Your backyard is your sanctuary, so it's only natural that you want it to be perfect. But how can you make it perfect when there is a concrete slab where you want your flower beds to be? The answer is simple: you can remove the concrete. When it comes to removing a concrete slab, you have a few options. If you have strength and stamina, you can save a little bit of money by doing your job yourself. You can also hire the job out. Whatever you decide to do, the result will be the same. The concrete slab will be gone. Following are three strategies for removing a concrete slab.

Pick and Carry 

If your concrete slab is already crumbling and falling apart, you may be able to simply pick up the pieces and carry them away. Using a shovel, pry up the pieces of concrete and place them in a wheelbarrow. For particularly heavy pieces, use a sledgehammer to break them up into smaller pieces before trying to lift them. If you have a lot of concrete to haul away, you might want to consider renting a roll-off dumpster. 

Tool Rental and DIY

Removing a solid slab takes a bit more work and a few specialized tools. Fortunately, you can rent all of the tools you will need. Tools needed to complete the job include a circular saw with a diamond blade and a sledgehammer or jackhammer. Use the saw to divide the concrete slab into small squares or triangles. The shape isn't super important. The goal is to divide the slab into smaller pieces. Next, use the jackhammer or sledgehammer to continue breaking up the concrete until it's small enough to load and carry away. 

Hire a Professional

Removing a concrete slab is back breaking work. If you don't want to do it yourself, you can hire someone to do it for you. The cost to have a concrete slab removed ranges between $7.50 and $9.50 per square foot. The cost does vary regionally, so you want to make sure to check the rates in your area before planning your budget. 

As you can see, there are several strategies you can use to remove an unwanted concrete slab. If your backyard makeover is on hold due to unnecessary concrete, take steps to get rid of it today. In addition to removing it yourself, you can hire someone to remove it rather inexpensively.