Breaking up a hardstand
 

Now I'm a bit of a numpty on heavy practical stuff but I'm determined to do this myself.

We've sold the caravan and with a bit of luck the buyer will take it this weekend, if not this then I will insist on next weekend. He doesn't have anywhere to park it outside his house, but the site he wants to put it on for the spring and summer wasn't open yet, so it's still in our front garden. I'm sick of the sight of it TBH and I can't wait to see it go.

Anyway the builder put down two rows of concrete as a hardstand for it. They're not that deep, from memory maybe 25 - 30cm. And I think about 40cm wide. 7m long. This was the hardstand when dug out before the concrete was laid. The trenches aren't deep but the concrete was built up with shuttering. You'll just about see this in the next pic, taken more to show what a complete mess it was at the time rather than the hardstand:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...e/IMG_3750.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...6102010350.jpg

I want to get rid of the concrete and to reinstate the soil (I still have that in a pile in the garden). Will this tool be up to the job?

http://www.hss.com/index.php?g=2151&t=zoom

I've got all the ear defenders (not much left hearing left to defend TBH:() and the eye goggles and thick gloves. Any advice on how to clear the site gratefully appreciated.

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

Ive cleared about 10x10M with a sledge hammer and a pickaxe but I wouldnt reccomend it.

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

You might also want a decent size angle grinder for cutting through any re-inforcement. Don't know how sturdy the steel was that the builders used, but something like a 12" 2 stroke angle grinder will make quick work of any troublesome metalwork.

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

Breakers require effort, noise and mess... that one is electric too which is naff.

If it's only 30mm deep I would use http://www.hss.com/g/7156/Concrete-Ring-Saw.html and remove it in slabs.

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

Ed,

Not messing around with concrete etc, just go with this..

http://www.hss.com/g/2111/Heavy-Duty...-Avt-110v.html

It will make mincemeat of it in no time the one you selected will do it but you will be looking at an age, and you WILL be board after 10 minutes of it skipping of the surface.

Or this

http://www.speedyhire.com/Tools-&-Eq...-1-10-17-172/#

And wear steel boots and trousers sharp flints WILL hurt.

The first one you picked will be like taking a knife to a gun fight, you'll loose.

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

I reckon a sledge hammer, pick-axe and 'trosol' (will need to look up the English word) should do the trick Ed. I removed all the concrete from the front of my house this way. Physical work, but easy enough. Here is a picture of the largest area I broke up:-

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photo...36829_4301.jpg

These photos of the block paving laid to replace it will give an idea of the area removed

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6323622_n.jpg

and

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5463979_n.jpg

EDIT: TROSOL translates to 'crowbar' but I have only ever heard it used in relation to a dock-off big metal bar about 6ft long, pointy at one end and a flat lever at the other. A big pinch bar? Anyway, normally use them for making starter holes for fence posts..

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

a great big +1 to this. If the concrete is particularly hard you'll be there all day with a sledgy, get a decent drill breaker on hire and it will be done in no time.

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

Thanks peaps. I want to get the job done, not have it drag on, so I'll get an Alex breaker. I don't have a pair of steelies, I'll have to wear my paras. As for steel reinforcement - I don't remember any being used, the caravan isn't that heavy, about 1200kg from memory, and it's not like it moves across the stand, so I'm fairly certain that none went in.

Mike - fenceposts. I need to build a new rear fence too. It'll be a post and rail thing with some chicken wire stuff to stop rabbits invading and getting killed by the cats. Lots more jobs to follow, too. We could do with a 'How To' section:D

I'll post up some pics of my handiwork as and when:cool:

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

Does this mean the veg patch is not up and running yet???

I came home one day to find a Polish man almost reduced to a puddle of sweat after breaking up my old concrete drive (he was a builder and was meant to be doing it). Some of it was over 18 inches thick and he cleared it all in a day with a rather weedy electric kango on his own. Goodness knows how but I'm glad it was not me...

Good luck Ed!!!

Re: Breaking up a hardstand
 

Sort of. I made a start but the ground was too wet, and then we had a few nights of frost and the ground was solid. So I've sown a lot of stuff indoors - aubergines, peppers, broad beans. I'm impatient to get going properly, and I can't put up the polytunnel until the CV goes and I've broken up the concrete.