Slab and flatwork breakout
Concrete, Slab and Foundation Removal in Gilroy
Cracked driveways, heaved walks, old foundations, retaining walls and thick ag-building floors: across Gilroy we break it out, haul it, and send clean loads to be recycled.
Driveway and Patio Concrete Removal in Gilroy
Residential concrete in Gilroy takes a beating. The clay soils around town swell in the wet season and shrink in the summer, and tree roots push up slabs along driveways and walks. By the time a driveway is thirty or forty years old, it is often cracked into plates, heaved at the joints, and stained from years of parked cars.
We saw-cut a clean edge where the old concrete meets anything staying, such as the garage apron, a city sidewalk or a neighbor's driveway. Then we break the slab, load it, and dig out the old base if the new pour needs fresh rock. Patios, walks, steps and pool decks come out the same way.
Gilroy Foundation and Slab Removal After a Teardown
Once the walls are gone, the foundation is usually the slowest part of the job. Older farmhouses outside Gilroy often sit on shallow perimeter footings with piers inside, which break out quickly. Newer homes on the west side have post-tensioned or conventionally reinforced slabs, which take more breaking and produce a lot of concrete and steel.
Post-tensioned slabs need care. The cables inside are under high tension, and cutting into them carelessly is dangerous. We identify them first and de-tension or cut them in a controlled way before the hammer goes to work. Once the foundation is out, we backfill the footing trenches and compact the pad.
Ag and Warehouse Floor Removal in South County
Gilroy's farm economy left behind a lot of heavy concrete. Packing sheds, cold storage, processing buildings and equipment yards often have thick floors, loading docks, truck ramps and equipment pads set with anchor bolts. When those buildings are torn down or reused, the floors usually have to go, at least in part.
This is work for larger equipment, and most of these sites have room for it. We bring excavators with breakers, crush or load the concrete on site, and pull the steel for scrap. If a drain or sump in the floor collected oil, fuel or chemicals over the years, we flag it so you can have it assessed before we dig it out.
Retaining Walls, Footings and Concrete Recycling
Retaining walls along driveways and property lines, old block garden walls, and stem walls under porches all count as concrete removal. Walls holding back soil need a plan, since removing them can let the slope move. We work with your contractor or engineer when a wall is part of a grade change.
Nearly every clean load we pull ends up at a crushing yard and comes back as road base. Keeping it free of dirt, wood and trash makes that possible and keeps disposal costs lower. Cities enforce CALGreen construction waste diversion on permitted work, and concrete is one of the easiest materials to divert.
Concrete Removal Cost in Gilroy
Thickness and reinforcement matter most. A four-inch patio with no steel goes fast. A six-inch driveway with rebar, or a warehouse floor several times that thick, takes longer to break and fills more trucks. Square footage is the starting point, but what is inside the concrete changes the number.
After that, access and the base underneath come into play. Can a truck back up to the slab, or does the concrete have to be carted through a side yard? Does the old base stay or get dug out? Is there a sewer lateral or irrigation under the slab that has to be protected? We sort that out at the site visit.
What Our Concrete Removal Includes in Gilroy
Saw-Cutting Clean Concrete Edges
We saw-cut where removal stops so the remaining concrete has a straight, clean edge and is not cracked by breaking. That gives your new pour a solid joint to tie into.
Concrete Breaking and Loading
Hydraulic breakers on excavators or skid steers break the slab into pieces sized for loading and recycling. Steel from rebar and mesh is pulled out for the scrap pile.
Base Removal and Subgrade Prep
If the new concrete or paver job calls for it, we dig out old base rock and loose soil, then grade and compact the subgrade so your installer starts on firm, level ground.
Concrete Recycling and Haul-Off
Loads free of dirt and trash are crushed into aggregate instead of buried. Mixed loads are kept to a minimum, which keeps your disposal costs and the landfill share down.
Concrete Removal: Job Site Photos
Concrete and Foundation Removal Across Gilroy
Demolition FAQs
Gilroy Concrete Removal FAQ
Is a city permit required to tear out my driveway?
Usually not for concrete that sits entirely on your lot. Work that touches the city sidewalk, curb or driveway approach does need an encroachment permit from the city, and a replacement driveway may need its own permit. We check the details for your lot.
Can the concrete be recycled?
Yes. Clean concrete without dirt or trash mixed in is crushed into base rock. We keep loads clean on purpose so they can go to a recycler instead of a landfill.
How many days does a driveway tear-out take?
One to two days covers most home driveways, including saw-cutting, breaking, loading and base removal. Larger slabs, thick floors and tight access take longer.
Can you take out half a slab and keep the other half?
Yes. A saw-cut marks the stopping line, the section that is going gets broken out, and the part that stays is protected. Garage aprons and patio extensions are done this way all the time.
Will the equipment damage my lawn or landscaping?
We plan the route in and out to limit damage, use plywood or mats where needed, and pick machines sized for the job. Some disturbance along the path is unavoidable on soft ground.
Demolition quote
Price Your Gilroy Concrete Breakout
Use the form to note the type of concrete, about how much, and how a truck reaches it. A reply comes within 24 hours to book a time to measure.
- Permits
- Demolition
- Haul-off