Groundworking Equipment

Tools And Equipment For Groundworking

The excavation and ground work necessary on a construction site can be made easier and completed faster by employing the use of several key pieces of equipment.

After the site has been surveyed, inspected, and a work shedule drawn up, the sourcing of construction equipment and small plant tools should be done in readiness for the groundworking tasks needed.

A key tool which will be required is a heavy duty concrete breaker. Powered by either electric, air, or hydraulic (with a petrol or diesel power pack) a breaker is used for breaking up concrete and stone work prior to foundations being laid.  

This piece of equipment is fitted with a choice of chisels (bull point, tapered, sharp, or flat blade type) depending on the material being cut into and also the profile required. If a relatively straight edge is required if breaking into a concrete slab then the flat blade type of chisel would commonly be used. Alternatively if it is just a case of breaking up and removing an existing stone slab or blocks the standard pointed chisel would suffice.  

Electric models of breakers are typically used for work of up to approximately 2 to 4″ in depth. Above this and for heavy concrete a hydraulic breaker is normally the tool of choice. A hydraulic breaker uses hydraulic power in conjuction with a special breaker unit (normally with an integral sealed gas cylinder) to transmit high force to the stone work breaking it up into the desired size. The hydraulic pump unit is powered by either a petrol or diesel engine power pack. Different sizes and specifications of this type of breaker are available, either to hire or buy, depending on your requirements.