DIY Network

Finished In 48: Paver Patio Construction Gionni Thompson attempts a paver-patio: from demolition of the old concrete patio and leveling the earth to placing and stacking the bricks and building new stairs, all in 48 hours! From "Finished in 48" episode DF48-105

It's a family affair as Mike Harris draws on the help of his wife and sons as well as Gionni Thompson as he attempts a paver-patio. Below are ace do-it-yourselfer Gionni Thompson's top-10 tips for taking on a heavy-duty renovation project like this one. Included are general patio and paver tips as well as work-area and demolition tips and information on the safe use of heavy tools such as jackhammers.

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After

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At the base of the concrete pad, concrete overspill indicates likely indicates a hollow patio — as it did in this project.

1. Tips for Demolishing Concrete

• When deciding whether or not to break up an existing concrete pad, keep in mind that it can be a lot of work and, if you're not careful, you could become burned out on your project before you've really begun. To make things easier on yourself and give you some reassurance that you can finish the project, first determine what is beneath the surface. If there appears to be an overflow of concrete around the bottom edges of the pad you can usually assume there is a minimal amount of concrete used and the pad may in fact be hollow. This can make what first seemed to be a huge demolition job, in reality, a much easier task.
  

  	Gionni jackhammers and Mike uses the "spud barr" to get into the cracks and pry the pieces away from the pad.
  	Mike breaks up the concrete pad with the jackhammer while Gionni uses the Sawzall to cut the wire holding the big chunks together.

• If you find wire instead of rebar reinforcement in the concrete, don't get discouraged. A small, portable reciprocating saw called a "Sawzal" can help you cut up the wire so that you can remove the jackhammer-demolished pieces as you go. This will give you more room to work and make your job much easier than trying to rip the concrete from the wire by hand or picking it all up at the end.
  
• Even if there is not rebar running throughout the concrete, there is a good chance that there will be a rebar anchor attached to your house, up against the foundation. If this is the case, you can use a reciprocating saw with a metal blade to cut the anchor. You want to cut it off as close to the wall as possible, but you can use a 5-lb. hammer to pound any remaining anchor into the foundation. Then, epoxy the hole to give it a smooth, clean look and keep water from leaking into the house.

• To aid in breaking up the concrete, use a "spud bar" in conjunction with the jackhammer. Jam the flat end of the spud bar into the cracks formed by the jackhammer, firmly grip the handle with both hands, and use leverage to pry chunks of concrete from the pad for removal.

• Safety Tips: Be careful lifting big chunks of concrete as you can injure yourself rather easily. Bend straight down at the knees and use your legs to lift, not your back. If the wheelbarrow you are using to haul concrete starts to tip, just let it go. Do not try to save it or you may get crushed by falling concrete! You are better off picking up the pieces and starting over than injuring yourself trying to save a little time.

Mike demonstrates proper form when using the jackhammer, keeping it straight up and down with safety in mind.

2. Jackhammer Tips

• Make sure the hose is completely hooked up to the jackhammer before starting up the compressor or you may have a "wild hose chase" on your hands, which could potentially injure anyone in the vicinity.

• Face away from any windows or glass that you don't want broken by flying debris.

• Hold the jackhammer straight up and down and make sure you have a firm grip on the handle before beginning.

• Push down the handle trigger and hold it down as you drive the bit straight down into the concrete and work it back up the same way.

• Wear steel-toed boots and watch your toes as you work because it will jump around on you.

• Keep the compressor hose to the side of your feet or behind you if possible and be mindful of where it is while you work so as not to put a hole in it.

• Safety Tip: Always use earplugs and be sure to wear eye protection and gloves whenever you are working with or around a jackhammer that is in use, or you could be in a world of hurt by the end of your project.

A giant dumpster such as this can give you the room you need to get rid of all that concrete, but be careful how you fill it or you could be making more work for yourself.

General Outdoor Work-Area Tips

3. Make sure you have a good clear path to work along and haul stuff by. If you know you are going to be making a lot of trips from the backyard to the front and vise-versa, it may be beneficial for you to remove a panel of your fence so that you have quick and easy access to all areas of the project. If using a large dumpster with an opening that is not flush with the ground, you can use a piece of plywood and some cinder blocks to create a makeshift ramp so that you can get the wheelbarrow right up into the big trash bin, saving you energy and time.

4. With a large dumpster, be sure to think ahead about how is the best way to utilize the space you have. Try to keep everything toward the back to start, filling it first and then working toward the front of the dumpster. This is so as not to block off your access to the rest of the bin, which is what will happen if you just start dumping heavy debris haphazardly. Then you're stuck moving the stuff you already moved to clear a path for more dumping. Do it right from the start.

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