Sledge or Electric Jack Hammer/Drill? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Sledge or Electric Jack Hammer/Drill?

Jampy00

Jampy00

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Recently had our front foundation resealed due to a small leak.
My front entrance had to be completely removed in order to complete the repairs.
After the repair was completed they put back a piece of the concrete landing to act as a step in order not to have to step in mud to get in/out the house.
Well it's been a month and the ground has settled and the step has sunk quite a bit and it beginning to pull at the membrane. I want to remove it so I can re-grade the ground and put in a temporary step to allow for more compaction this year. We'll finish it in 2025.

So I have to break up this concrete and move it, it is too large to do it in one piece.
I was just going to use a sledge and bust it up (it is home poured concrete with no wire support)

But looking on Amazon I see some inexpensive electric jack hammers / drills and thought this could be a better option due to this being very close to my front door.

What have experiences been like with these has anyone used an off brand one with good results.

This is most likely the biggest job it would every see so I am not willing to spend a fortune..
 
Jampy00 said:
Recently had our front foundation resealed due to a small leak.
My front entrance had to be completely removed in order to complete the repairs.
After the repair was completed they put back a piece of the concrete landing to act as a step in order not to have to step in mud to get in/out the house.
Well it's been a month and the ground has settled and the step has sunk quite a bit and it beginning to pull at the membrane. I want to remove it so I can re-grade the ground and put in a temporary step to allow for more compaction this year. We'll finish it in 2025.

So I have to break up this concrete and move it, it is too large to do it in one piece.
I was just going to use a sledge and bust it up (it is home poured concrete with no wire support)

But looking on Amazon I see some inexpensive electric jack hammers / drills and thought this could be a better option due to this being very close to my front door.

What have experiences been like with these has anyone used an off brand one with good results.

This is most likely the biggest job it would every see so I am not willing to spend a fortune..
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Don't buy a cheap concrete breaker. It will be an exercise in frustration (think of breaking up slab with a carpenters hammer).

As Bitzz said, a few holes drilled through to provide a fault line and a sledgehammer and you will be done quickly.

Don't you have a tractor with a bucket? Can't you get it out that way?
 
Rent a jack hammer from HD for 4 hours and you will be done in no time.
I'm sure there is a rental place in Georgetown that's closer to you.

I would lend you my small Makita SDS plus hammer drill/jack hammer but I'm afraid its too small for the job.

If you really wanted to , you could use a large sledge hammer to pound away at it but that is more manual labour.

Can you use your tractor to pull it away from the house?
 
GreyGhost said:
Don't buy a cheap concrete breaker. It will be an exercise in frustration (think of breaking up slab with a carpenters hammer).

As Bitzz said, a few holes drilled through to provide a fault line and a sledgehammer and you will be done quickly.

Don't you have a tractor with a bucket? Can't you get it out that way?
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Sorry it would be a hammer drill (Updated title), I would need it for other jobs but this would be the biggest one.
I have the tractor but no bucket and no way to get a strap under the slab.

I think I'll drill it. As I stated it is bagged concrete maybe 4-6" thick with no mesh (Looks like "Kevin" did it)
 
Jampy00 said:
Sorry it would be a hammer drill (Updated title), I would need it for other jobs but this would be the biggest one.
I have the tractor but no bucket and no way to get a strap under the slab.

I think I'll drill it. As I stated it is bagged concrete maybe 4-6" thick with no mesh (Looks like "Kevin" did it)
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You don't have a hammer drill at all? That is a useful tool. Check your cordless drills as some come with hammer built in. They will be much slower go than a rotary hammer (spins slower hits harder normally SDS plus for holes less than 3/4"). A rotary hammer is lovely but not needed by most homeowners.
 
Jampy00 said:
I think I'll drill it. As I stated it is bagged concrete maybe 4-6" thick with no mesh (Looks like "Kevin" did it)
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In that case.... If you don't have one and need one before you make a purchasing decision let me know. I have one you can borrow
 
Home Depot rental is your route of least frustration. Get a proper jack hammer , done . There are 15 ways to do it in degrees of annoyance. I own a rotary hammer , and I’d rent a jack hammer to get rid of a slab.


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GreyGhost said:
You don't have a hammer drill at all? That is a useful tool. Check your cordless drills as some come with hammer built in. They will be much slower go than a rotary hammer (spins slower hits harder normally SDS plus for holes less than 3/4"). A rotary hammer is lovely but not needed by most homeowners.
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Nope, never really required one and my old neighbor let me borrow his for the one time I needed one in the 14 years I lived at my previous residence. BTW I don't even own a cordless drill but two corded ones....

Things are different now, bigger property more things that need to be done and no money or willingness to hire people for things I should do myself. This is why I post these, opportunities for others to learn...

To be perfectly honest, I know exactly how I am going to do my task and what I require, I just like to have the discussion as you never know what new products are on the market or new ways of doing things...

This could be a purchase or a HD rental if I feel like using 1.5 to 2 hours in driving the day of the job..
 
Jampy00 said:
Nope, never really required one and my old neighbor let me borrow his for the one time I needed one in the 14 years I lived at my previous residence. BTW I don't even own a cordless drill but two corded ones....

Things are different now, bigger property more things that need to be done and no money or willingness to hire people for things I should do myself. This is why I post these, opportunities for others to learn...

To be perfectly honest, I know exactly how I am going to do my task and what I require, I just like to have the discussion as you never know what new products are on the market or new ways of doing things...

This could be a purchase or a HD rental if I feel like using 1.5 to 2 hours in driving the day of the job..
Click to expand...
Winters not over yet. A few drilled holes filled with water before Saturday and mother nature may do the work for you.
 
New concrete will break easily with a sledge. Wedge a crowbar or 2x4 under a corner to lift the slab a bit, it should break easily with a blow from a 5lb maul hammer.

If you can’t lift it, a small line chipped out with a cold chisel will create a fracture line. Ive cut 50 year old 10” concrete walls this way.
 
Mad Mike said:
New concrete will break easily with a sledge. Wedge a crowbar or 2x4 under a corner to lift the slab a bit, it should break easily with a blow from a 5lb maul hammer.

If you can’t lift it, a small line chipped out with a cold chisel will create a fracture line. Ive cut 50 year old 10” concrete walls this way.
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Agreed, this will most likely what I will do before spending any money and/or wasting time.

I always enjoy these posts, I love to see the different ways to tackle a project!
 
Drill some holes. Pour water into them, and cover up top to not let it get out.

My first preference...electric hammer chisel (?). Did short work of my basement slab when we did a weeping tile.
My second preference...sledge.
 
@Jampy00 can you somehow strap it and just use your tractor to pull it away from that area? Just in case to prevent any damage to the surrounding walls.

EDIT: Can you post a pic? When do you need this done by? I'll see if I can get my hands on my dad's tool so may (possibly) be able to pop up and make short work of it.
 
Scuba Steve said:
Does a neighbor have a loader tractor just scoop it out. Easier still if they have forks

Sent from the future
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Don't know my neighbors.
 
mimico_polak said:
@Jampy00 can you somehow strap it and just use your tractor to pull it away from that area? Just in case to prevent any damage to the surrounding walls.

EDIT: Can you post a pic? When do you need this done by? I'll see if I can get my hands on my dad's tool so may (possibly) be able to pop up and make short work of it.
Click to expand...
I could use a strap, but it would be difficult to get it under slab as it is now pressed up against the foundation. and some bushes in the way.
It is a smallish slab would not take long to demolish, but just a bit to big to move by hand.

I can do this any "nice" weekend, I doubt it will sink any further, unless we get some REALLY heavy rains.
You are more than welcome to pop by anytime you'd like, I'd enjoy a visit and a chit chat.

I'll also have to make a temporary step plywood & 2x4's and a good coat of paint will suit my requirements.
 
Jampy00 said:
I could use a strap, but it would be difficult to get it under slab as it is now pressed up against the foundation. and some bushes in the way.
It is a smallish slab would not take long to demolish, but just a bit to big to move by hand.

I can do this any "nice" weekend, I doubt it will sink any further, unless we get some REALLY heavy rains.
You are more than welcome to pop by anytime you'd like, I'd enjoy a visit and a chit chat.

I'll also have to make a temporary step plywood & 2x4's and a good coat of paint will suit my requirements.
Click to expand...
Ok sounds good. I'll see when I can come up but def not this weekend.
 
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