Concrete Demolition in Lakeland Florida
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Concrete Demolition in Lakeland, FL
The short answer
We break up and haul away driveways, patios, sidewalks, pool decks, and slabs across Lakeland and Polk County. Our crew brings the equipment, does the demolition, loads the debris, and leaves the site clean. Every job starts with a free on-site estimate. Call (863) 412-5036.
Demolition or Dumpster Rental: Which Do You Need?
| Concrete demolition | Dumpster rental | |
|---|---|---|
| Who breaks the concrete | Our crew | You or your contractor |
| Equipment | We bring it | You supply it |
| Who loads the debris | Our crew | You |
| Price | Free on-site estimate | From $335 per load |
| Best for | Thick slabs, foundations, tight deadlines | Small slabs and crews with their own tools |
The Equipment We Use
Concrete is thick, heavy, and often reinforced with rebar. The right tool makes the job faster and safer.
Hydraulic breaker on a skid steerDriveways, slabs, and open areas. The fastest method for most jobs.
Concrete sawClean cuts near the house, landscaping, or the part of a slab you are keeping. Also cuts rebar.
JackhammerSmall jobs and tight spaces where larger equipment cannot reach.
ExcavatorFoundations and deep slabs that need heavy lifting.
What We Remove
Driveways
Florida heat, heavy rain, and tree roots crack and lift driveways over time. A 4 inch slab weighs about 50 pounds per square foot, so a 400 square foot two car driveway is about 10 tons of concrete. Older driveways are sometimes thicker than expected, which we check during the estimate.
Patios and Pool Decks
Most patios are 4 inches thick. Pool decks need extra care around the coping and tile, so we section off the work area and cut where the deck meets the pool.
Sidewalks
Sidewalks are usually 4 inches thick and poured in sections. We break along the control joints and remove each section. City sidewalks may need approval before replacement.
Foundations and Slabs
Residential foundations commonly run 6 to 12 inches thick with rebar throughout. This is the heaviest work we do, and it needs a building permit. See our demolition debris removal page for full structure projects.
Concrete Thickness and Weight
| Type | Typical thickness | Weight per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk | 4 inches | About 50 lbs |
| Driveway, patio, pool deck | 4 to 6 inches | 50 to 75 lbs |
| Home foundation slab | 6 to 12 inches | 75 to 150 lbs |
| Commercial foundation | 12 to 24 inches | 150 to 300 lbs |
Weights are based on 150 pounds per cubic foot of concrete. Rebar adds more.
What Affects Your Price
ThicknessA 4 inch slab comes out far faster than 12 inches of reinforced concrete.
RebarHeavy rebar means more saw cutting and more labor.
Site accessEquipment that can drive right up to the slab makes for a faster job than a narrow side gate.
SurroundingsWorking near AC units, landscaping, and trees takes more care and time.
We give you a written estimate after we see the job in person.
How a Concrete Demolition Job Works
- Free estimate: we measure the concrete, check the thickness, and look at site access.
- Utility locates: Florida law requires a call to Sunshine 811 before digging, so underground lines get marked before work starts.
- Dust control: we wet the concrete while cutting and breaking it. Water keeps down the fine silica dust that dry concrete work throws into the air.
- Removal: we break the concrete, cut the rebar, and load the debris as we go.
- Cleanup: the debris is hauled away and the site is left clean and ready for new concrete, pavers, or landscaping.
Florida Conditions That Crack Concrete
Heat cyclesHot days and fast afternoon storms make concrete expand and contract over and over, which opens cracks.
Rain and washoutWater that gets under a slab can wash out the base, so the concrete settles and cracks.
Tree rootsOak roots push slabs up from below. They may need grinding before a new pour.
Limestone voidsCentral Florida sits on limestone, and removing a slab sometimes reveals a void underneath. We will show you before anything new goes in.
Permits for Concrete Removal
The Florida Building Code requires a permit to demolish a building, so foundation removal needs one. Work in the public right-of-way, like a city sidewalk or the driveway apron at the street, may need city approval. Inside Lakeland city limits, call Building Inspection at 863-834-6012. Outside city limits, call Polk County Building at (863) 534-6080. We will tell you what your project needs during the estimate.
Where the Concrete Goes
We haul clean concrete to a recycling facility. There it is crushed into aggregate, which is reused as road base and in new construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does concrete demolition cost in Lakeland?
Every job is priced after a free on-site estimate, because thickness, rebar, and site access change the work a lot. A 4 inch patio and a 12 inch reinforced foundation are very different jobs. Call (863) 412-5036 to set up your estimate.
How long does concrete removal take?
Most driveways, patios, and sidewalks take part of a day once work starts. Thick or heavily reinforced slabs and foundations can take longer. You get a timeline with your estimate.
Do I need a permit to remove concrete in Lakeland?
Demolishing part of a building, like a foundation, needs a building permit under the Florida Building Code. Work in the public right-of-way, like a city sidewalk or driveway apron, may need city approval too. Inside Lakeland city limits, Building Inspection is at 863-834-6012. Outside city limits, Polk County Building is at (863) 534-6080. We will tell you what your job needs.
What happens to the concrete after you remove it?
We haul clean concrete to a recycling facility, where it is crushed into aggregate for road base and new construction.
Can you remove just part of my driveway or patio?
Yes. We can cut and remove a section, like a cracked panel or space for a new walkway, and leave the rest in place.
Should I hire you or just rent a dumpster?
If you can break the concrete yourself, renting a dumpster costs less. See our concrete disposal dumpster page and its weight calculator. If you want the equipment, labor, hauling, and cleanup handled for you, choose demolition.
Ready to get rid of that concrete? Book a free on-site estimate.
Call (863) 412-5036 Request an estimate