If you are in the market for a new concrete patio, your old and damaged concrete patio will have to be removed. And while your concrete contractor can take care of this project for you, it comes with an added expense. If you want to save some money on your concrete patio project, you can always break up and remove your old patio on your own. But once you have completed this task, you are left with a big pile of concrete chunks. You might think that these chunks of concrete are an eyesore, but there are uses for them if you are the creative type. Not only will using broken concrete keep it out of the local landfill, but it could also be used for a creative purpose.
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Benefits of Concrete Repurposing
Repurposing concrete not only helps reduce the waste at landfills, but it also extends the life of our landfills, and it saves on the money contractors have to spend disposing of concrete waste. There is also the benefit of saving time and money in transportation costs associated with hauling concrete leftovers to the landfill. It might not seem like much, but if enough people reuse their broken concrete, it makes a huge difference.
Build a Walkway
There is no reason to spend your hard-earned money on pavers or large stones you tend to see used for walkways to the garden. Broken concrete comes in all sorts of shapes, and it looks a lot like pavers anyway. All you need to do is dig out the area where you want your walkway and make a base of sand or crushed rock right before you install the broken pieces of concrete. You will be surprised by how great it looks and how much money you save.
Build a Garden Wall
You can use your broken concrete leftovers to build a short wall around your garden. All you need to do is find several pieces of concrete that are about the same size and arrange them so they are relatively even. After you have figured out the right combination, dig a six or seven-inch trench around the garden and stack the concrete pieces to form your wall.
You might not be satisfied with a plain gray concrete wall or other project; we get that. If gray concrete does not fit into the design of your landscape, there are ways in which you can give broken concrete a new look. One way in which you can spruce up your broken concrete is by utilizing your artistic skills. Go to your local art store and get some paint and brushes and make designs on the concrete. If you have absolutely no art skills, you can always use concrete stain to give your concrete a fresh new look.
Recycling Concrete
If you have no interest in repurposing your leftover chunks of concrete, you can always have it recycled. Recycling concrete is another way in which you can reduce transportations costs and extend the life of landfills. Concrete is recycled by utilizing large impactors that crush the concrete into small pieces. The concrete is then screened to remove dirt and other particles. The concrete is then flushed with water, and magnets are used to remove metal elements. Recycled concrete can be used in the same way you use traditional concrete. There are plenty of other uses for recycled concrete as well.
Where to Take Your Concrete for Recycling
There are several places you can take your concrete in Northern Colorado to have your concrete recycled. You can take your concrete to the Timberline Recycling Center if you are in Fort Collins, or you can stop by the Recycling Center if you are in Loveland.
