There aren't many things that make me mad, but when it comes to running a company, few things are more frustrating to me than lazy employees. A few months ago I started keeping closer tabs on my workers, and it became immediately clear that there were some team members that didn't care at all about things like productivity, saving money, and doing the right thing. I wanted to do something to correct the situation, so I started honing our processes, holding more team meetings, and perfecting the processes. This blog is all about streamlining your company and making things right.
Removing a old concrete foundation slab from your property is often necessary when you no longer need the foundation and want to use the site for another purpose. With the use of heavy machinery and power equipment, the work can be made much easier. Here are tips to help you complete the demolition and removal of the old concrete slab with the right equipment.
Demolition
Concrete foundations found under an old garage, shed, or other outside building can be several inches thick, depending on its required structural weight support. To break the foundation slab apart so you can remove the smaller pieces, your work can be easier by upgrading your sledgehammer to a jackhammer powered by an air compressor.
A sledgehammer weighs an average of 12 pounds and can be used to break apart concrete up to four inches thick. But to demolition thicker concrete, or if you don't want to slam a sledgehammer to do all the work manually, you can rent a pneumatic, or air compressor-powered jackhammer at most equipment rental stores. Talk to the equipment manager at the store for instructions on operating and using the jackhammer. A pneumatic compressor-powered jackhammer can weigh approximately 90 pounds so be sure you will be able to handle its weight. But keep in mind you only need to hold the hammer steady as it does the labor for you.
As you demolition the concrete slab, pieces of flying concrete shards can go flying through the air and potentially injure you. It is recommended to wear safety eye wear to protect your vision, and long pants, boots, work gloves, and long sleeves to protect your skin. A jackhammer can create quite a bit of noise, so hearing protection is a good idea to to prevent any hearing loss.
Concrete slabs and foundations may also be reinforced with metal rebar within the concrete's interior, and will need to be cut during the demolition work. It is helpful to use a pair of wire cutters or a circular saw to sever the rebar after it has been broken apart. With the help of a friend or neighbor, they can cut up the rebar as you break apart the concrete slab.
Removal
Concrete is a heavy material and one cubic foot can weigh approximately 150 pounds. A six-inch thick slab measuring eight feet by ten feet weighs a total of 6,000 pounds, which is a lot of weight to have to carry off your property. To remove the concrete from the ground, it is best to use the power of a compact track loader, such as a skid steer or Bobcat to do the labor for you.
You can rent a compact track loader at most equipment rental stores. The rental specialist at the rental store will be able to instruct you on basic operation for you to run the machinery, just as your rented pneumatic jackhammer, and possibly handle delivery and pick-up of the equipment.
With your rented compact track loader you will be able to pick up and transfer the broken up concrete from the demo site into a disposal bin. A compact track loader can easily handle the weight of concrete chunks and you won't have to use a wheelbarrow and your muscles to do the work.
As you remove and dispose of the broken concrete, be sure to check your area for companies that recycle concrete. Many concrete recycling companies can take your broken up concrete and break it down into rubble rock and sell it to home building construction companies and road repair companies. These companies use the broken up concrete as a base material and you won't have to pay the local landfill to take it.
After you have used the track loader to clear the land, you can use the loader to help you prepare the ground for its next use, such as a garden plot, a new building site, or another purpose.
To learn more about the process, contact companies like Summit Tool Rentals Division Of Wirtz Rentals.
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