DIY tips from Chris Farr: No. 6 Taking up a patio

Taking out a concrete patio is a pretty straightforward task that is done pretty much the way you might guess: by breaking up the patio with an electric breaker and moving away the debris. Electric breakers of all sizes can be rented at Ultra Quick Hire, and aren't as hard to use as they look. Discarding the old concrete, on the other hand, can be an issue. Make sure to rent a skip when planning your project.

Instructions

1. Put on your boots, jeans, long-sleeve shirt, canvas gloves and goggles.

2. Start at one corner of the patio, setting the tip of the breaker about six inches from the edge, out in front of you at a slight angle. Plant your feet firmly on the ground, away from the bit.

3. Squeeze the breaker’s trigger on the handle. As the breaker starts working, keep steady downward pressure on the handle, keeping the tip pressed to the cement. Don't try to force it down into the surface, but rather keep it steady and prevent bouncing so that it works its way down through its own motion.

4. As chunks of the concrete start to come off, move inward on the patio. Each time the breaker gets all the way down through the patio and hits soft dirt or gravel underneath, raise it and put it on the surface at the next spot. Don't try to remove more than about eight or ten inches at a time. Stop every few minutes to pick up the broken chunks and put them in the wheelbarrow.

5. Empty the wheelbarrow into the skip each time it gets full. Once you have all the concrete out and in the skip, go over the patio area with your rake to smooth it out and pick up any stray concrete chunks.

Tips & Warnings

Debris can fly everywhere when you use an electric breaker. Don't remove your safety goggles at any point, and don't let anyone else wander near your work area.

Chris Farr is manager at the Maidenhead Tool Hire Shop

Tel : 01628 638242 Email : chris@ultraquickhire.co.uk

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