Looking for advice

[cafoose 3,354]

Almost twenty years ago they widened the street in front of my house before I bought it. They put a set of pre-cast concrete steps in front of the house right by the right lane of the road which is heavily traveled. There is no sidewalk and no reason for anyone to walk down those steps into traffic. I would like to remove the steps and would like to know if anyone has any ideas how to safely remove them in one piece so I can fill in the spot where they are and plant grass there. I tried covering the steps over a couple years ago with dirt and planted grass but the soil wasn't deep enough for it to grow properly.

 

[wallfish 16,985]

Why does it need to be removed as one piece?

Search around for a guy with a backhoe. There's a bunch of guys around here on Craigslist looking to do work like that. Most are retired guys looking to make some extra income with their tractors. Or, check out a local tool rental if you want some seat time in a machine. Skid steer or ....

 

[Darb1964 1,042]

If you want to get it out in one piece you could drill holes in it and secure I hook bolts in the concrete. Most hardware stores could set you up. Put them in so when lifted it will stay some what level. Find a tow truck owner self employed, they are more likely to take the job on, may need to dig around it some to help free it up. May even have some experience if you find the right man. I think it would pull out,never know for sure. May have to break it up.

 

 

 

 

[8ntruck 6,991]

To quote Doc Brown in Back to the Future III: "We ,might need to blast!"

 

I agree with Wallfish - someone with a back hoe could make quick work of the removal.

[cafoose 3,354]

12 minutes ago, Darb1964 said:

If you want to get it out in one piece you could drill holes in it and secure I hook bolts in the concrete. Most hardware stores could set you up. Put them in so when lifted it will stay some what level. Find a tow truck owner self employed, they are more likely to take the job on, may need to dig around it some to help free it up. May even have some experience if you find the right man. I think it would pull out,never know for sure. May have to break it up.

 

 

 

 

I actually have a cherry picker engine hoist looks something like this

[bc.gold 3,403]

Feathers.

 

 

Edited July 12, 2020 by bcgold

[Darb1964 1,042]

I think it may be a a little out of that engine hoists league, unless you break it up, and have a solid place to roll it on.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

Unless you plan a reuse of the concrete , it’s easier to break up and move by hand.

 

Sledgehammer or small electric jackhammer will make short easy work of it... remove the pieces and fill with dirt / seed...

 

[oldlineman 1,481]

You can rent a electric jack hammer for not too much and bust it up into smaller pieces.I have used them and they work well not too heavy. Will be a little harder if it has re bar in it, but if you have a gas wrench that makes it easy. Just watch out for the dry grass could turn into a barbecue.   

[953 nut 55,075]

That sucker has been in place long enough that the grass roots and soil have a death grip on it. Pulling it out in one piece ain't happening without a lot of digging.  I would bust it up in place with an electric jack hammer and cover it up. There should be a void under it the pieces will fall into.

[peter lena 8,580]

cafoose , i agree with wall fish on the back hoe  work, what you need is overpowering leverage , i had a similar  issue with multiple tree stumps clumped in one 20 ft circle , a local contractor working up behind my house , made it effortless. i gave him an aluminum 4x 8 diamond plate sheet , for  popping out and getting rid of that stump problem . he put the sheet in his pick up truck bed . just my experience, pete 

[wallfish 16,985]

Here's a tool rental place near York.

http://www.harveysrentall.com/contractors-qr.html

Track Hoe/ Mini excavator -- 4 hours $175 minimum and give the delivery guy $20 to wait so you can just reload it back on the truck because it won't take long to dig and pull that out. The biggest problem would be what to do with it after it's out since you want to keep it in one piece. If you have something else to use it for then do the whole 4 hours or the day at $225 and use the machine to place it where it needs to go. Using the machine will be as fun as going to an amusement park so enjoy the ride! Split the cost with a neighbor if any need something done too.

Just a tip, go down there and they may let you try it out and show you how to use it so you're not paying for the training time after it's delivered.

IMO, the simplest thing is to break it up and use those pieces as the fill and cover it with soil, if you don't want it for something else.

[AMC RULES 37,127]

Easiest to just demo that top step in place, then simply top dress that area with a yard of top soil.

Like maybe 15 minutes worth of work with that rented electric jack hammer.

[bc.gold 3,403]

Drill a few shallow holes, fill with water then come winter when the water freezes it will expand and crack to slabs.

[CCW 1,292]

Another option.  Most likely the front of your yard is town property referred to as the snow shelf.  The town might come out and pull it if you ask.

 

[CCW 1,292]

Also you can take a grinder and cut some slots and drive a wedge to split the step.  Money spent on renting a tool goes into owning a tool.

[ebinmaine 67,274]

15 hours ago, wallfish said:

Why does it need to be removed as one piece?

That was my first thought as well.

Why one piece and where is it going after removal?

 

 

Also:

You live on (what is to me) a large, likely busy road.

You'll need to either (get permission or notify) the town DPW or Police to block a lane for a bit to do the work.

 

 

3 hours ago, CCW said:

The town might come out and pull it if you ask

I like this idea.

 

[cafoose 3,354]

27 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Why one piece and where is it going after removal?

I was thinking of using it elsewhere and not having to dispose of the chunks

3 hours ago, CCW said:

Another option.  Most likely the front of your yard is town property referred to as the snow shelf.  The town might come out and pull it if you ask.

 

Not a bad idea doesn't hurt to ask

[WHNJ701 4,165]

problem is it is in the road right of way, depending on your township, you probably need there permission or permit to remove it and regrade,  also need a 1 call before you dig to mark out the utilities 

[CCW 1,292]

You just had to ask for suggestions.  I bet now you have more than you had hoped for.

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

On 7/12/2020 at 4:52 AM, SylvanLakeWH said:

Unless you plan a reuse of the concrete , it’s easier to break up and move by hand.

 

Sledgehammer or small electric jackhammer will make short easy work of it... remove the pieces and fill with dirt / seed...

 

 And a strong back!!! 

[cafoose 3,354]

2 hours ago, The Tuul Crib said:

 And a strong back!!! 

No problem getting all of that except for the strong back!