Will a breaker from hire shop help with this?

curium · 13 Jun 2021

Hi

I need to replace a run of fencing in my garden that the previous owner neglected.

A lot of the concrete posts suffered from concrete cancer and have to be replaced.

At some point next door built and extension right up to the fence. I now need to remove this fence post so that I can replace it which will allow my run to finish in a complete panel and will cover up the awful brick work that has been done on their extension.

I've been attacking it with a Titan SDS drill and an angle-grinder plus bolster hammer and chisel.

My strategy has been to score it with the grinder and then attack with the SDS drill/chisel. Rinse, repeat.

Very slow progress and it is taking its toll on my body.

I'm thinking of hiring something big for the day, tomorrow.

Here is a picture - will a proper breaker make quick work of this?

View media item 106659
Cheers!

Nige F · 13 Jun 2021

curium · 13 Jun 2021

I appreciate the quick reply.

As a DIYer it'd be great if you could offer a bit more detail. I'm thinking of grabbing a Mac Allister breaker from screwfix to get started on this.

Bodgedbuild · 13 Jun 2021

curium said:
I appreciate the quick reply.

As a DIYer it'd be great if you could offer a bit more detail. I'm thinking of grabbing a Mac Allister breaker from screwfix to get started on this.

I'd go for the cheap Screwfix one. I needed a breaker on a Saturday afternoon, having met my match and underestimating the thickness and strength of the concrete of my kitchen floor, I couldn't get a hire one late in the day so popped into Aldi for a sandwich. Incredibly they had a 1500w breaker on their cheap power tools section for £79,99. I bought it, used it to break up my kitchen floor and break up part of my driveway too. It went through it like a knife through butter and I still have it for any jobs my mini-breaker can't get through!

Tigercubrider · 13 Jun 2021

A bit late probably but an easy way is to ignore the old concrete below the ground and offset the new posts compared to the old.
Also to retain as much of the old post as a lever to aid removal.

You could find an alternative method of securing the fence to hide the wall

noseall · 14 Jun 2021

curium said:
Here is a picture - will a proper breaker make quick work of this?

It will but...your biggest gripe will be getting the breaker tool trapped as you penetrate downwards. Also, it is a pig and requires a fair bit of breaking nous to not just punch pointless downward holes and actually break the concrete. The difficulty is keeping the tool from slipping off or getting trapped and keeping the hole clear of debris so that you can see what you are doing.

Don't be tempted to keep punching downward, ending up with the machine wedged and the tool trapped and no broken conc'. It takes effort and a bit of skill whilst listening to the percussive noises as the concrete begins to weaken.

curium · 15 Jun 2021

noseall said:
It will but...your biggest gripe will be getting the breaker tool trapped as you penetrate downwards. Also, it is a pig and requires a fair bit of breaking nous to not just punch pointless downward holes and actually break the concrete. The difficulty is keeping the tool from slipping off or getting trapped and keeping the hole clear of debris so that you can see what you are doing.

Don't be tempted to keep punching downward, ending up with the machine wedged and the tool trapped and no broken conc'. It takes effort and a bit of skill whilst listening to the percussive noises as the concrete begins to weaken.

I have discovered just what a pig it is!

curium · 22 Jun 2021

Hi All

I thought I'd update to say that the breaker was money well spent and that I've removed the old concrete post.

View media item 106671
I'm considering using shuttering to isolate the replacement post from the wall. Once the concrete has gone off, remove the shuttering and backfill with ballast. How does that sound?

Cheers

mikeey84 · 22 Jun 2021

I'd say that just gravel would be better.

The sand in ballast will hold water, so clean stone would be a better choice

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Will a breaker from hire shop help with this?

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