Cairns Concrete Removal Contractors
Call (07) 4043 7499Concrete Removal in Cairns
Concrete removal in Cairns is the first step toward a fresh start for your property. Old, cracked or sunken concrete can be unsafe, unsightly and expensive to keep repairing. We break up, lift and remove driveways, paths, patios, slabs and other surfaces, then cart the material away so you have a clean, level site ready for new work, landscaping or building. We handle the heavy work so you can relax.
We choose the best method for each job, whether that means a compact machine for tight backyards or larger equipment for driveways and commercial sites. Where possible, we carefully protect surrounding fences, gardens, trees and structures. Because we can also pour the new concrete, you deal with one team from start to finish. Contact us today to talk about your concrete removal and arrange a quote for the whole job.
Concrete Removal Services in Cairns
Whole Driveway Breakout
Full driveways broken up and lifted out, including thickened edges and the mesh running through them. We usually work from the top of the slope down so trucks can keep loading from the street, and the old crossover can come out at the same time if you're replacing that too.
Carport and Shed Pads
Pads left behind after a carport, shed or water tank comes down are broken up and cleared, along with any old footings or bolts buried in them. That gives you a clean patch of ground for a new structure, a garden bed or simply more lawn.
Root-Lifted Path Sections
Figs, poincianas and other big tropical trees can heave paths and pads well out of level. We take out the raised sections, expose the roots responsible and talk you through trimming, barriers or rerouting the path before anything new goes down.
Under-House Slab Removal
Concrete laid under a raised Queenslander for laundries, storage or parking often cracks, or sits too high for a planned build-in. We break it out with hand tools and small breakers between the stumps, taking care around posts, plumbing and anything running overhead.
Pool Surround Breakout
Tired concrete around a pool taken out without the rubble ending up in the water. We cover the pool, cut the surround away from the coping and break it out in sections, leaving the area ready for pavers, a fresh pour or a new edge.
Partial and Panel Removal
Sometimes only one bay of a driveway or a few metres of path has failed. We saw cut back to the nearest joint and remove just the damaged panels, leaving sound concrete in place so the fix costs far less than replacing the lot.
Hire Concrete Removal Contractors in Cairns: Three Easy First Steps
Whether it is a cracked driveway, an old shed slab or a patio in the way of a renovation, removing concrete safely takes the right gear and planning. Pick whichever of these first steps suits you to get our Cairns removal crew started.
- Measure and snap a photo: Send a picture with rough dimensions and tell us if the slab contains mesh, so we can plan the right equipment and bins.
- Show us the access: During a site look we check gates, side passages and overhead lines, then work out how the rubble leaves the property.
- Bundle in the new pour: If something new is going down afterwards, ask us to quote the removal, base preparation and replacement concrete together.
We take care of breaking, loading and cartage, then sweep the area before leaving. Clean rubble goes to be crushed and recycled wherever that is an option. Narrow side passages and ground softened by rain are common on Cairns jobs, and we plan for both. Send us a message to book a no-obligation quote and get the space cleared.
What Sets Our Concrete Removal Team Apart in Cairns
Cause Identified Before Breakout
We look closely at what made the old slab fail before a breaker touches it. Clay movement, water pooling underneath, a thin base or no steel each leave telltale signs, and spotting them early stops the replacement going the same way.
Dust And Noise Kept In Check
Breaking concrete is loud, dusty work. We wet down as we cut and break to keep silica dust under control, stick to reasonable working hours, and tell you when the noisiest stages will happen so neighbours are not caught off guard.
Underground Services Located
Old slabs can sit over water pipes, stormwater, electrical cables and irrigation nobody recorded. We pull utility plans via BYDA, Before You Dig Australia, plus check the site ourselves for clues such as meters, pits and conduits before breaking begins.
Tipping Costs Shown Upfront
Every tonne of broken concrete has to be carted and paid for at the recycler or tip. We work out the volume carefully at quote stage and list disposal on its own line, so nothing appears later as a surprise.
Site Handed Back Ready
With the slab gone, we trim and level the ground so formwork, drainage or garden work can begin without delay. You will not need to organise a separate clean-up before the next trade turns up.
Wet-Season Timing Planned
We keep breakout and the new pour close together, especially between December and April, so bare ground is not left exposed to heavy downpours that wash out the base and turn the site to mud.
Concrete Works in Cairns
Concrete Removal FAQs
What Cairns property owners ask before booking removal: covering versus replacing, what drives the price, protecting lawns and driveways, and where the rubble goes.
That comes down to the state of the existing slab. When the concrete is still solid and only its face is worn or stained, resurfacing or a bonded overlay is normally the better choice, as it costs less, takes less time and leaves nothing to dispose of. When the slab is cracked right through, has sunk unevenly or sits on a failed base, covering it just passes the fault up into the new layer, often inside a couple of years. Height also counts, because extra thickness can cause trouble at doorways, the garage entry and where the driveway meets the kerb. We give you a straight assessment, including when covering it is the wiser choice.
Four things drive it: how thick the slab is, whether steel runs through it, how easily our gear gets to it, and the overall volume. A thin path with no steel comes out quickly, while a heavy, steel-filled slab out of reach of machinery takes much longer. Disposal is the other major part of the bill, covering truck trips, the drive to the crushing yard or landfill and the gate fees. Steep driveways and tight streets may restrict truck size, which adds loads. At the site visit we take measurements and test the depth, then split the quote into separate lines for demolition, haulage and tip fees so each cost is visible.
Soft or wet ground can be damaged, so we plan around it from the start. The access path is agreed with you in advance, track mats or plywood go down over vulnerable areas, and smaller machines are used if the route calls for them. Clay and alluvial soils around Cairns turn soft through the wet season, and occasionally the sensible choice is to wait until the ground dries. If the only way in means some unavoidable marking of lawn or paving, we explain that before you book so you can weigh it up.
We load it up and remove it from your property. Clean rubble, free of soil, timber and general rubbish, can usually be taken to a recycler and crushed into road base or fill, which usually costs less than landfill and puts the material back to work. Reinforced slabs can still be recycled, since the steel is pulled out during crushing. If you would like some broken concrete kept for a use on site, such as backfill around an agricultural drain, mention it and we can advise if that would work. Your quote confirms where everything is going.
It can, although the approach and cost change. With no machine access the slab is split up using jackhammers and small portable breakers, then barrowed out to the nearest spot a truck can park. This is common on hillside blocks in Bayview Heights and Mount Sheridan, where back yards are often a long climb up or down from the road, and on older inner suburban lots with narrow side passages. It takes longer and uses more labour, so the rate per square metre is higher. In some cases a mini excavator can fit through a gate or be craned over the house. Once we have walked the property, we price the most practical method for your block.
Other services you might need
Need old concrete gone?
Let us know which slab is going and we will inspect it on site.