Concrete and Stone Stair Case

Removed a 100-year-old, rebar-reinforced concrete pad and replaced it with salvaged bricks and pavers for improved function and appearance. Leveled and graded the base, installed bricks with tight joints, and locked the surface with sand for long-term durability.

In the summer of 2012, I undertook a project at my parents’ home to remove an aging cement pad in the driveway and replace it with salvaged bricks and pavers. The goal was to improve the visual appeal of the area while reusing available materials. The concrete pad covered about 40 square feet and had likely been poured over a century ago, making it an especially tough demolition job.

I began by using a 20-pound sledgehammer and a set of wedges to break apart the cement. The slab was heavily reinforced with rebar, and it took more than two hours of steady hammering just to open up a single crack wide enough for the wedges to be effective. Once I had broken through the initial resistance, I was able to split the pad into manageable chunks and remove the debris from the site for disposal.

After clearing the area, I focused on grading and leveling the ground to create a proper foundation for the new surface. Using hand tools and a level, I prepared the base to ensure proper drainage and long-term stability. Then, I carefully laid out the salvaged bricks and pavers, planning their arrangement to fit together tightly and evenly across the surface.

To finish the installation, I filled the gaps between the bricks with sand, sweeping it in and compacting it to lock the surface together. The final result was a visually appealing and functional section of driveway that gave a second life to the reused materials. The project also served as a good exercise in precise layout and long-term planning for durability.

More than a decade later, the brickwork remains in excellent condition and has not required any maintenance. The project gave me hands-on experience with demolition, layout, leveling, and finishing, while also reinforcing the value of hard work and resourcefulness when dealing with old, stubborn materials.