How to Remove and Replace a Concrete Driveway (DIY Demolition Guide)

By the team at Beehive Rental & Sales — Serving Southern Utah's contractors and homeowners since 1994.

A cracked, heaving, or crumbling concrete driveway is more than an eyesore — it is a tripping hazard, a hit to your property value, and a problem that only gets worse with time. Removing and replacing a concrete driveway is one of the most impactful home improvement projects you can take on, and with the right equipment, it is a project most homeowners can handle over a long weekend.

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Quick Answer: To remove a concrete driveway, rent a jackhammer and concrete saw from BeeHive Rental & Sales, saw control joints at the edges, break the slab into manageable sections, pry up pieces, and haul debris in a dump trailer. DIY removal costs $1-$3 per square foot versus $3-$8/sq ft for professional demolition. Call (435) 628-6663 for demolition equipment availability.

Key Takeaways

• •Assess your slab first — Older St. George driveways may be only 3 inches thick without rebar, while newer subdivision driveways are typically 4-6 inches thick with wire mesh or rebar
• •A concrete saw and jackhammer are the essential rental duo — The saw creates clean edges and control lines; the jackhammer breaks the slab into removable pieces
• •Work in sections — Break concrete into 50-100 lb pieces that you can lift safely, and load into a dump trailer as you go
• •Disposal matters — Several St. George area locations accept clean concrete, some for free if you self-haul
• •Browse demolition equipment and dump trailers at BeeHive Rental & Sales

Assessing Your Driveway Before Demolition

Not all concrete driveways are created equal. The age, thickness, and reinforcement of your slab determine which equipment you need and how long the project will take.

What to Look For

Slab thickness. Break a small corner piece or look at the exposed edge where the driveway meets the garage floor. Typical residential driveways range from 3 to 6 inches thick.

Reinforcement. Older driveways (pre-1990) in the original St. George neighborhoods may have no reinforcement at all, while newer construction in areas like Little Valley, Desert Hills, and SunRiver typically has wire mesh or rebar. Rebar significantly increases demolition difficulty — you will need bolt cutters or a reciprocating saw with a metal-cutting blade.

Sub-base condition. Look under a corner piece to see what is beneath. A proper sub-base has 4-6 inches of compacted gravel. Some older St. George driveways were poured directly on native soil, which means the sub-base will need rebuilding before replacement.

Utilities. Driveways sometimes have electrical conduit, drain lines, or irrigation pipe running underneath. Check with the homebuilder's records if available, and call 811 for a utility locate.

Driveway Assessment Guide

Equipment You Will Need

Essential Rental Equipment

• •Demolition hammer / jackhammer (electric or pneumatic) — The primary demolition tool. Electric models are easier to operate; pneumatic models hit harder for thick or reinforced slabs.
• •Concrete saw (walk-behind or handheld) — For scoring clean edges along the perimeter, garage slab transition, and internal control lines.
• •Dump trailer — For hauling broken concrete to a disposal site. A 7,000-lb capacity dump trailer handles most residential driveways in 1-3 loads.

Optional but Helpful Equipment

• •Mini excavator — For lifting and loading heavy slab sections, especially useful for reinforced concrete. The thumb attachment grabs broken pieces efficiently.
• •Skid steer with bucket — Alternative to the mini excavator for loading and cleanup. Excellent for scraping the sub-base smooth after removal.
• •Pry bar (5-6 ft) — For levering broken sections up and flipping them toward the trailer for loading.

Hand Tools and Safety Gear

• •Bolt cutters or reciprocating saw with metal blade — For cutting rebar and wire mesh
• •Flat-blade shovel — For cleaning edges and digging under slab sections
• •Wheelbarrow — For moving smaller pieces
• •Heavy-duty work gloves — Concrete edges are sharp
• •Steel-toed boots — Non-negotiable
• •Safety glasses and ear protection — Jackhammers are loud and throw debris
• •Dust mask or N95 respirator — Concrete dust is a silica hazard
• •Knee pads — You will be kneeling frequently

Step-by-Step: Concrete Driveway Removal

Step 1: Prepare the Work Area

• •Move all vehicles, planters, and obstacles clear of the driveway
• •Lay plywood or protective material along the garage interior edge
• •Run a garden hose to the work area — water controls dust significantly
• •Set up your dump trailer as close to the driveway as possible to minimize carrying distance
• •Alert your neighbors — this will be loud

Step 2: Saw Clean Edges

Use the concrete saw to cut clean lines along:

• •The perimeter where the driveway meets sidewalk, garage floor, or other concrete you are keeping
• •The driveway-to-street transition (the apron)
• •Internal division lines if you are only removing a portion

Set the saw depth to match the slab thickness or slightly less. A clean saw cut prevents the demolition from running into adjacent concrete you want to preserve.

When to use a diamond saw versus jackhammer: The concrete saw creates precision cuts at boundaries. The jackhammer handles everything else. Use the saw wherever the driveway meets concrete you are keeping (garage floor, sidewalks, front steps). Never rely on a jackhammer alone for boundary cuts — it will crack beyond where you want to stop.

Step 3: Break Concrete with the Jackhammer

Start at one corner or edge, not the center. Working from an exposed edge gives the concrete somewhere to break toward.

Jackhammer technique:

1. •Position the chisel point at the edge of the slab
2. •Work in a line 12-18 inches from the edge, breaking a strip at a time
3. •Let the jackhammer's weight do the work — do not force it downward
4. •Break pieces into 50-100 lb chunks (roughly 18x18 inches for a 4-inch slab)
5. •Clear broken pieces as you go to maintain working room
6. •Take breaks every 20-30 minutes — jackhammer vibration causes fatigue quickly

Working pattern: Progress across the driveway in rows, breaking one 18-inch strip at a time. Work toward the dump trailer so you are always loading the nearest pieces first.

Step 4: Deal with Reinforcement

If you hit wire mesh or rebar:

• •Wire mesh: Break the concrete around it, then fold the mesh back and cut with bolt cutters. Wire mesh usually comes up with the concrete in sheets.
• •Rebar: Break concrete on both sides of the bar, then cut the rebar with a reciprocating saw or bolt cutters. Work the concrete free of the rebar rather than trying to break it with the rebar still embedded.

Step 5: Pry Up and Load Sections

For sections that break free but are too heavy to lift by hand:

1. •Drive the pry bar under the slab section
2. •Lever the piece up onto its edge
3. •Walk it toward the trailer using the pry bar
4. •If you rented a mini excavator, use the thumb attachment to grab pieces and place them directly in the trailer

Loading tip from BeeHive Rental's equipment team: A mini excavator with a thumb attachment turns a two-day manual loading job into a half-day task. If your driveway is over 400 square feet or has rebar, seriously consider adding the mini excavator to your rental. Call BeeHive at (435) 628-6663 for package pricing on demo hammer plus excavator.

Step 6: Clean and Sweep the Sub-Base

After all concrete is removed:

1. •Remove any remaining rebar, mesh, or concrete crumbs
2. •Scrape the sub-base smooth with a flat shovel or skid steer bucket
3. •Inspect the sub-base material and depth
4. •Note any low spots, utility lines, or drainage issues

Step 7: Assess Sub-Base Condition

Before you can pour a new driveway, the sub-base needs to be right:

• •Good sub-base: 4-6 inches of compacted gravel, relatively level, no soft spots. May only need re-grading and compaction.
• •Poor sub-base: Native soil, uneven, soft spots, old tree roots. Needs excavation to 6 inches below finished grade, new gravel fill, and compaction.

A plate compactor (also available at BeeHive Rental) handles sub-base compaction. Compact in 2-inch lifts for best results.

Concrete Disposal in the St. George Area

You need somewhere to take the broken concrete. Here are options in the Southern Utah area:

Disposal Options

• •Washington County Landfill (Dixie Dump) — Accepts concrete. Fees by weight.
• •Concrete recycling facilities — Check locally for operations that accept clean concrete for crushing. Recycled concrete becomes road base and fill material.
• •Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace — Post "free broken concrete" and you may find takers who want it for retaining walls, fill, or landscape borders. Many St. George landscaping projects use broken concrete as rustic garden borders.
• •On-site reuse — If you have low spots on your property, clean broken concrete makes excellent fill beneath areas that will receive gravel or soil cover.

Important: Concrete with rebar must have the rebar removed or be taken to a facility that accepts reinforced concrete. Most recyclers want clean concrete only.

Estimating Disposal Volume

A standard two-car driveway (400 sq ft at 4 inches thick) generates approximately 5 cubic yards of broken concrete, weighing roughly 10,000-12,000 pounds. That is 2-3 dump trailer loads with a standard 7,000 lb capacity trailer.

Cost Breakdown: DIY vs. Professional Removal

DIY Removal Cost (400 sq ft Driveway)

Professional Removal Cost

The DIY approach saves 50-70% on the removal phase. For a complete driveway replacement (removal + new pour), the savings on the removal side frees up budget for a thicker slab or better finish on the new driveway.

Safety Considerations

Concrete demolition is one of the more physically demanding rental equipment projects. Take these precautions seriously:

• •Silica dust is a lung hazard. Wet-cut with the concrete saw and periodically spray water on broken concrete during jackhammer work. Wear an N95 or P100 respirator.
• •Flying debris. Concrete shards go airborne during demolition. Clear bystanders and pets. Wear safety glasses at all times.
• •Jackhammer vibration. Anti-vibration gloves help, but the best strategy is frequent breaks — 20-30 minutes on, 10 minutes off.
• •Back injuries. Lift with your legs. Use mechanical advantage (pry bars, the mini excavator) whenever possible. Broken concrete is deceptively heavy.
• •Electrical hazard. If using an electric jackhammer, run it on a GFCI-protected circuit and keep cords away from water.

FAQ

How long does it take to remove a concrete driveway?

A two-car driveway (approximately 400 square feet) at 4 inches thick takes most homeowners 1-2 full days with a jackhammer and pry bar. Adding a mini excavator for loading can cut the job to one full day. Thicker slabs and reinforced concrete add significant time. Plan for a full weekend project including cleanup and disposal.

Can I remove a concrete driveway with just a jackhammer?

Yes, a jackhammer alone can break and remove a concrete driveway, but adding a concrete saw for clean edge cuts is strongly recommended. Without saw cuts at the boundary, jackhammer cracks will run unpredictably into sidewalks, garage floors, and other concrete you want to keep. The saw rental pays for itself in preventing damage.

How much does it cost to remove a concrete driveway in St. George?

DIY concrete driveway removal in St. George costs approximately $1-$3 per square foot when you rent equipment from BeeHive Rental & Sales. A typical two-car driveway runs $400-$1,200 for equipment rental, disposal, and supplies. Professional removal averages $3-$8 per square foot, or $1,200-$3,200 for the same driveway.

What should I do with broken concrete after removal?

Broken concrete can be taken to the Washington County landfill, delivered to a concrete recycling facility, offered free for pickup on local classifieds, or reused as fill material on your own property. Clean concrete without rebar has the most disposal options. Expect 2-3 dump trailer loads for a standard two-car driveway.

Do I need a permit to remove my driveway in St. George?

Removing an existing driveway typically does not require a permit. However, pouring the replacement driveway does require a permit in St. George, especially for the approach apron that connects to the public street. Check with the City of St. George Building Department at (435) 627-4830 before starting the replacement pour.

Your driveway demolition project starts with the right equipment. BeeHive Rental & Sales has jackhammers, concrete saws, mini excavators, and dump trailers — everything you need to take out old concrete and prepare for a fresh pour. Stop by 1175 Highland Drive in St. George, call (435) 628-6663, or check equipment availability online to plan your driveway removal.