Driveway Removal
Cracked, heaved or scaled driveways are sawcut at the sidewalk or garage, broken out and hauled away, often ahead of a new concrete driveway.
Tear-Out and Haul-Away
Concrete Demolition and Removal in Cambridge, ON
Sila Concrete Contracting breaks out and hauls away old concrete across Cambridge and Waterloo Region, either as a stand-alone job or as the first stage of a new pour. We remove driveways, patios, walkways, steps, garage floors, slabs, footings and small structures, then leave the site graded and ready for whatever comes next.
Concrete removal looks like brute force, but the difference between a clean job and a mess is planning. Sawcutting a straight line where old meets new, keeping a skid steer off a septic bed, protecting a foundation wall from a breaker and getting rebar out before the load goes to the recycler all take experience.
With 12+ years in concrete and more than 600 jobs completed, our licensed, insured and WSIB covered crews bring the right equipment for the site, from a 30 kg electric breaker in a fenced backyard to a skid steer with a hydraulic hammer on an open driveway.
Our Concrete Demolition and Removal Services
We take out residential and light commercial concrete of any shape, with or without a replacement pour to follow.
Patio and Walkway Removal
Backyard patios and side walkways are broken by hand or with compact machines and wheeled out through gates as narrow as 900 mm.
Steps and Porch Removal
Old poured steps and porch slabs are separated from the foundation and removed in sections so the wall is not damaged, ready for new concrete steps and stairs.
Slabs and Garage Floors
Shed pads, hot tub slabs and interior garage floors are cut into manageable pieces and removed, including vapour barrier and fill where needed.
Footings and Small Structures
We remove old footings, short retaining walls, fence post bases, light standard bases and small concrete outbuildings.
Partial Removal with Sawcuts
Damaged panels, utility trenches or new openings are cut out with a straight, full-depth sawcut so the remaining concrete stays sound.
Excavation and Grading
After removal we can dig to new subgrade depth, strip organics and grade the area for a pour, sod or landscaping.
Equipment and Methods
We match the equipment to the thickness, reinforcement and access on each site. Bigger machines are faster, but only where the ground, the neighbours and the property can take them.
| Equipment | What it does | When we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-behind flat saw | Cuts straight, full-depth lines up to about 150 mm deep | Separating old from new at sidewalks, garage aprons and foundations |
| Handheld cut-off saw (Husqvarna K-series) | Cuts edges, corners and curves | Tight spots, steps and partial removals |
| Electric or pneumatic jackhammer | Breaks concrete by hand in controlled pieces | Backyards, steps, interior slabs and work beside foundations |
| Skid steer with hydraulic breaker | Breaks and loads thick or reinforced slabs quickly | Driveways, large patios and commercial slabs with open access |
| Mini excavator | Pries up broken slabs, digs out footings and subgrade | Footings, deep base removal and excavation |
| Power buggy and wheelbarrows | Moves rubble through narrow gates | Fenced backyards where machines cannot fit |
Hand demolition takes longer but is the right call in fenced backyards, beside foundations and over buried services. Wire mesh and 10M or 15M rebar are cut with a torch or abrasive saw so the slab breaks out in pieces a skid steer can lift.
Protecting Your Property During Removal
We protect your property by planning the route in and out before any equipment arrives. These are the standard precautions on every removal job.
- Utility locates booked through Ontario One Call before any cutting or digging
- Ground protection mats or plywood over lawns and soft areas
- Sawcut isolation along foundations so breakers never hit the wall
- Root zones of mature trees marked and avoided with machines
- Water on saw blades to keep silica dust down
- Gas meters, AC units, window wells and hose bibs shielded
- Septic beds and buried lines kept clear of heavy equipment
- Sidewalks and road swept clean at the end of each day
Silica dust from cutting concrete is a real health hazard, so wet cutting and dust-controlled tools are standard practice for our crews. We also work within local noise by-law hours and let you know before the loud days start.
Disposal and Concrete Recycling
Every load of clean concrete we remove goes to a licensed recycling facility, not a landfill or a ditch. There it is crushed and screened into recycled aggregate used for road base, backfill and new granular material.
Rebar and wire mesh are separated on site or at the facility and go to a scrap metal recycler. Soil, sod and wood forms are hauled separately so the concrete load stays clean.
You do not need to rent a bin; hauling and tipping fees are part of our removal price. Recycling also keeps disposal costs lower than landfill rates, which helps keep the overall price down.
Our Removal Process
- 01
Site Visit and Quote
We measure the area, check thickness at an edge and look for reinforcement, access and buried services. You get a fixed written price that includes hauling.
- 02
Locates and Permits
We book Ontario One Call locates and, where work touches the city boulevard or curb, help arrange any municipal permit required.
- 03
Protect and Sawcut
Protection goes down, then we sawcut every line where concrete must stay, such as the city sidewalk or a garage slab.
- 04
Break and Load
Concrete is broken into liftable pieces, steel is cut free and rubble is loaded straight into trucks or dump trailers.
- 05
Haul and Recycle
Loads go to the recycler the same day, so your driveway is not blocked by a bin for a week.
- 06
Grade or Restore
We leave the area graded for a new pour, or backfilled with topsoil and ready for sod if nothing is going back.
Need Old Concrete Gone?
Send photos and rough dimensions and we will give you a removal price, with or without a replacement pour.
Excavation and Site Preparation
Removing the concrete is only half the job when something new is being poured. We excavate to the depth the new work needs, typically 250 to 300 mm below finished grade for a driveway, and strip out any organic soil or soft clay.
The subgrade is proof-rolled to find soft spots, which are dug out and replaced. Where soils are weak, a non-woven geotextile goes down before the Granular A base is placed and compacted in lifts of about 150 mm with a plate compactor or roller.
Grade stakes set the slope so water drains away from the house at roughly 2%. The result is a firm, level base ready for forms, reinforcement and a new pour from our concrete slabs and pads or driveway crews.
Removal Cost Factors
Concrete removal in Cambridge typically costs $4 to $10 per sq ft in 2026, including hauling and recycling. A standard two-car driveway of about 600 sq ft usually runs $2,500 to $5,500.
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Thickness | A 150 mm slab takes roughly half again as long to break and haul as a 100 mm slab |
| Reinforcement | Rebar or heavy mesh slows breaking and adds cutting time |
| Area | Larger areas lower the price per sq ft; small jobs carry a minimum charge |
| Access | Hand demolition through a backyard gate can double labour compared with open driveway access |
| Haul distance and volume | More truckloads and longer trips to the recycler add cost |
| Excavation and base | Digging deeper or adding new granular base is priced separately |
Small removals such as a single set of steps or a shed pad usually start around $800 to $1,500. When we also pour the replacement, removal is bundled into one price, and our written workmanship warranty covers sawcut lines and any concrete left in place that we were asked to protect.
Concrete Removal Throughout the Region
Our demolition crews and equipment cover Cambridge and the towns within about 45 minutes.
Concrete Removal in Cambridge
Driveway and step tear-outs on tight lots in Galt, Preston and Hespeler.
Concrete Demolition in Kitchener
Patio, garage floor and driveway removal for renovations across the city.
Concrete Removal in Waterloo
Backyard slab removal and site prep ahead of landscaping and additions.
Concrete Removal in Guelph
Driveway replacement prep and partial sawcut removals.
Concrete Demolition in Wilmot Township
Barn floors, old footings and farm pads around Baden, New Hamburg and St. Agatha.
Concrete Removal in Brantford
Removing worn steps, walks and commercial slabs.
Concrete Removal FAQs
How long does it take to remove a concrete driveway?
Most residential driveways are removed in one day, and larger or heavily reinforced ones in two. Excavation and new base installation usually add another day before a new pour.
Can you remove only part of a slab?
Yes. We sawcut a straight, full-depth line with a flat saw so the section that stays has a clean edge and is not cracked by the breaker.
Do you remove concrete without replacing it?
Yes, we often remove concrete as a stand-alone job. We can leave the area graded and backfilled with topsoil ready for sod, gardens or interlock by another trade.
Do I need a permit to remove concrete?
Removing concrete on your own lot usually does not need a building permit. Work that touches the city boulevard, curb or sidewalk may need municipal approval, and we will tell you if your job does.
Is the old concrete really recycled?
Yes. Clean concrete is crushed into recycled aggregate and the steel goes to a scrap recycler, which is both better for the environment and cheaper than landfill.
Get a Removal Quote
Tell us what needs to come out and what, if anything, is going back in. We can quote a new concrete driveway or slab at the same time, or suggest concrete repair if your concrete is worth saving.
- Photos of the concrete and the access route
- Approximate length and width
- Gate width if the work is in a backyard
- Whether you need a new pour afterward