What is the best way to remove a concrete driveway?

We have an old cracked concrete driveway running down the side of our house which we don't use. We would like to remove it to make space for a garden. What is the best way to go about removing it?

By best, I mean cheapest and easiest, in that order.

If you or someone you know has a metal detector run it over your old driveway to see if there is mesh or rebar in it. Or you can start on an edge and see if you run into any. If it does your in for a lot of work even if you rent a skid steer for the day. If it doesnt it will break apart surprisingly easy. I do concrete work for a lving and if a driveway has mesh or rebar in it I hire a guy to come in and tear it out with his excavator. He charges me around a buck a foot. Hes done in a couple hours. Worth every penny. If it doesnt have mesh or rebar I do it with my skid steer, sledge hammer and a pry bar. Get under a section And start breaking it up at the furthest point away from your bucket to closest to the bucket. A couple pops with your sledge and it breaks. I think its fun. Then just scoop it up with your bucket. good luck

Go to a DIY store and ask for an electric breaker, you will get a yellow transformer, and a breaker with suitable chisels. Hire on a Friday and return on Monday , plugs into normal 13 amp socket.

CHEAP is probably relative to what you acquire to do the job. EASY may not at all be the case, as a DIY.

Obviously renting a piece of equipment dictates that it will be a DIY.

Without knowing at all, the length/width/thickness of the drive; yet knowing the approximate weight of a slab of concrete/stone mix in even 1 foot squares at 4 to 6 inches thick,,, you probably should expect a tedious time, and enlist anyone you can to help.

Since you seem to NOT want a backhoe, you probably could use a couple Wheelbarrows, a couple of Pick axes, some shovels, rakes, a place and means to get rid of the broken drive, and a decent nights sleep before the fact.

Obviously our own labor in a DIY is usually discounted, but it still exists.

Steven Wolf

Rent a "Bobcat" loader and a dumpster. Have fun!

It's call a jackhammer and a lot of work

This is not the kind of project for the weekend warrior when you consider you will be in pain for two weeks trying to recover from doing some actual work .

Hire someone to come in and do it .
About $600.00 ought to do it .

Lots of wisdom so far.
A little more.......
Have broken up a fair amount of concrete around my house w/ just a heavy sledge hammer & pry bars.
The real problem is...... getting rid of the broken concrete.
Even a small walkway can leave tons of rubble.
Got lucky & had it all removed for free by a contractor looking for clean fill .
Really is something to consider.
Best regards.