Concrete removal
Concrete Removal Newcastle: Slabs, Driveways and Paths
Old driveway, cracked path, shed slab or a set of footings in the way? Concrete removal in Newcastle comes down to access, so tell us what has to go and how to get to it. Book with us and we'll send a licensed local removal crew with the right machine for your block.
Book with us and we'll send a licensed local removal crew to quote. The work is done by independent contractors, and it costs you nothing to ask.
What can we help you get removed?
Driveways
Full driveways or single bays. The crossover over the footpath needs council approval before it comes out. See who approves a driveway crossover.
Paths and patios
Side paths, back patios and old entertaining slabs, including the awkward ones behind the house.
Shed, garage and house slabs
Thicker slabs with reo in them. Bigger breaker, more truck loads.
Pool surrounds
Concrete around a pool that's being renovated or filled in.
Footings and wall bases
Old footings, retaining wall bases and buried lumps that turn up during landscaping.
Steps and ramps
Solid concrete steps, landings and ramps.
How does your access change the job?
Access is the first thing we ask about. It decides which machine fits, and the machine decides the time and the price.
| Your access | How it usually gets done | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Open from the street | Excavator with a breaker, loading straight into a truck | Fastest and usually cheapest per square metre |
| Narrow side access | A small machine such as a mini excavator, if it fits through | Slower, with more trips to the truck |
| No machine access | Jackhammers and wheelbarrows | The most labour, so the highest cost for the area |
| Inside a building | Electric breakers with dust and noise control | Planned around who is using the building |
What happens on the day
The contractor runs the job. This is the usual order.
- 01
Services are checked
Pipes and cables are looked up through Before You Dig Australia and marked out before anything is broken.
- 02
Edges are saw-cut
Where part of the concrete is staying, a saw cut gives a clean line so the break doesn't run into it.
- 03
Concrete is broken out
By machine where one fits, by hand where it doesn't. The mesh gets cut as it comes up.
- 04
Rubble is loaded and carted
Most contractors take it to a concrete recycler, where it's crushed and reused. Ask where yours is going.
- 05
Ground is trimmed
Left level and tidy, or cut to the depth the next trade needs. Tell us which you want.
What the job changes
A removal job leaves you with clear, level ground. What goes there next is up to you: a new slab, turf, garden beds or pavers. Tell us what's planned and we'll ask the contractor to leave it at the right depth.
Drag the handle on the picture to compare before and after.
Before anything is broken out, underground pipes and cables should be looked up through Before You Dig Australia. If the work touches the footpath or kerb, check with City of Newcastle or Lake Macquarie City Council first.
- BeforeAfter
Slab removal
A broken backyard slab saw-cut at the edges, broken out and carted away, leaving level ground ready for what comes next.
What affects a removal quote?
These are the details that let the removal crew price your job without guessing.
- Area and thickness
- A 100 mm path and a 200 mm shed slab the same size are nowhere near the same amount of concrete.
- Steel
- Reo slows the break, and it has to be cut as it lifts.
- Access
- See the table above. It moves the price more than anything else.
- Cartage and tip fees
- Priced by the load. Clean concrete costs less to tip than concrete mixed with soil or rubbish.
- What's nearby
- Pipes underneath, a neighbour’s wall or a house footing alongside all mean slower, more careful work.
- How you want it left
- Bare ground, levelled, or dug out ready for a new slab.
Concrete removal questions we get asked
General guidance, reviewed November 2026. Your contractor will advise on your site.
Related
Do I need council approval to remove concrete?
Work on the crossover or the footpath needs council approval first. For concrete inside your boundary the rules depend on what you are doing next, so check with City of Newcastle or Lake Macquarie City Council for your address.
Can just part of a slab be removed?
Yes. The contractor saw-cuts a straight line first so the section that stays keeps a clean edge. If only one section's failed, concrete repairs might be all you need.
What happens to the old concrete?
Most of it goes to a concrete recycler, where it's crushed and reused as road base and fill. Ask the contractor where yours is going.
How long does concrete removal take?
A driveway with good access is often out in a day. Hand work, thick slabs and heavy reo take longer. The contractor will tell you once they've seen it.
Can you organise the new concrete as well?
Yes. A lot of concrete driveways start with the old one coming out. Tell us in the enquiry and we'll line up a concreter who does both, or a removal crew and a concreter so the jobs run back to back.
What if there is asbestos under or near the slab?
Stop and tell the contractor. Old fibro sheeting sometimes turns up under slabs and paths, and it has to be dealt with by a licensed asbestos removalist before the job carries on.
Tell us about your removal job
A minute on the form. We'll send a licensed local removal crew and they'll call you to quote.