Â鶹Éç

Garden inspiration  permalink

Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

• Message 1. 

  Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  Hi all!
  
  I haven't been around for a few months but am pleased to announce that after 3 years of saving me and my other half have just brought our first house together. We are moving in this Friday
  
  But I have a dilemma..
  
  The garden is roughly 100ft long and is south facing. There are two garages at the back of the garden and the garden currently has a wide concrete driveway which leads from these garages all the way to the house.
  
  I don't wish to keep this long driveway as it really does no favours for the garden.
  
  I have a few questions which I thought I would ask while I still have the time and before we got there. Has anyone else attempted to take up concrete by themselves and what tool did you use? Does concrete affect the soil underneath? If so, what could I do to improve the soil? I intend to double dig most of the garden anyway...
  
  I am also thinking about just hiring a guy with a small JCB (I think it's a JCB, I can't remember exactly what they are called) to take it all up in the day. But I don't know how much this will cost and I don't wish to upset my new neighbours with the racket.
  
  Thank you all for your help in advance. I will try my best to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge...

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by MuddyFork (U10051443) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  This is not a DIY job that I would undertake and my OH is a builder. It could be very hard work depending on the thickness of the concrete. If you get someone in to do it make sure that they will also dispose of the concrete as you will be amazed at the size of the heap generated. Mini diggers are quite noisy but most people would understand and be tlerant for say a day that would be needed. If you do it yourself you will need to hire a breaker which are also noisy.
  
  Good lick

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by grandcottagegardener (U14258183) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I took up a long concrete path in my early 30's. It was hard work and I used a heavy duty long handled pick axe to lever the concrete plus a heavy duty sledge hammer. The path was only 3ft wide though.
  
  I would opt for someone coming in to do the job for you and they will probably use a pneumatic drill to break up the concrete. Make sure that your quote includes taking the concrete away though. You may also discover that the concrete drive has been reinforced with sheets of metal. Can't think of the name they use for this but think of a grid for noughts and crosses and thats what the metal looks like.
  
  You will find that under the layer of concrete will be rubble i.e. broken bricks.
  
  Once you get to the soil underneath it will be heavily compacted, but a good drenching and deep dig with some compost added will really improve the soil.
  
  
  
  

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I would not rush in to removing the drive. You may wish to drive up to the house in the future. It may be useful for parking when you open to the public. It might be good for access to the garage in the winter. You could put a trellis along it covered with plants to hide it. Let plants spill over it to soften it.
  
  Do you have children? Lovely to cycle on, play football when it's wet, run up and down and so on.
  
  Just don't be too hasty and maybe live with it for a year.

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I agree with PS, wait and see whether it can be of any practical use to you.
  
  Try to break up a small part of it. If it was "made to last" you will probably have 4 or 5 inches (10 - 12cm) of concrete over maybe double this depth of hardcore which will also have to be removed/recycled. Assuming the drive is at least 2 metres wide you will have about 20 cubic metres (30 metre long x 2 metres wide x 30cm depth) of spoil to dispose of; I'm not sure how many skips this is but it's a hell of a lot of barrow loads! Plus a few blisters and several litres of sweat.
  
  The soil underneath will probably not be very good and the former topsoil will I hope probably have been removed when the drive was installed. So you will need to think of bringing in topsoil too (again 20 cubic metres and a lot of barrow loads).
  
  Finding a use for the concrete strip may now seem more attractive ????
  
  Good luck and have a brilliant housewarming party!

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I would not rush in to removing the drive. You may wish to drive up to the house in the future. It may be useful for parking when you open to the public. 
  
  I can completely understand what you are trying to get at. But I think you seemed to think the drive goes up to the house from the front. This is for the back garden. This picture should explain the situation slightly better.
  
  
  
  I felt when I looked at the garden that it was the right length, south facing etc. But the driveway really does eat up the land.
  
  It might be good for access to the garage in the winter. You could put a trellis along it covered with plants to hide it. Let plants spill over it to soften it. 
  
  My other half wishes to use the garages at the back as a workshop and he says he doesn't need access to them with his car. Our car will be parked at the front which is already paved.
  
  Do you have children? Lovely to cycle on, play football when it's wet, run up and down and so on. 
  
  No children I'm afraid. I'm only 22.

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I would opt for someone coming in to do the job for you and they will probably use a pneumatic drill to break up the concrete. Make sure that your quote includes taking the concrete away though.  
  
  Seems like the best option but I'm not sure who to look for. Do I look for a builder or a demolition company?

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  That is a lot of concrete
  
  Expensive to remove I think - why not do some pricing on large
  oblong containers - I mean very large so watering is not too much of a problem - to put all down the side to grow lovely things in (up from and hanging over as well)?
  They could be cheap plastic which you then clad with eg wood and paint.
  
  All up might be cheaper than removal and you can grow things that maybe are otherwise not suited to your local soil.
  
  You would then still have a path to walk to the workshop - which in winter when cold and wet is useful.

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message8

• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I agree with Margaret. Large containers along the fence sounds like an easier and less expensive option. On the plus side, if you use different soil to that in your garden you will be able to grow a wider variety of plants.

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message9

• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by Summerchild (U14187397) on Tuesday, 13th July 2010

  Hi Jungle Jane,
  
  As this is about achieving your dream of a garden I would guess that you might be prepared to bear the expense of removing the concrete and making good the area. Added to the cost of moving house it might seem less than it would at any other time.
  
  Your new neighbours-to-be might be a good place to start for advice about who in your area does site clearance /building work. That way they will also be prepared for any nuisance or noise.
  
  Good luck,
  Summer

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message10

• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Wednesday, 14th July 2010

  As this is about achieving your dream of a garden I would guess that you might be prepared to bear the expense of removing the concrete and making good the area. Added to the cost of moving house it might seem less than it would at any other time. 
  
  Of course. I'm quite happy to pay for it all to be gone. I don't really want to compromise. I'm thinking about having a go with a pneumatic drill myself before hiring someone in.
  
  I hope to have a good relationship with my neighbours but am not sure how to break it to them (excuse the pun )

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message11

• Message 12

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Wednesday, 14th July 2010

  I'm quite happy to pay for it all to be gone. I don't really want to compromise.  
  
  Ah well of course go for it jj, good luck!
  Maybe sooner better than later talk with your neighbours, as they may well be going on a summer holiday?

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message12

• Message 13

  , in reply to message 12.

  Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Wednesday, 14th July 2010

  jj remember to get a skip before you start breaking up the concrete and a really good wheelbarrow.

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message13

• Message 14

  , in reply to message 13.

  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Wednesday, 14th July 2010

  jane,
  
  Unless you have a friend called Tarzan to help with the drill, I would suggest getting a contractor in. Using the figures quoted earlier, you may well have two big truckloads of waste to get rid of, which would be a heck of a lot of work. As with any task you should think in terms of the machine matching the size of the job. Once you start asking around and getting quotes you will see what's a reasonable cost.
  
  By the way, before you start, check whether any gas, water, electricity or sewer runs under the drive. You could have a bit of a surprise finding one of these by accident!
  
  Joe

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message14

• Message 15

  , in reply to message 14.

  Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Wednesday, 14th July 2010

  By the way, before you start, check whether any gas, water, electricity or sewer runs under the drive. You could have a bit of a surprise finding one of these by accident! 
  
  Good point! How would I find this out before digging it up though?

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message15

• Message 16

  , in reply to message 15.

  Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Wednesday, 14th July 2010

  Have a look at the two latest gardens, posted by Cazzzz and Salino, on the July gardens photos thread.
  
  I couldn't see any grass in either garden. Just large areas of paving, and some soil.
  
  Another option for you would be to keep the drive, and get rid of most of the grass, and do something along the lines of those two gardens.

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message16

• Message 17

  , in reply to message 15.

  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Sunday, 18th July 2010

  jane,
  
  You should be able to find out from the providers, from the council, by doing some detective work - looking at manholes, stop tap covers and so on - seeing which direction things appear to be entering the house from,

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message17

• Message 18

  , in reply to message 17.

  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Sunday, 18th July 2010

  Neighbours can also be a useful, but not infallible, source of information. How about the previous owners? Also, have you checked the deeds?
  
  Joe

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message18

• Message 19

  , in reply to message 18.

  Posted by Gem (U13964749) on Wednesday, 21st July 2010

  Hi Jane.
  
  How about doing a what we did with an area of unwanted concrete
  
  
  
  We built it out of decking boards 2 deep and filled with 1 ton of top soil. I am using it to grow veg, and allright you couldn't do anything with a deep root, but I have some lovely carrots/squash and some french beans on the arch.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please don't look at the grass !!
  
  gem

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message19

• Message 20

  , in reply to message 19.

  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Wednesday, 21st July 2010

  Your grass looks like mine Gem!

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message20

• Message 21

  , in reply to message 17.

  Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  There are no pipes under the driveway, according to the plans we got with our Home Information Pack. There is an inch thick electric cable, but my other can't see that being a big problem as it sticks out of the drive.
  
  I should give you all an update on the situation. The concrete driveway is roughly 4 inches thick and luckily left a strip in the middle and just filled it with stones.
  
  This picture would explain it slightly better...
  
  I got a guy round from a driveway company (we want to park our car on the front garden anyway, so thought I would ask for a quote on how much it would cost for him to do it), he quoted £1000 to remove it.
  
  Felt very disheartened by it, until my other half gave me a hug and said "we will do it ourselves!"
  
  We plan to hire a Kango sometime later this month and dig the lot up.
  
  But first I need to find a home for all these stones they used in the driveway, any suggestions?

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message21

• Message 22

  , in reply to message 21.

  Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  Forgot to add the picture
  
  

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message22

• Message 23

  , in reply to message 22.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  If you are planning to plant perennials/shrubs you could use a horticutural permeable membrane to suppress weeds between the plants and use the stones as a mulch over the top.
  Good luck with the project!

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message23

• Message 24

  , in reply to message 22.

  Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  Hi Jane, the photo is a big help. I notice you have a fence alongside the drive. I would be very temped to leave a strip of concrete for maintainance of the fence and then you'd have less to get rid of. You wouldn't see it with planting in front of it and you could plant something to grow on the fence if you dig a hole in the concrete.
  Try advertising the concrete free to a good home. Landscapers are often after some rubble/hardcore.
  Sue

  Link to this forum: Help! Large Amount Of Concrete! Ideas On Removal

  Report message24

Back to top