Demolition is the first step on most replacement pours. Done wrong, it damages the subgrade, breaks irrigation, and leaves debris that delays the new pour. DSM Concrete Pros handles concrete demo and removal as a standalone service or as part of full replacement scopes.
Demolition Scopes
- Driveways — full or partial tear-out
- Sidewalks + walkways — section repair or full removal
- Patios + pool decks — careful removal preserving adjacent finishes
- Garage floors — interior selective demolition
- Foundations — full residential or commercial removal
- Slabs — industrial, commercial, residential
- Curbs + gutters — section removal
- Retaining walls — block, poured, boulder
Process
- Quote — site visit and written estimate
- Utility locates — Iowa One-Call (Iowa 811) called 48–72 hours before dig
- Protection — adjacent surfaces, lawns, and structures protected
- Saw cutting — clean cut lines for partial demos
- Demolition — jackhammer, breaker, or excavator depending on scope
- Haul-off — loaded and removed same day in most cases
- Subgrade prep — if continuing to new pour
- Cleanup — site swept and inspected
Equipment
- Skid-steer mounted breakers and grapples
- Mini excavators for narrow access
- Walk-behind saws (early entry and standard)
- Handheld jackhammers
- Dump trucks + roll-off coordination
Recycling
All removed concrete is crushed and recycled at Iowa aggregate facilities. Crushed concrete becomes road base or recycled aggregate for new pours. We do not landfill.
Pricing
| Scope | Range (per sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Plain 4” residential driveway/sidewalk | $3 – $5 |
| Reinforced 4–6” slab | $4 – $7 |
| 6”+ commercial slab | $6 – $10 |
| Foundation walls (linear ft) | $20 – $50 / linear ft |
| Partial cut + remove | $5 – $9 |
Bundled with Replacement
When demo is part of a replacement scope, we bundle pricing and save you a separate mobilization fee. Most full driveway replacements (demo + pour) run $10–$17/sq ft all-in.
What We Protect During Demo
A demo crew that does not protect surroundings will cost you more than the pour saves. On every job we set:
- Plywood + ground mats over adjacent lawn and finished hardscape
- Sprinkler head locator paint before excavation
- Drip line plywood around mature trees to protect root zones
- Tarp curtains between work area and house siding to keep stone chips off windows
- Marked utility flags (Iowa One Call coordinated 48–72 hours ahead)
- Trash and silt control on stormwater inlets within the work zone
Iowa One Call (Iowa 811) is mandatory before any excavation. We file every demo job and wait the full 48-hour notice window before breaking ground.
Recycling, Not Landfilling
All removed concrete goes to crushing facilities in Polk County, where it becomes recycled aggregate for road base and new pours. None of our demo material goes to landfill. This is the right environmental call, and it is also the cheaper disposal path — Iowa landfill tipping fees keep climbing while crushing facilities pay a small rebate on clean concrete.
| Demo type | Recycling fate |
|---|---|
| Plain residential driveway | Crushed to 1.5” road base |
| Reinforced commercial slab | Rebar pulled, crushed to drainage rock |
| Block walls + foundation | Crushed to base, block separated |
| Asphalt cap on concrete | Asphalt + concrete separated |
Demo Project Sizes
| Scope | Demo time | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| 600 sq ft residential driveway | 4–8 hrs | $2,000 – $3,200 |
| Patio (300 sq ft) | 3–5 hrs | $900 – $1,800 |
| Single sidewalk panel | 1 hr | $200 – $400 |
| Full foundation (1,200 sq ft) | 2–4 days | $14,000 – $24,000 |
| Commercial slab (5,000 sq ft) | 3–5 days | $25,000 – $48,000 |
Service Area
Demolition and removal services across Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Waukee, Clive, Altoona, Johnston, Grimes, Pleasant Hill, Norwalk, Polk County, and Dallas County.