I'm wondering if it's feasible to break up a 7-inch thick concrete block with just a sledgehammer. I might be able to pry the blocks up, but I'm pretty sure moving them is out of the question. Would I be better off just renting a jackhammer instead?
2 Answers
Definitely go for a jackhammer. Pounding away would take forever, and you’re gonna tire out way too quickly. Just rent one and save yourself the hassle. Trust me, it’s worth it!
From my experience, a jackhammer is the way to go. I once saw two strong guys try to break a 6-inch thick patio with sledgehammers for 45 minutes and barely made a dent before they decided to rent a jackhammer. Once they switched tools, they still needed another 6 hours to finish the job! So, unless you want to spend weeks smacking away, just rent the jackhammer.
It’s wild they thought they could do it with just sledgehammers! For that thickness, I'd definitely recommend having some kind of drill to create weak points first, then go in with the sledgehammer. It’ll save you a lot of beating.