Concrete removal in Port Arthur
House slabs, driveways, footings and piers broken out, hauled away and filled. Send the address and local contractors quote you directly.
When a slab has to come out
After a teardown
A demolition crew can leave the slab in place. If you want it gone, the contract has to say so.
Rebuilding
A new house on a different footprint, or a builder who wants a clean start, needs the old slab and piers out.
Driveway replacement
Cracked, heaved or poorly drained concrete breaks out and gets replaced, or the ground behind it is regraded.
Selling the lot
Buyers often prefer a lot without a slab on it, especially if they plan to dig.
Footings and piers
Old foundations dug out before new utilities or a different layout go in.
Commercial lots
Parking, loading pads and warehouse floors are broken out for redevelopment.
How concrete comes out
The machine depends on the thickness, the rebar and how close the neighbors and buried lines are. Expect a mix of the following.
Excavator and hammer
A hydraulic hammer cracks the slab, and the bucket and thumb lift pieces into the truck. Rebar is separated as it comes up.
Skid steer, loader, dump trucks
For small slabs and tight spots. Loaders and trucks take broken concrete away, then bring fill back.
What moves the price
- Thickness and rebarA thin unreinforced driveway breaks up faster than a thick slab with steel in it.
- AreaSquare footage drives machine time and truckloads.
- Haul distanceWhere the concrete goes, and whether the site is close to a place that takes it.
- Fill and gradingFill dirt, compaction and leaving the surface level are often separate lines.
- AccessGates, fences, trees and neighbors decide the machine size and how much goes by hand.
Have these ready before quotes
- The addressSo contractors can see access and the haul distance.
- Approximate sizeLength and width, or the square footage if you know it.
- Thickness and rebarPhotograph any exposed edge or crack. A thickness measurement is a bonus.
- What staysThe driveway, a walk, steps, trees, a fence or a shed pad.
- Buried linesWhere gas, water, sewer, electric or irrigation run, if you know.
- What goes backFill, a graded lot, or a plan for a new pour.
- AccessGates, overhead wires and how close the neighbors are.
Buried lines, notices and permits
Check for buried lines
Gas, water, sewer, electric and irrigation lines can run under or beside a slab and driveway. Confirm the locations with the utilities before any ground is broken, and tell contractors what you know.
The DSHS notice
The DSHS notice rule covers demolition of buildings: DSHS must be notified at least 10 working days beforehand, even when no asbestos is present. Removing a slab by itself is a different job, so ask DSHS if you are unsure whether your work counts. DSHS asbestos notifications
City permit
Each city sets its own permit rules. In Port Arthur, ask the Building Inspections division whether your slab or driveway work needs one; we could not confirm a published permit type or fee.
Concrete removal questions
Can the driveway stay when the slab comes out?
Yes. Say what stays when you ask for quotes, and mark it if you can. A saw cut along the edge keeps the concrete you want from cracking when the rest is broken out.
Does slab removal need the DSHS notice?
The DSHS notice rule covers demolition of buildings. A slab left after a building is gone is a different case, and a slab under a building you are still demolishing is part of that job. If you are unsure, ask DSHS before you set a date.
What happens to the hole after the slab comes out?
It needs fill and compaction, or the lot will settle and hold water. Check whether each quote includes fill dirt, compaction and finish grading, because they are often separate lines.
Can I break up the slab myself?
Small patios and walks are a common do-it-yourself job. A house slab is a different scale, with rebar, buried lines and tons of debris to haul, so most owners get a quote first.
Does the price depend on the rebar?
Yes. Thickness, rebar or wire mesh, and how the concrete breaks all change the time on the machine. Tell contractors what you know and send photos of any exposed edge.
Ready to break it out?
Concrete and slab removal is already picked. Tell us the size, what stays and what goes back.
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