I'm looking advice on removing a large raised patio approx 19ft by 11ft it was raised at the front to level with the house as garden ran in a downward slope, the garden before had an old pavement so this is still there quarry dust was put on top of the old pavement and was wet to compact b4 laying new slabs how difficult will it be to remove the quarry dust will it be impossible to do by hand due to compaction and size is this best left to professionals and if so how much could I expect to pay for that size thank you
Removing patio
- Thread starter jay#
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Organise a BBQ on the provision that this job is done first.
10 people will make mince of that in a couple of hours.
10 people will make mince of that in a couple of hours.
Or maybe just plan on doing an hour or so here or there, depends if you're in a rush or not.
There wouldn't be a rush but I'm a female and I don't mind hard work I would be willing to have a go and I have an adult son and 2 Nephews with no experience but they would give it a go for sure, I just wouldn't want to start it then the quarry dust underneath is to hard to remove but it is quite large and I have posted on a few places to get quotes on having it removed with only one person getting back to me so not sure if the size is putting others of is it landscapers I should be asking or what profession the person that got back to me is one that fits patios I'm just worried he might not take the job due to the size
Hire a micro digger from Travis Perkins and speed your job along. Their JCB Micro 08T is only 700mm wide for moving through narrow gateways and when in running mode 865mm. We have one in my family and it paid for itself in a relatively short time. An excellent purchase 
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It's not going to be "easy", because it's hard physical labour [from your description].
If you can't afford to hire a mini digger, you could hire a breaker.
Small electric breakers start in the low hundreds new, obviously cheaper used on eBay.
If you can't afford a labour-saving tool then you need to use more labour.
I got a massive wrecking bar [about 1.2m] for less than £30. I use this in the garden to break up rubble in the soil when planting trees, putting in posts, etc. I reckon you could use one but it would take ages.
None if us would have experience of using a mini digger I don't mind paying for tools if it got the job done but again have little experience of using powered tools so this is why I was considering hiring someone I'm guessing I will be a few thousand to remove though
Hiring a man & machine won't be low cost, but if he has to cart away the spoil to landfill, then considerably more.
Most driveway contractors seem to have their own mini digger, so trawl your local adverts for a small driveway business.
I've even seen ads such as "Man with digger, day rates available" on a local builder's merchants trade counter advert board.
Most driveway contractors seem to have their own mini digger, so trawl your local adverts for a small driveway business.
I've even seen ads such as "Man with digger, day rates available" on a local builder's merchants trade counter advert board.
Yes, unfortunately this time of year too many house owners are looking to have their hard standing replaced, or at least in my area they are. In a few months' time, there will be less work around and more contractors seeking cash-in-hand work.
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