Demolition and Slab Replacement in Wyoming

Salt, plows and frost kill slabs. Gillette sees about 55.7 inches of snow in an average year and sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a. Rawlins gets about 54.1 inches and has recorded temperatures from 98 F to minus 36 F. Concrete that sits through those swings, takes de-icing chemicals and carries loaded trucks all winter will crack, scale and settle. Eventually it has to come out.

We demolish and replace failing slabs in industrial yards and buildings: warehouse floors, dock aprons, truck courts, equipment pads and process floors. The work is not just breaking and pouring. It is finding out why the old slab failed, so the new one does not fail the same way in the same place.

Most failures trace to the same few causes: poor subgrade, water under the slab, no joints or joints in the wrong place, too little thickness for the loads and weak concrete. We open the slab, look at what is underneath and fix the cause. Then we pour a slab designed for the truck or forklift that actually uses it.

Why Slabs Fail Here

Freeze-thaw cycles are the headline. Water gets into joints and cracks, freezes, expands and breaks the surface. De-icing chemicals make it worse by pulling more water into the concrete and promoting scaling. Dry climates do not save a slab, since snowmelt can sit on a poorly drained surface for weeks. Laramie County lists a 36 inch frost line for design, and any slab that bears on frost-susceptible soil can heave when that soil freezes.

Loads are the second cause. Forklift traffic concentrates weight on small wheels. Heavy trucks turn on aprons. Racking stands on small bases. A slab designed for light use will crack and curl under that. Before replacing, we ask what the new slab will carry and design to that, not to what the last one was supposed to carry.

From Saw Cut to Cure

Replacement begins with a survey and a plan for what stays and what goes. We saw cut the limits so the edge of the new slab is clean, break and remove the old concrete, load and haul it, and then inspect the subgrade. Soft spots get removed and rebuilt with compacted structural fill. Drainage gets corrected so water leaves the area instead of collecting under the new slab.

The new slab gets a base, a vapor barrier where the building needs one, reinforcing, dowels at joints, and a mix suited to the climate and use. We place, finish, cure and saw joints on time. See our work on industrial concrete floors and dock aprons and loading zones for the details of each.

Keeping the Operation Running

A replaced slab is out of service while it cures. For a dock apron, that may be a few doors at a time. For an interior floor, it may be a bay or a section. We phase the work to keep the operation moving, with temporary access routes, dust control and clear traffic markings. Where the owner can shut a section down for a long weekend, we plan a pour that fits it.

Season matters more than owners expect. Concrete placed in the cold needs protection, heat and slower finishing. We prefer to pour in warm months when we can, and we have the blankets, heaters and enclosures to pour in cold ones when we must. Load restrictions on new concrete apply until it reaches strength, and we tell owners the date they can drive on it.

Find the Cause, Then Fix It

We core the old slab, probe the base and measure the thickness. If the slab is thin, we increase it. If water is getting in, we fix the grading and the joints. If the subgrade is weak, we rebuild it. If the problem is a bad mix or poor curing, we specify a better one. Photographs and test results go in the closeout file.

We also look at joints. The sealants and joint fillers that hold up on a dock approach are not the same as those used on a warehouse floor. Wrong joints let water in, which brings the problem back. We select fillers for the load and temperature range and detail them for repair at the next interval.

What a Replacement Costs and Why

The price follows thickness, area, reinforcement, subgrade repair and access. Hauling distance for old concrete and the cost of disposal matter on remote sites. Phasing around an operating plant increases labor and traffic control. Cold weather adds heat and protection.

Replacement versus repair is a real choice. Partial-depth patches and overlays can work for surface problems, but they do not fix a bad subgrade. We tell owners when a patch is a good value and when it is just delay. Operators in logistics and distribution often prefer to replace once, with a slab that matches current equipment.

Safe Demolition Around Live Operations

Breaking concrete makes dust, noise and flying debris. Silica dust is a health concern, so we wet-cut and use dust collection or water suppression. We barricade work zones and keep the public and other trades out. Cutting near utilities means locating them first, so we scan and mark before opening the ground.

Heavy equipment and loaded trucks share the site during demolition. We separate pedestrian and vehicle routes, use spotters and follow the owner's lockout and orientation rules. Cold weather adds ice and short days, so we light the work area and clear walking paths each morning. If you are also taking out a structure, read about industrial demolition services.

Show us the slab and the loads

Show us the slab, the loads and the dates you can close an area. We will core a few spots, tell you what failed and give you a replacement plan with phasing. For regional context, see how we work in Gillette and Rawlins, where snow and cold drive most of the damage.

Common Questions

How do I know whether to replace or repair a failing slab?

Look at cause and extent. If cracks are limited and the base is sound, repairs and joint work can extend life. If the slab is settling, scaling over large areas, or cracking from overloading, replacement is the better value. We core and probe a few spots, then give you both options with costs.

How long before we can drive on new concrete?

Light foot traffic can start the next day. Forklifts and loaded trucks need the concrete to reach design strength, which depends on the mix, the temperature and curing. Cold weather slows strength gain. We test cylinders or use maturity methods and tell you when the area is ready.

Can you replace part of a floor without shutting down the whole building?

Yes, in most cases. We saw cut sections, build barriers and phase the work bay by bay. Dust control and traffic planning are important. The owner decides which areas can be closed and for how long, and we build the plan around those windows.

What thickness should the new slab be?

It depends on the loads. Light-duty floors are thinner, while heavy forklift and truck areas need thicker slabs with reinforcement and dowels. A structural or geotechnical engineer sets the design values. We bring them in early and share your equipment list so the slab matches how you operate.

Do you deal with the old concrete?

Yes. We haul and dispose of it in accordance with local rules, and in many places it can be crushed for base material. On remote sites, we may crush it on site to cut hauling. We handle permits and tell you what is practical for the location.