Concrete Demolition in Palm Beach County, Florida
Professional concrete demolition and removal services throughout Palm Beach County and surrounding South Florida areas. Thum Co. Contractors breaks and removes concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios, foundations, parking lots, and slabs using hydraulic breakers, concrete processors, and specialized equipment designed for efficient concrete removal.
Our concrete demolition team serves West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, and surrounding areas. We handle everything from small residential driveway removal to large commercial parking lot demolition, properly disposing of all concrete debris.
Call (561) 366-2050 for a free concrete demolition estimate in Palm Beach County.
Concrete Structures We Demolish
Driveway Demolition and Removal
Complete concrete driveway removal for residential and commercial properties throughout Palm Beach County. We break up driveways into manageable pieces, separate rebar from concrete, load debris, and haul to recycling or disposal facilities.
Driveway demolition prepares properties for new driveway installation, landscaping changes, or property modifications. We excavate the complete driveway including base material when necessary, leaving the area ready for new construction or grading.
Sidewalk and Walkway Removal
Demolition of concrete sidewalks, walkways, and pathways. Sidewalk removal requires precision near buildings, landscaping, and property lines. We break and remove concrete while protecting adjacent structures and features.
Municipalities and property owners throughout Palm Beach County remove damaged or deteriorating sidewalks for replacement. We handle residential walkway removal and larger commercial sidewalk projects.
Patio and Slab Demolition
Concrete patio and slab removal for residential properties. We demolish backyard patios, pool decks, shed slabs, and other flat concrete work, hauling all debris off-site and grading areas for new use.
Patio demolition often occurs during landscape renovations, pool installations, or outdoor living space reconfigurations. Our equipment accesses backyards and tight residential spaces throughout South Florida.
Parking Lot Demolition
Large-scale parking lot and pavement removal for commercial properties. Parking lot demolition involves breaking thick reinforced concrete, removing significant debris volumes, and preparing sites for reconstruction or alternative uses.
Commercial parking lots throughout Palm Beach County deteriorate over time, developing cracks, settling, and drainage problems. Complete removal and reconstruction becomes necessary when repairs no longer suffice.
Foundation Demolition
Breaking and removing building foundations, footings, and below-grade concrete structures. Foundation demolition requires excavation around concrete elements, breaking them into removable pieces, and hauling debris from excavations.
We remove foundations after building demolition, excavate old foundations discovered during site work, and clear foundation remnants from properties throughout Palm Beach County.
Concrete Retaining Wall Removal
Demolition of concrete and concrete block retaining walls. Wall removal requires understanding soil retention issues—we don’t just knock walls down, we assess whether temporary shoring is needed and coordinate proper backfill after removal.
Failing or unwanted retaining walls get removed throughout South Florida for landscape changes, new construction, or drainage improvements. We handle wall demolition while managing the soil retention and grading implications.
Concrete Demolition Methods and Equipment
Hydraulic Breakers
Excavator-mounted hydraulic breakers (commonly called jackhammers or hammers) break concrete efficiently. Different breaker sizes handle various concrete thicknesses and reinforcement levels. We select appropriate breaker sizes for each project throughout Palm Beach County.
Breakers fragment concrete into pieces our excavators can handle and load. This is the most common method for driveways, slabs, sidewalks, and most concrete demolition projects.
Concrete Processors
Hydraulic concrete processors (crushers) mounted on excavators both break concrete and separate rebar in one operation. Processors are more efficient than breakers for heavily reinforced concrete or large-volume projects.
We use processors for parking lots, heavy foundations, and projects with significant rebar. The crushing jaws pulverize concrete while grabbing and removing reinforcement steel.
Saw Cutting
Concrete saws create controlled cuts for partial removal, creating clean edges, or cutting concrete into specific sections before breaking. We use saws when precision matters—removing sections adjacent to structures that remain or creating clean transitions.
Saw cutting produces less vibration than breaking, making it preferable near sensitive structures or when partial concrete removal requires precise edges.
Hand Breaking
Small areas, tight access, or situations requiring minimal vibration sometimes need hand-held electric or pneumatic jackhammers. We use hand tools when excavator access isn’t possible or when working in confined spaces throughout Palm Beach County.
Concrete Recycling and Disposal
Crushing and Recycling
Most concrete demolition debris gets recycled. We haul concrete to crushing facilities where it becomes road base, aggregate for new concrete, or fill material. Recycling reduces landfill waste and disposal costs.
Clean concrete (free of contaminants, excessive dirt, or trash) has the highest recycling value. We separate concrete from other demolition debris when practical to maximize recycling.
Rebar and Metal Recovery
Steel reinforcement (rebar), wire mesh, and metal embedded in concrete gets separated during processing. Metal goes to scrap recyclers, providing additional recovery value from demolition projects.
Proper Disposal
Contaminated concrete or material unsuitable for recycling goes to approved construction and demolition landfills. We maintain proper disposal documentation for permit requirements and environmental compliance.
Considerations for Concrete Demolition
Reinforcement Assessment
Understanding reinforcement levels affects demolition approach and timeline. Lightly reinforced residential driveways break faster than heavily reinforced commercial slabs. We assess reinforcement to plan equipment and estimate timelines accurately.
Access and Logistics
Concrete is heavy—debris volume and weight affect hauling requirements. Tight access limits equipment size. We evaluate access before starting to ensure we can remove debris efficiently from Palm Beach County properties.
Adjacent Structure Protection
Breaking concrete creates vibration. We assess structures near demolition areas and adjust methods when necessary to prevent damage. Saw cutting, smaller breakers, or hand tools reduce vibration near sensitive structures.
Underground Utilities
Concrete often covers or sits near underground utilities. We call Florida 811 before excavation, locate utilities before breaking concrete, and work carefully to avoid damaging buried infrastructure throughout Palm Beach County.
Dust Control
Breaking concrete creates dust. We use water spray during demolition to suppress dust, especially important in residential areas or near occupied buildings throughout South Florida.
Demolition and Replacement Projects
Many concrete demolition projects lead directly to replacement:
Driveway Replacement We demolish old driveways then handle excavation and new concrete installation for complete driveway replacement.
Parking Lot Reconstruction Commercial parking lot projects involve demolition, site grading, drainage improvements, and new pavement installation. Single contractor handling all phases streamlines scheduling.
Foundation Modifications Removing old foundations and installing new ones for additions, remodels, or changed building footprints. We coordinate demolition with new foundation construction.
Permits and Regulations
Small residential concrete demolition often doesn’t require permits. Large projects, work in public rights-of-way, or demolition connected to building permits may require approval from Palm Beach County or local municipalities.
We advise whether permits are needed based on project scope and location. When required, we handle permit applications as part of our service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does concrete demolition cost? Concrete demo costs vary based on concrete thickness, reinforcement levels, area size, and access conditions. Residential driveways typically range $800-$3,000. Large commercial parking lots require detailed estimates. Contact us at (561) 366-2050 for a specific quote.
How long does concrete demolition take? Small residential driveways typically take 1 day. Large parking lots or extensive concrete removal may take several days. Timeline depends on concrete area, thickness, reinforcement, and debris hauling logistics.
What happens to demolished concrete? Most concrete gets hauled to crushing facilities for recycling into road base or aggregate. Clean concrete has high recycling value. Contaminated material goes to approved disposal facilities. We handle all debris removal from Palm Beach County properties.
Can you remove just part of a concrete slab? Yes, we perform partial concrete removal using saw cutting to create clean edges where concrete remains. This works for removing sections while preserving other areas.
Do you repair damage to surrounding areas? We protect landscaping, adjacent surfaces, and structures during demolition. Any damage caused by our work gets repaired as part of the project.
How do you prevent damaging underground utilities? We call Florida 811 before work begins to mark underground utilities. We work carefully around marked lines and use hand excavation near utilities when necessary to prevent damage.
Can you demolish concrete and pour new at the same time? Yes, many projects involve removing old concrete then handling excavation and new concrete installation. Single contractor managing both phases eliminates scheduling gaps.
Do you work in occupied areas? Yes, we demolish concrete in occupied residential neighborhoods and active commercial areas. We implement dust control, maintain access, and work efficiently to minimize disruption throughout Palm Beach County.
Related Services
Concrete demolition often connects with additional services:
- Excavation & Site Work – Site preparation and grading
- Concrete Construction – New concrete installation
- Demolition Contractor – Complete structure removal
Get Your Concrete Demolition Estimate
Ready to remove concrete in Palm Beach County? Contact Thum Co. Contractors for a professional concrete demolition estimate.
Call (561) 366-2050 for concrete demolition services.
Thum Co. Contractors 468 Tall Pines Rd. West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Licensed building contractors providing concrete demolition services throughout Palm Beach County and surrounding South Florida areas since 2017.