Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Not two projects are the same, but lots of them are at least SIMILAR. Not this one.
For this deck demolition we had to deal with the typical tools--circ saw, recip saw, pry bars--for railing removal, decking removal and undoing the framing--but we also had a concrete block bunker under the deck we needed to manage.
And all of it was very DIY from decades ago, so trying to read the original builder's mind to undo what he did was impossible. Nothing came close to making sense.
- The deck's stair posts were literally set on the ground. No footing. No concrete
- But the bunker, holy crap. Below grade, mortar-filled block webs I'd have to smash to death to get out. Solution: We get them close enough to grade and we just backfill the hole thing with a gravel product called "3/4-clean"
- I normally manage this operation with my dump truck, but Hector The Collector was in the shop, so for the block, I went old school and used my utility trailer for the 3,000-pounds of block, inter-mixed brick, mortar and stucco
- Disposal note: The facility I take most of my waste to accepts concrete block at a discounted per ton rate--unless it has paint on it. Then, it is treated as general refuse and charged the typical rate
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Not two projects are the same, but lots of them are at least SIMILAR. Not this one.
For this deck demolition we had to deal with the typical tools--circ saw, recip saw, pry bars--for railing removal, decking removal and undoing the framing--but we also had a concrete block bunker under the deck we needed to manage.
And all of it was very DIY from decades ago, so trying to read the original builder's mind to undo what he did was impossible. Nothing came close to making sense.
- The deck's stair posts were literally set on the ground. No footing. No concrete
- But the bunker, holy crap. Below grade, mortar-filled block webs I'd have to smash to death to get out. Solution: We get them close enough to grade and we just backfill the hole thing with a gravel product called "3/4-clean"
- I normally manage this operation with my dump truck, but Hector The Collector was in the shop, so for the block, I went old school and used my utility trailer for the 3,000-pounds of block, inter-mixed brick, mortar and stucco
- Disposal note: The facility I take most of my waste to accepts concrete block at a discounted per ton rate--unless it has paint on it. Then, it is treated as general refuse and charged the typical rate
👉 For more DIY Tips and how-to, subscribe to MyFixitUpLife: youtube.com/user/myfixituplife?sub_confirmation=1
👉 To learn more about MyFixitUpLife with Mark & Theresa: http://linktr.ee/myfixituplife
👉For more about these stories:
