How to Remove Concrete Slabs

Rent a walk-in trash container or use a 1-ton pickup truck to haul away the debris. Contact a waste hauler in your area to discuss disposal options. Recruit two or three assistants to help you break up and remove the pieces if possible.

Cover the slab with a plastic sheet to prevent flying debris. Starting on one corner, swing the sledgehammer with enough force to crack or break the concrete. If it doesn't break on the first hit, try it again a few inches from the first blow until it cracks.

Pry up chunks using a pry bar. Work together with the help of an assistant tilting up pieces while you break them off with the hammer if needed.

Don safety gear. Break the concrete into chunks with a jackhammer if it resists breaking using only the hammer. Grasp the jackhammer with both hands. Pull the trigger and allow it to chisel cracks in the concrete 2 to 3 inches apart.

Pry up stubborn chunks with a mattock. Use the rounded top as a fulcrum to dislodge stuck pieces. If the concrete is reinforced with steel mesh, use bolt cutters to cut the mesh. If the concrete is reinforced with steel rebar, use a reciprocating saw with a hacksaw blade, or a hand grinder with a cutting blade to cut it loose.

Remove the debris when you've broken up a 24-to-36-inch area. Place the debris in a wheelbarrow then into the trash receptacle or truck for disposal.