Every week homeowners call CountBricks asking the same thing: how much does it cost to remove concrete slab in my driveway, basement, or patio? The answer matters because slab removal is often step one before pouring a new foundation, installing radiant heat, or creating livable space. Knowing the price up front helps you compare bids, set budgets, and avoid schedule-killing surprises.
Across CountBricks residential projects nationwide, we see three broad cost bands for slab removal:
• Light-duty interior slabs (2–4 inches thick, < 300 sq ft): $3–$6 per square foot
• Standard exterior slabs (4–6 inches thick, 300–800 sq ft): $5–$9 per square foot
• Heavy footings or reinforced structural slabs (6+ inches thick, > 800 sq ft): $8–$15 per square foot
These figures include labor, equipment, disposal, and basic site protection. Your actual number can sit above or below the range depending on the five factors that follow.
• Slab thickness & reinforcement – Thicker concrete and rebar grids require larger breakers, diamond saws, and more haul-off time.
• Access & logistics – Tight Brooklyn alleyways or basement stairs mean smaller equipment and hand-carry debris, raising labor hours.
• Disposal fees – Landfill rates vary by county. CountBricks negotiates bulk rates but urban areas still pay a premium.
• Hazardous materials – Older homes may have vapor barriers or tiles with asbestos mastic under the slab. Certified abatement adds cost.
• Site restoration – After concrete is gone you may need fill, compaction, and grading. CountBricks bundles these tasks to reduce mobilizations.
Traditional estimating involves tape measures, clipboards, and waiting days for a quote. With CountBricks voice-to-estimate software, our project managers capture dimensions, thickness, and site photos while walking the slab with you. The AI references regional labor databases, current landfill fees, and equipment schedules to create a line-item estimate on the spot.
1. Speak measurements and conditions into the CountBricks mobile app.
2. AI generates material quantities, labor hours, and dump fees in seconds.
3. Review a polished PDF sent instantly to your inbox.
4. Sign electronically and schedule demolition without ever printing a page.
Visit CountBricks.com/services to see a demo of real-time estimating in action.
• Concrete volume: 500 sq ft × 5 in thick = 10.4 yd³
• Labor & equipment: Two demo techs + skid steer + 60-lb breaker = 16 labor hrs.
• Disposal: 10.4 yd³ × $45/yd³ tipping fee = $468.
• Consumables: Saw blades, dust control = $120.
• Site protection & cleanup: Poly sheeting, plywood ramp, power wash = $280.
Total cost produced by CountBricks AI: $3,550 or $7.10 per square foot.
• Underground utilities mis-marked by 811 calls can delay work.
• Weekend noise ordinances in residential zones may require premium-time pay.
• Water intrusion after slab removal might need temporary drainage.
CountBricks anticipates these risks and includes contingency lines in every proposal so you are never blindsided.
• Schedule slab removal alongside new concrete placement—one mobilization cost.
• Let CountBricks crush onsite debris into sub-base when local code allows, slashing dump fees.
• Use our AI blueprint takeoff to combine multiple demo areas in the same contract to unlock volume discounts.
1. AI pre-bid assessment over live call.
2. Digitally signed estimate and deposit through CountBricks.com.
3. Utility locate and permit pulled by CountBricks PM.
4. Crew mobilizes with calibrated equipment and dust suppression.
5. Slab is cut, broken, removed, and area compacted.
6. Final walkthrough and e-invoice generated on site.
• Integrated estimating, scheduling, and invoicing reduce handoffs and errors.
• Real-time cost tracking keeps homeowners informed every day.
• CountBricks carries specialized residential insurance policies, protecting finished spaces.
• Our portfolio at CountBricks.com/portfolio showcases basements, garages, and patios transformed after precise slab removal.
If you are still wondering how much does it cost to remove concrete slab in your specific home, book a free 15-minute live estimate at CountBricks.com/consultation. You will know your exact number before the call ends—no guesswork, no spreadsheets, just actionable data powered by CountBricks.
A recent CountBricks project in Park Slope involved lowering a 19th-century basement floor to create eight additional inches of ceiling height. The first task: remove a 700 sq ft concrete slab poured in the 1970s.
• Slab thickness: 4.5 inches with wire mesh
• Access: narrow garden entry, no alley for dumpsters
• Deadline: one week to keep underpinning on schedule
1. The superintendent used the CountBricks mobile app to capture dimensions and record voice notes about limited access.
2. AI generated a line-item cost of $5,020, including labor, compact electric breakers (to meet NYC noise codes), and debris bagging instead of roll-off containers.
3. Crew staged debris in super-sacks, hoisted them to the street with a spider crane, and met the one-week deadline.
4. Updated costs were pushed to the client’s dashboard daily, confirming the final invoice matched the original estimate within 2 %.
• Early digital estimating prevents scope creep when site constraints are tight.
• Alternative disposal methods can keep costs stable even when dumpsters are impossible.
• Transparent cost tracking builds trust and speeds payment approvals.
If your renovation plans start with “rip out the old slab,” don’t gamble on ballpark numbers. Use CountBricks.com to schedule a live video walk-through, get an AI-driven cost, and lock in your timeline today.
