Concrete Removal Cost in Ontario: How to Compare Quotes

Two removal quotes can arrive far apart. Matching what each one includes is the first step. This guide is about reading the quotes, not about how a tear-out runs. For the step-by-step day, see our guide to how concrete removal works.

Match the scope before the total

Lay the quotes side by side and look for these four lines in each one.

• Breakout. Does it say how the slab will come out, and does it cover cutting free any mesh or rebar?
• Hauling. Is the load-out and trucking of the broken concrete included?
• Disposal. Is the concrete taken to a recycler, and is that in the number?
• Grading. Is the space left graded, ready for a new pour, gravel or soil?

If a quote leaves one of these out, ask who handles it and what it costs.

Find the demolition line first

Some contractors price the new pour all-in. Others price only the new concrete and leave the tear-out for after you sign. When you compare replacement quotes, find the demolition line before you look at anything else. If it is missing, ask whether removal is included. Our own quotes itemize it whenever old concrete is involved.

Questions to ask each contractor

• Is the tear-out in this number, and which of the four lines above does it cover?
• Are utility locates ordered before any machine digs?
• Will the edges where old concrete meets concrete that stays be saw cut?
• How will a machine reach the slab, and what happens if it cannot?
• What does the space look like when the crew leaves?
• Is this written number the one on the invoice?

Why the quote needs a visit

Size alone does not set the price, but it is only one input. Thickness, steel, how a machine reaches the work and how much has to be hauled all change the job. None of that can be judged well over the phone, so a firm number comes from a visit at the property. Our removal and demolition service page covers what we handle.

Bundled or separate

If new concrete is going in, asking for removal and the pour in one written quote is a sensible way to compare. One crew means one mobilization and the base is rebuilt while the ground is open. Keep the two as separate lines in that quote, so you can still see what the tear-out is and compare it against a removal-only quote.

What to send for a firm number

• What is coming out: driveway, patio, walk, steps or pad.
• Roughly how thick it is, from an exposed edge.
• Whether mesh or rebar shows anywhere.
• The width of the narrowest gate or path to the slab.
• What you want in its place: a new pour, gravel or soil.

Getting the number

A free written quote means a visit, measurements, options and a written number at no charge. There is no deposit to get a price and no pressure. The number on the written quote is the number on the invoice unless you change the job. New concrete we pour carries our lifetime warranty on labour. Request a free written quote and we will reply within one business day.