How did you dispose of the concrete? Skips? If so, how many did you fill. I'm sure it was very satisfying but, being 70 years old and with around 140m2 to deal with, I won't be trying that by myself in any case
We used a grab hire lorry. For £200, they lifted and took away 18 tonnes of concrete, rubble and subsoil. Much cheaper and easier than skips. You could probably find a labourer for £150 to £200 a day (northerner rates!) who'd do the heavy bits for you.
I think you'd find it money well spent not to have to worry about the slab being underneath what you're growing above, for reasons set out above. In fact, it may even work out cheaper once you factor in quite how much topsoil you'd need to buy (which I presume will be 60cm (recommended depth) by 140m2). That will cost a fortune.
I am 70 and also could remove the slab albeit far slower than I could a few years back. My husband is 73 and now can barely walk the dog round the block. Age is a number but it's governed by your health so @scooty883 watch out in the space of few months you can go from fit to almost housebound.
@K67 perhaps I was a bit brash with my language, apologies @sp.peckham. If only half the agency labourers I get sent to me had your attitude to go with there body. @sp.peckham if you don't have the health or means to remove the slab are there no local organisations/charities who could help out? We have a number in my local area
If you are a member of a local neighbourhood group or network (Next Door, Facebook groups etc) could you maybe find some strapping teenagers at a loose end to come and do some heavy lifting. I have neighbours' kids come over about once a month to do heavy work for me and they are a god send. I pay about £15 hr and they appreciate the pocket money.
Wow, Scooty883, did you get out of the bed on the wrong side? I’m perfectly fit, thanks, but also sensible enough to not go killing myself unnecessarily. The concrete is about a foot thick plus hard core underneath. So, I reckon there’s around 40m3 (or 40 to 50 tonnes) to be removed altogether. Thanks for your constructive comments, Astraeus, I think that’s probably the way to go.
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I think you'd find it money well spent not to have to worry about the slab being underneath what you're growing above, for reasons set out above. In fact, it may even work out cheaper once you factor in quite how much topsoil you'd need to buy (which I presume will be 60cm (recommended depth) by 140m2). That will cost a fortune.
My husband is 73 and now can barely walk the dog round the block.
Age is a number but it's governed by your health so @scooty883 watch out in the space of few months you can go from fit to almost housebound.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.