If you are a "do-it-yourselfer," you may be inclined to make improvements to your concrete walkways, stairs, or driveway once they start cracking, or otherwise showing signs of age. If you improperly repair your cement structures or fail to properly follow proper concrete removal protocol, it could cost you money or put you at risk for a serious injury. Unless you have the following pieces of equipment and the expertise to go along with them, your best bet is to seek out the services of a concrete removal professional to take care of all your cement needs.
Jack Hammers
Hydraulic breakers or jack hammers are familiar sights on highways and expressways during the summer months when city construction season is in full swing. These tools are typically hand-held, and they can demolish and break up concrete pavement. They are very powerful, and if you are not experienced in how they operate, you could get seriously hurt and even cause further damage to the structures surrounding your home.
Breaking up concrete by using a hydraulic breaker is not for the faint of heart. In rare cases, this process can even pose a challenge for seasoned professionals. Before you try demolishing your concrete surfaces, make sure you know what you're getting into by learning everything you can about hydraulic breaker safety.
Water Jet
If you have ever used a pressure washer to clean your deck or aluminum siding, then you know how effectively a powerful jet of water can cut through dirt and grime. Water jet tools can also remove cement without causing damage to other structures around your home.
The pressure that these types of tools exerts is much stronger than that of a household power washer, and while using water jet tools may be less dangerous than using a hydraulic breaker, they can still pose challenges to the inexperienced. One of the major benefits of using a water tool to break up your cement is that it dramatically cuts down on the amount of dust that is generated from breaking concrete.
While the jets are breaking down the cement, they are also cleaning the surface at the same time. Although a high-pressure water jet may be a safer choice and easier to handle than a hydraulic breaker, you should always wear a protective shield when using one. Pieces of concrete can scatter during the procedure, raising your risk for a severe facial injury.
Wearing protective goggles may not be enough to protect you from flying debris, which is why you will need to wear a hard hat equipped with a flip-down, heavy-duty facial shield. This will help protect you from injuries to the eyes, nose, and mouth. Even though you may feel comfortable breaking up concrete with a power jet tool, it is still best to call a concrete removal contractor to ensure that the job is done correctly and safely.
If the concrete in or around your home needs to be broken up and removed, think twice before taking on this daunting task Unless you are a contractor or professional home renovator, you will not have the expertise to effectively operate the equipment to safely do the job.
Not only might your inexperience lead to sloppy work, but you may also be risking an electrical or plumbing disaster, should you hit a power or sewer line while attempting to remove your concrete. Even if you're only trying to remove a small portion of your patio or porch, call before you dig, If you inadvertently hit a utility cable while removing concrete, you will not only need to call a concrete professional to finish the job, but you may also need to hire an electrical or plumbing contractor.
