[tankman1989]

IDK if this is the correct section but I know there are a lot of people with construction experience in this subforum.

I am in the middle of a project and have hit a major snag. The concrete floor has gone from 4-6" thick to 18"+ and it is TOUGH to get through! I am using a 120v jackhammer but it isn't cutting it for this thickness of concrete. I am moving about 1/15 as fast as I was on the 4-6" thick. This thick stuff is also the last of the concrete and back in a corner so it is REALLY tough to get at as I am standing below it making all of this really difficult.

So, can anyone suggest something else to help break this up? I thought maybe getting a concrete saw but IDK if that is going to do it. I figured that I could cut and chip, cut and chip... This won't be fun but I figure that it would be a method that will get it done.

Do any of you know of a better method? Explosives are out of the question lol:.

Also, this is in the laundryroom so any equipment must fit through a 32" wide door.

 

[hatguy]

Depends. If it is general demolition; Possibly us a bobcat to get under the pad and lift it up to break it. otherwise you might have to get a jackhammer attachment for the bobcat, or the "jaws" for a backhoe. or you could just have fun and rent the biggest bulldozer you can find.

 

[tankman1989]

Depends. If it is general demolition; Possibly us a bobcat to get under the pad and lift it up to break it. otherwise you might have to get a jackhammer attachment for the bobcat, or the "jaws" for a backhoe. or you could just have fun and rent the biggest bulldozer you can find.

I don't think a Bobcat is going to work. I need something to fit through a 32" door.

 

[greywolf]

Try a dingo excavator with a jack hammer attachment. Im pretty sure they are small enough to fit through a door.

 

[Tankspridd]

Drill holes and use " snigamite " thats a kind of cementmixture that expands and cracks everything from stone to concrete

or you can drill holes in a row and use a sledge + dry wood pieces that you pour water on

 

[Pangea]

Similar to what Tankspridd suggested, I'd chain drill it with a masonry drill then hit it with the jackhammer. Like breaking large chunks of ice or shelf blasting rock, several holes in a row, then a large impact will split the target.

 

[tankman1989]

Try a dingo excavator with a jack hammer attachment. Im pretty sure they are small enough to fit through a door.

I really like this machine! This would be a great thing to rent locally!

 

[LEPER]

Get an acelytene torch and some iron and pipe and make a thermal lance. You can cut the concrete up however you like. It should be good for up to three feet thick.

 

[greywolf]

Yea they look like a pretty neat machine. I have never used one myself but seen them on alot of job sites. With all the attachments, its kinda like a walk behind bobcat.

 

[tankman1989]

Yea they look like a pretty neat machine. I have never used one myself but seen them on alot of job sites. With all the attachments, its kinda like a walk behind bobcat.

I've never seen one. I wonder how much they cost. I've been doing research on them since you posted your response.

 

[Innes]

put the machine away jackhammer works sometimes but mostly makes holes. just lift an edge w/ pry bar and hit w a sledge hammer start from the outside edges. hope you dont have to much rebar in there

 

[Tenfeathers]

Dynooooomite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Optimist]

Check your messages.

 

[tankman1989]

put the machine away jackhammer works sometimes but mostly makes holes. just lift an edge w/ pry bar and hit w a sledge hammer start from the outside edges. hope you dont have to much rebar in there

Do you have ANY idea how difficult 18" thick concrete is to break up!? There is nothing that will work besides a jack hammer (preferable attached to an excavator of some kind), cutting saw and maybe heat, but heat requires holes to be drilled or pounded and in that case just jack-hammer. If it were the 4" or 6" a 10-12' prybar might work.

 

[tankman1989]

I ended up getting a 14" gas powered diamond blade masonry saw. This will do the job IMO. We only have about 4-5 sq ft left but the fact that it is 18" thick is what makes it so much harder to break up. I'd say it is 3x thicker but 9x more difficult and timely to breakup.

 

[gamgee]

Is it possible that you are destroying the structural integrity of your footing?

 

[Meat Guy]

There are concrete chain saws. A local buiness rents them that run off of hydraulics. The chains are terribly expensive. I've seen them in Northern Tool. They have 14" or 16" bars. You could cut it up in squares.

 

[tankman1989]

Is it possible that you are destroying the structural integrity of your footing?

No. It was poured after the structure was built.

 

[gamgee]

Then get off the internet, you would of been done by now.

 

[david31316]

Goto lowes and hire immigrant laborers they will make short work of it