House Demolition
Full demolition of single and double-storey houses — approvals checked, services disconnected, structure down, block handed back level.
Learn more →Why concrete jobs get underquoted
Concrete looks simple. It is one material, it is flat, it is sitting there. Then the work starts and the job reveals the four things the quote did not ask about.
Thickness. A garden path might be 75mm. A driveway built for a truck might be 150mm or more. Volume, and therefore tonnage and disposal cost, scales with it.
Reinforcement. Mesh and bar make breaking slower and need a hammer rather than a bucket.
What is underneath. Old slabs sometimes sit on fill, on older concrete, or over services nobody mapped. Asbestos-contaminated fill is not unusual on older Sydney blocks.
Access. A 2.4-metre side gate stops a lot of machines. Where the concrete is at the back of the block and the only access is a side path, it is broken smaller and barrowed out.
What gets removed
- Driveways, including the section to the boundary.
- Crossovers and kerbs, with the council permit and inspection sorted first.
- House slabs and footings after a demolition.
- Garage and shed slabs.
- Paths, patios and pool surrounds.
- Retaining wall footings.
The footpath and the crossover
In most of Sydney the driveway meets a council footpath and kerb. That section — the crossover — is council land. Removing or rebuilding it generally needs an application to council and an inspection, and councils set their own design standards for the new one.
The part inside your boundary is yours. The part outside it is not. The quote should say which part is included, and who is responsible for the permit.
Protecting what stays
- Saw-cutting along boundaries, against walls and at the edge of retained concrete, so breaks stop where they should.
- Dial before you dig — a Before You Dig Australia enquiry for services in the area.
- Service locating where pipes or cables may run under the slab.
- Protection for the kerb, footpath, fences and neighbouring driveways.
Disposal
Clean concrete is recyclable and cheaper to dispose of. Mixed loads cost more. Asbestos-contaminated material has to be handled and disposed of by licensed operators and costs far more again. Sorting on site is what keeps the number stable.
Common alongside
Concrete removal is often part of a house demolition or knock-down-rebuild, or a standalone job before a new driveway, pool or landscaping.
Costs
See the 2026 cost bands.
Call 02 5943 7968 or send the job details through.
More services
Explore our other services
Knock Down Rebuild Site Prep
The demolition half of a knock-down-rebuild, sequenced to your builder's start date rather than to ours.
Learn more →Partial Demolition
Rear extensions, second storeys, walls and wings taken off while the rest of the house stays standing and weathertight.
Learn more →Garage & Shed Removal
Detached garages, carports, sheds, granny-flat shells and outbuildings removed, slab in or out.
Learn more →Site Clearing
Blocks cleared of structures, rubbish and fill for sale, survey or construction — with protected trees left alone.
Learn more →Asbestos-Aware Demolition
How asbestos is found and dealt with before a Sydney demolition. Removal is carried out by a separately licensed asbestos removalist — referred, never done in-house.
Learn more →
FAQs
Questions people ask before they commit
How much does concrete removal cost in Sydney?
As a 2026 guide, plain concrete paths and patios often land around $60 to $110 per square metre removed and carted, and reinforced driveways and slabs more, depending on thickness, access and how far the truck has to go. Small jobs carry a minimum charge because the machine and truck still have to come.
Do I need council approval to replace my driveway crossover?
The part of the driveway between your boundary and the road — the crossover and kerb — is on council land, and most Sydney councils require an application and inspection to remove or replace it. The section inside your boundary usually does not need that permit. Check your council's requirements before booking.
Is concrete recycled?
Clean concrete is widely recycled in Sydney into road base and aggregate, and sorting it from other waste keeps the disposal cost down. Concrete contaminated with asbestos, soil or other material costs more and has to go to the right facility.
Can you remove concrete without damaging the neighbour's side?
Yes, with the right method. The slab is saw-cut along the boundary first so the break stops at the line, and the section next to the fence is lifted rather than hammered. Retaining walls, fences and services near the edge are checked beforehand.
Free, no-obligation