Remove Failed Concrete and Pour Fresh
Tear Outs & Replacements in Burlington for slabs with cracking, settlement, or surface deterioration beyond repair
Flatwork Solutions LLC removes damaged concrete and replaces it with a new slab that restores the surface to a level, stable condition. If your driveway, patio, or walkway has deep cracks, sunken sections, or surface spalling that makes it unsafe or unattractive, a full replacement addresses the underlying issues rather than patching over them. The old concrete is broken out and hauled away, and the base is prepared properly before new material is poured, which eliminates the problems that caused the original failure.
A tear-out involves cutting the existing slab into manageable sections with a concrete saw, breaking it up with a jackhammer or excavator, and removing the debris from your property. Once the area is cleared, the subgrade is inspected for voids, poor compaction, or drainage issues that may have caused the slab to settle. A new gravel base is installed and compacted, and rebar or wire mesh is placed to reinforce the new pour. The concrete is then poured, leveled, and finished to match the surrounding surfaces or updated to meet your current needs.
Contact us for a site evaluation to determine whether your slab can be repaired or if replacement is the more reliable option.
What Happens During a Full Concrete Replacement
The removal process starts with cutting control joints or edges to isolate the damaged section from adjacent concrete, which prevents vibration from damaging slabs you want to keep. Heavy equipment is used to break up the old material, and the pieces are loaded into a truck for disposal. If the base below the slab is soft or uneven, we excavate further and bring in compacted gravel to create a stable foundation for the new pour.
After the new concrete cures, you'll have a surface that sits level with surrounding areas and doesn't have the trip hazards or drainage problems the old slab caused. Flatwork Solutions LLC ensures that the new slab is tied into existing concrete where necessary and that control joints are placed to manage expansion and contraction. The finish matches your specifications, whether that's a basic broom texture or a decorative stamped pattern, and the surface is sealed to protect it from moisture and staining.
The project timeline depends on the size of the area and weather conditions, but most residential replacements are completed within a few days once the old concrete is removed. We do not include landscaping restoration, sprinkler line relocation, or grading beyond what's necessary to support the new slab. If the replacement involves a driveway, you'll need to avoid parking on it for at least a week while the concrete reaches sufficient strength.
Questions About Removing and Replacing Concrete
Homeowners in Burlington often need to know what causes concrete to fail and whether a full replacement is more cost-effective than repeated repairs.
What causes a concrete slab to sink or settle?
Settlement occurs when the soil or base beneath the slab compresses unevenly, often due to poor compaction during initial installation, erosion from water flow, or expansive clay soils that shrink and swell with moisture changes.
How do you know if a slab needs replacement instead of repair?
If cracks are wider than a quarter inch, multiple sections have settled at different levels, or the surface is spalling across large areas, replacement is usually more reliable than trying to patch or lift the existing concrete.
Why is the base preparation critical during a replacement?
A properly compacted gravel base distributes weight evenly and allows water to drain away from the slab, which prevents the new concrete from cracking or settling the way the old one did.
What happens to the old concrete after it's removed?
The broken concrete is hauled to a recycling facility where it's crushed and used as aggregate for road base or new construction projects, so it doesn't end up in a landfill.
How long does it take for new concrete to cure in Burlington's climate?
The slab gains enough strength for light foot traffic within 24 to 48 hours, but full curing takes about 28 days, and you should wait at least seven days before driving on a replaced driveway.
Reach out to Flatwork Solutions LLC to schedule an inspection and get a detailed estimate for removing and replacing the damaged concrete on your property.