Concrete Breaking & RemovalOmaha, NE
Saw-cutting, breaking and hauling of slabs, drives, footings and foundations, with freeze-thaw-damaged Omaha concrete in mind.
Concrete in Omaha takes a beating: winter freeze-thaw cycles, road salt and clay-rich or loess soils that move with moisture all contribute to cracked slabs, heaved drives and spalled steps. Removal projects follow, whether a failed driveway, a warehouse slab being cut for new plumbing or a foundation left after a teardown.
How the job is done depends on thickness, reinforcement and what is next to it. Clean saw lines protect adjacent concrete you intend to keep, and sorting rebar from broken concrete as it comes out keeps hauling and recycling costs down.
Scope & Specifications
- Typical work
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, garage and warehouse slabs, dock aprons, footings, retaining walls
- Cutting
- Wet saw-cutting to define removal limits and protect adjacent concrete
- Breaking
- Hydraulic breakers, or hand-held breakers where machines cannot reach
- Reinforcement
- Rebar and mesh separated and recycled as metal
- Disposal
- Clean concrete directed to recycling where available; contaminated material handled separately
- Subgrade
- Inspected on exposure; replaced with compacted base material where the next pour needs it
Equipment We Use
Wall and flat saws with water feed
Make clean, dust-reduced cuts and keep control joints straight
Excavator-mounted hydraulic breakers
Break thick slabs and foundations efficiently
Handheld electric and pneumatic breakers
Work inside buildings, near utilities and on small areas
Skid steers with grapple or bucket
Load broken concrete and rebar on small or tight sites
Vacuum and water suppression systems
Control silica dust as concrete is cut and broken
How the Work Is Sequenced
Locate what is underneath
Request Nebraska811 locates and scan for private lines, post-tension cables and radiant heat before cutting.
Mark limits and cut
Saw-cut perimeters so breakage stops at the line and adjacent concrete is protected.
Break and separate
Break into manageable pieces while separating reinforcing steel.
Load and haul
Direct clean concrete to recycling and deal with any contaminated pieces separately.
Prepare for what follows
Check the subgrade, add and compact base as the next pour requires, and grade for drainage.
Safety & Compliance
Rules, thresholds and fees change. Use these as a checklist of what to confirm, and rely on the issuing agency for current requirements.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 (Respirable crystalline silica)
Cutting and breaking concrete creates silica dust; engineering controls such as water or vacuum capture apply, with respirators where needed.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart T (Demolition)
Governs demolition of concrete structures, including sequence and protection of workers near falling pieces.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.600 and 1926.602 (Equipment and earth-moving)
Covers use of heavy equipment around workers and spotters near the work area.
Nebraska Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act
Notice to Nebraska811 and marked locates are needed before breaking ground or removing slabs with buried utilities.
Right-of-way: City of Omaha Public Works
Concrete work in or against a public sidewalk, curb, driveway apron or alley generally needs City approval; confirm what applies at your address.
Omaha Considerations
Local note 1
Freeze-thaw in Omaha winters shortens the life of exterior flatwork. Slabs that look intact in autumn can be cracked and heaved by spring; plan removal in the dry season where the schedule allows.
Local note 2
Old Market brick streets sit over concrete bases in places, and sidewalks along them are public property. Confirm City requirements before cutting or replacing anything in the public right-of-way.
Local note 3
In North Omaha and some inner neighborhoods, foundations from earlier demolitions can surface during site clearing. We include contingency language for unforeseen buried concrete.
Local note 4
Omaha-area recycling yards accept clean broken concrete in many cases; confirm current accepted material and any rebar-handling requirements with the yard.
Concrete Removal FAQs
Yes. We saw-cut along a straight line so the remaining concrete is not damaged, then break the section out. Rebar left behind may be trimmed or tied in, depending on the new work.
The driveway apron and sidewalk in the public right-of-way fall under City of Omaha rules, while the private portion may not. Confirm with the City before work begins.
Clean concrete is typically hauled to a recycler. Material mixed with trash, asphalt or contaminants costs more to dispose of, so we separate it on site.
Yes, with wet cutting or vacuum capture, containment and handheld equipment. Vibration, noise and hours are agreed with the property manager first.
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Serving Old Market demolition, Midtown & Blackstone demolition, Benson demolition, North Omaha demolition, West Omaha & Millard demolition.
Planning concrete removal?
Tell us about the property and scope and we will walk the site and send a written quote.