When You Need Demolition: 5 Red Flags
Tempting as it is to pour new concrete over old, doing so almost always leads to failure. Here's when full demolition is the only right answer.
1. Settlement or Heaving
If your existing slab has moved significantly — settled into the ground or heaved up — the sub-base has failed. You must excavate, re-compact the base, and pour fresh. No overlay will fix soil movement.
2. Widespread Cracking
A few surface cracks can sometimes be patched, but if more than 25% of the slab shows structural cracking, replacement is more cost-effective over time.
3. Height Constraints
Adding a new slab on top raises the grade. This can cause drainage problems, create trip hazards at doorways, or violate garage floor height requirements.
4. Delaminating or Hollow Spots
Tap the concrete with a hammer. Hollow sounds indicate voids beneath the surface — the slab has separated from the base. Overlays will fail quickly over voids.
5. Poor Original Installation
If the original pour was too thin (under 3.5"), lacked reinforcement, or had an inadequate base, no amount of patching will fix structural shortcomings. Start fresh.
TexTex Concrete handles full concrete demolition and removal throughout DFW. We haul off all debris and prep the site properly for a long-lasting new installation. Learn about our demolition services.