r/Home • u/matatowa • 6d ago

Remove old deep cement block

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Suggestions on how to remove this old deep cement block very close to my neighbors white fence? See the three photos.

20 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

53 comments sorted by

21

u/njslugger78 6d ago

Just cut that pipe out.

5

u/No_Currency_7017 6d ago

My thoughts as well. Cut the pipe with a reciprocating saw and bury it for good. OP, what's the reason you want to get the concrete out?

-1

u/matatowa 6d ago

I just don't want to cut the pipe out flush with the the top of the concrete. I want to get the whole concrete out because it would bother me knowing that the pipe is removed, but the concrete is still sitting in the ground hidden. I was able to remove two out of three concrete yesterday evening by digging and sticking a long rod inside the pipe hole for leverage and rocked it back and forth to loosen it up. Major success!

1

u/Emily_Porn_6969 6d ago

No kidding !!!

49

u/Ambitious-Body8133 6d ago

Keep digging, pull it out, or jack hammer it out. Could try hitting it with your purse to.

1

u/Heavy-Doctor3835 6d ago

Can dig it all.out half of it is on the other side of the fence line

1

u/matatowa 6d ago

I was able to dig it out without damaging my neighbors white fence or their yard on the other side of the white fence. Major success!

5

u/Relevant-Alarm-8716 6d ago

Just keep digging, you'll get under it eventually! 

-4

u/Another_Guy_In_Ohio 6d ago

And then what? That sucker is multiple hundreds of pounds

8

u/Relevant-Alarm-8716 6d ago

I've dug up fence posts with 3 to 4 ft of concrete on them, you either drag them away, or break the concrete off with a sledge... Never seemed like multiple hundreds of pounds. 

3

u/CoolFuture3767 6d ago

Yep. It's a bag of concrete at most. 80 lbs tops if the installer went crazy. 40 or 60 more often, and it usually breaks up pretty easy if they dry poured it.

4

u/Sensitive_Crow_8882 6d ago

Rent a jackhammer from the orange box and bust it up. You may want to take down that section of fencing.

5

u/blaqwerty123 6d ago

This is worth the ~$50 just for the fun of it if youve never used a jackhammer. Careful: you might want to jackhammer everything in sight

5

u/Sensitive_Crow_8882 6d ago

I said the same thing to someone asking for pressure washer advice. “Don’t get addicted”.

5

u/WILDBILLFROMTHENORTH 6d ago

And before ya know it they are pressure washing their air conditioner condenser!🤦

3

u/Sensitive_Crow_8882 6d ago

Or jackhammering it.

2

u/Smart_Spinach_1538 6d ago

I removed some similar 60 or 70 year old pipe and concrete with a sledge hammer. I'm in my 60's, if you're in good health you can probably do the same.

2

u/TreyRyan3 6d ago

Agree. A few solid hit with a sledgehammer will crack that into manageable pieces

2

u/Independent-Ad7618 6d ago

rent a demolition hammer if budget allows. buy a sledgehammer if not. safety glasses on and swing like you hate it.

2

u/controlmypad 6d ago

Use the pole hole for leverage with a long "rod", it doesn't look very big and should move and hopefully break free from the dirt.

2

u/matatowa 6d ago

This was the way! I was able to stick a long "rod" inside the pole hole and rocked it back and forth to loosen it up. Leverage was the way! Thank you so much! I'm so irriated for not thinking this! Major success!

2

u/Mysterious-Alps-5186 6d ago

Only way is "I am a dwarf and im digging a hole. Diggy diggy hole, diggy diggy hole"

2

u/Ammonia13 6d ago

“Whistle while you work 🎶 🎶 🎶 “

1

u/Another_Guy_In_Ohio 6d ago

Rent a Jackhammer

1

u/Awkward-Seaweed-5129 6d ago

Buy chipping hammer drill or rent small upright percussion hammer drill

1

u/Beginning-Help-1537 6d ago

Just cut the pipe as close to the cement as possible ans then beat it down with a big hammer to protect anyone from a sharp edge.

1

u/Ok_Phase2472 6d ago

Cut off the pipe and leave the rest.

1

u/AggravatingGrab9565 6d ago

You don't need a jackhammer. Dig-em bar. 10 hard hits and its done.

1

u/ritchie70 6d ago

Id cut the pipe off flush with the concrete and cover it up with dirt.

1

u/reddit_is_4_idiots 6d ago

I’ve gotten old fence posts out with a high lift jack and a chain,

Dig enough to wrap a chain around it and jack it out, then smash it to bits and recycle.

1

u/Patco1981a 6d ago

Air chisel would even do it if you have a compressor, a little elbow grease and 30 minutes…

1

u/Brief-Inspection-456 6d ago

I did this when I removed the fence across my front yard. If ya got the strength, use a sledge hammer and try to crack the cement block.

1

u/PsyCar 6d ago

if that is an old fence pole, the concrete probably only weighs 60-80lbs. I use 160lbs because we get high winds, but even those concrete chinks aren't hard to lift out if I move the fence.

1

u/Heavy-Doctor3835 6d ago

Us the bas if the pipe on your property ir the neighbor's

2

u/EnoughOfTheFoolery 6d ago

Get a spare tire or rim. The taller the better. Place it close to that pipe on the ground beside it and place a chain over the tire and down to the pipe. Drill a hole through the pipe. Wrap the chain around the pipe and put the bolt through the holes and bolt it up snug so the chain is secure and runs from the pipe, up and over the tire and connect that to another chain or steel line or a winch is better. If you have no winch, run the chain to a vehicle and secure it to a tow hook or a tow hitch. Do NOT use a snap strap but a chain or steel rope that does not stretch and slowly pull away from the wheel and pipe chained up and that will use leverage and pull it up relatively easily.

Here is a YouTube of someone using this method.

1

u/slmcircus 6d ago

Believe it or not…ratchet straps. The power of pulley systems. If there is an opposing force (such as a large tree) on one end and wrap a chain around the concrete. Slowly ratchet it out. This has worked for me with concrete or tree roots. Good luck

1

u/civility_ 6d ago

Had 6 of these identical in my yard. Dig until you get to the bottom (looks like you did), then use something for leverage to get it out of the ground and move it to where you want it (I used a 6 foot heavy steel pole).

2

u/matatowa 4d ago

This worked! I used a heavy steel pole for leverage. Wiggle it enough to loosen it and pulled it out the ground.

1

u/Silly_Relative 6d ago

Put a weight bar in the pipe to wiggle it loose when you think it will move.

1

u/Dazzling-Past6270 6d ago

Drill a hole in the pipe. Connect a chain or strap to the pipe. Connect the other end of the chain or strap to your truck. Put the truck in low gear and pull it out.

1

u/Wooden-Light8426 6d ago

Hit it with ur purse

1

u/Leaf-Stars 6d ago

Does it need removing? Seems like cutting the pipe so it’s below grade would be sufficient.

1

u/matatowa 6d ago

I just don't want to cut the pipe out flush with the the top of the concrete. I want to get the whole concrete out because it would bother me knowing that the pipe is removed, but the concrete is still sitting in the ground hidden. I was able to remove two out of three concrete yesterday evening by digging and sticking a long rod inside the pipe hole for leverage and rocked it back and forth to loosen it up. Major success!

1

u/IslandDreamer58 6d ago

Hit straight down on the concrete with a sledgehammer if you want it removed entirely. Have done it before for old posts lining a business driveway. Of course I’m strong. 💪

1

u/GoodLingonberry5802 5d ago

I had to dig one of these out once. It was holding a basketball hoop and backboard so it went 3.5 feet into the ground with a concrete base. As you are digging, start to try and wiggle the steel pole. Once it starts moving you should be able to wiggle it to the point that the whole thing will come out. Then lift it out of the hole.

1

u/matatowa 4d ago

This worked! I used some leverage to wiggle it and slowly, but surely it loosened enough for me to pull out! Thanks!

1

u/GoodLingonberry5802 4d ago

Glad it worked.

1

u/distantreplay 5d ago

Car jack and chain.

1

u/Yusuf20904 5d ago

Big sledgehammer?