Relocating a concrete slab

Once winter finally passes, I'll be starting on a deck project on the back of my house. Before that can be done, I need to make a 14x14 concrete patio go away. It's currently in 4 pieces due to the two control joints, each piece being 7x7. The two pieces that are closer to the house are tilted towards the house, and the other two pieces are sitting where support posts will be.

The patio slab is 4 inches thick, and I don't think there is any rebar in it, based on the heaving.

Coincidentally, I could use a concrete pad in front of my shed. I know I could bust a bunch of holes in the concrete, and leave it where it is, but I'm not a fan of that idea. I was thinking of cutting each piece one more time, which would make them 3.5 x 7, and then try to move them 50' and put them in front of my shed. Probably use pry bars and elevate them onto some rounded pipes and roll them along, ala ancient Egypt. Either that, or build a sled to drag them along.

I have a old garden tractor that I could drag them with, but I can't really access the area with anything much bigger due to pool and house proximity. I'm probably going to have a hard time positioning the slabs in their new location, and probably going to have trouble getting them level too, but it's worth the thought anyway.

Thoughts? I'm thinking this is probably more work than it's worth, but looking to pick some brains here if I can!

 

I will say first that I don't know much about concrete, but here are my thoughts. Anytime you try to save something, you usually end up damaging it ( at least in my cases Murphy is usually right behind me to screw me over). I see cutting the slabs to the new size, then if you try to pick up/ drag them, I can see there being too much flex or variation in the yard and the slabs cracking. Also, if you were able to pick the slab up to start and move it, I doubt the bottom would be as smooth as the top. I would assume that it was poured on gravel/ fill so there are probably many rocks and stuff stuck to the bottom that would make it a nightmare to try and drag, or you are going to tear the sh*t out of your yard.
If you would really want to save them as much as possible, I would probably cut down into even smaller sections (3 1/2 x 3 1/2) and then try and flip them over to drag on the nice smooth side then flip back over when in place.
I hope you have some close friends you can bribe with beer, because the last time I got into an affair like this it took about 4-5 people to pry up and lift a 3' x 3' piece on concrete into the back of an S10 (sentimental section of concrete from a place being torn down) and it was not very fun.

 

I like the idea of rolling them on schedule 40 pvc pipe. We moved a big shed that way. Your tractor will pull it.

 

The money and time you spend trying to move it would be better used to pour a new slab where you need it. Concrete is VERY heavy, this project could get dangerous fast.

 

Also, without rebar it will probably break,

 

Not reinforced and concrete poured in place will be very irregular on its underside. Count on it crumbling after it has been relocated. I had one like that. I broke it up with a sledge hammer and used it as fill. Be sure to use some reinforcement in your new slab so that one isn't braking up on you. Please take you time moving the old concrete. That chit is heavy and can be dangerous to handle.

 

Where there's a will, there's a way.

How experience can make a big job.... | Firewood Hoarders Club

Post #13 has the moving video.

 

I would agree with this. I'm fairly knowledgable in concrete, and once had a customer that wanted to move four 12'x12'x6" thick slabs due to a city violation. Even with the use of an excavator, after moving them and trying to level with sand, they never due sit right so we finally tore it back out, re graded and formed, and finally poured a new slab. Concrete us heavy and unless its precast, just isn't meant to be moved. It's doable, but in my opinion, it'd be cheaper to pour a new slab the right size for your shed and just remove the old patio.
jmho

 

1. Bottom isn't flat. Forget rolling it on pipes.
2. That patio weighs 16,000lbs minimum. If you cut into 7x7, each piece weighs 4000lbs. You won't sit that on forks, or move it at all, without it breaking.
3. Even if you cut it to 3.5x3.5, it still weighs 1000lbs. This will be your best chance at moving it without breaking it, but chop saws are loud, backbreaking, dirty machines.
Then you have a shed pad with a butt load of cracks every 3.5 feet that won't be level either.

Tear it out, pour new up front. Hell, I'd just have it pumped up to drain away from the house, and build the deck over it. Bust out where you need posts and screw the rest...cover it!

 

Even as "frugal" as I am I would have to agree with not trying to reuse it. If you can't get it lifted to drain away from the house like bocefus 78 suggests it's better to bust it up and get it out of the way so you can get the drainage right before you cover it up with the deck. Good luck !

 

Bust it up, and pour new. That was pretty much my thoughts too, but wanted to run the crazy idea past people who've been there, done that before. Hate busting up decent concrete, but I was having my doubts about being able to get it reasonable level after putting it in place. Time to rent a jack hammer.

 

I hear ya ! Lot of good ideas on things to try anyway and at least it should break up pretty easy if there isn't any steel or rebar in it.

 

Hello
It is a practice around here to put 2-4 inches of 3/4 inch stone under the concrete for proper drainage to prevent frost heaves. Then there is no pressure build up to crack the slab.

 

Yea, that's the rights way, but it still happens.

 

I just put in a cement walkway to my shed over the summer. The concrete walkway was pinned to the foundation with rebar and sheets of steel added for strength with 2" layer of 3/4 in stone under the 4,000 PSI mix and then it was coated with MasterKure to cure more slowly for strength! Also there were 6 - 2 foot holes dug under the walkway and filled with 3/4 inch stone for extra drainage and even more support. Dubbed the "Walkway with Legs" So far it is holding up, what else could be done?

 

A bobcat with forks is not going to move a 4" thick 7x7 slab of concrete.

To find the approx. weight of the slabs..

You multiply the width and the length in feet, and the thickness that is in inches.
You then multiply that number by 150.

So.. ya got 7x7x4 which is 196.
196x150 comes out to 29,250.


Concrete weighs approx. 150lbs per cubic foot or 4,050 pounds per cubic yard.




There is alot more weight there then you think, and a bobcat, is not going to get the job done.

 

4000 lbs per yard, 81 sq ft per yard, 14x14 = 196 sq ft, 2.5 yards, 10,000 lbs