Concrete Demolition and Removal in Casper, Wyoming

Casper's refinery history shows how much concrete ends up under an industrial site. The old refinery along the river closed in 1991, after nearly a century of operation, and the ground is now being redeveloped as a mix of parks, trails and business space. Every site with that kind of past has slabs, footings, tank rings and buried foundations nobody has drawn in years.

We demolish and remove slabs, footings, pads, walls, curbs, sidewalks and pavement. Work ranges from a single driveway panel to a full building foundation. The job is not just breaking concrete. It is finding what is underneath, handling the debris legally, protecting what stays and leaving a subgrade that the next contractor can use.

We plan each demolition around three questions: what is being removed, what stays and where does the material go? A clear answer to each saves days and money.

Redevelopment and renewal

The east side refinery went through a roughly $200 million modernization that replaced a crude unit and units built in 1928, 1948 and 1955, with new tanks and a gas-fired heating plant. Modernization like that means removal of old foundations and pads before new ones go in. Plants, yards and terminals across the metro have layer after layer of old foundations in the ground, and manufacturing plants that expand run into them.

Downtown Casper and the Old Yellowstone District also see steady demolition as properties are cleared for redevelopment. Public and private owners clearing a lot usually want the debris removed, the site graded and a clean surface for the next contractor. We coordinate with demolition and site prep crews so the structure above comes down before the slab below is broken.

Breaking concrete safely

Demolition has hazards that building does not. Collapsing slabs, flying debris, silica dust, noise and heavy equipment all require controls. Before breaking begins we check for utilities, tanks, pits and voids, and we confirm that gas, power, water and process lines are shut off and verified. Excavators with hydraulic breakers work from stable ground and keep clear zones around them.

Rebar becomes a hazard when concrete is pulled apart. We cut and sort it so it does not snag equipment or puncture tires. Dust is suppressed with water, and respirators are required when exposure may exceed limits. On contaminated sites, we follow the owner's environmental plan for handling, sampling and disposal, and we do not mix suspect debris with clean material.

From saw line to haul-off

Most removals start with a saw cut at the boundary so the break is clean and the adjacent concrete stays intact. Then the slab is broken into pieces that trucks can handle, rebar is separated and the material is loaded. Foundations and footings need more care because they can be deeper and heavier than they look. Excavation around them has to be sloped or shored.

Clean concrete can be crushed and reused as base, if the project allows. Mixed debris goes to an approved facility, and we keep weight tickets for the owner. Hell's Half Acre, about 40 miles west of Casper along US 20/26, had a small restaurant and motel on the ravine that closed in 2005 and were later demolished, a reminder that haul distances in Natrona County can be long and have to be planned into every job.

One scope, from cut to grade

We coordinate sawing, breaking, loading and basic grading as one scope, so the same team that manages the removal of a foundation can leave the hole backfilled and compacted. That matters when the next trade is waiting. A removal that leaves a loose hole costs the next contractor time and invites settlement.

For larger projects, we pair with the earthwork crew for import, export and haul-off and with the sawing and coring crew for precise boundary cuts. If new concrete will go back where old concrete was, we can place it in the same mobilization, with new base and rebar in place.

Permits, notifications and records

Demolition permits are required for most structures, and the City of Casper reviews commercial work with engineered plans and, in many cases, Planning and Zoning approval. Utility disconnect confirmations are part of the file. If asbestos or other regulated materials are in play, an environmental survey comes first.

We keep records: disposal tickets, recycling weights, survey photos and notes on what we found underground. On a former industrial property, a clear record of what was removed and where it went is as valuable as the clean site. Owners and lenders ask for it later.

On the old refinery ground at Platte River Commons, where a remedy agreement from 2002 still governs how the land is handled, documentation is not optional. We write down depths, materials and disposal destinations as we go, and we flag anything that smells, stains or looks out of place before we move it.

What changes the price

Thickness, reinforcing and access are the main variables. A 4-inch slab with wire mesh breaks quickly. A 12-inch slab with two mats of bars takes longer and produces heavy debris. Equipment access affects whether we use a large excavator with a breaker or smaller machines with hand tools.

Disposal is the other large item. Hauling and tipping fees depend on the type and weight of material, and long distances add cost. Salvage and recycling can reduce the net price when the concrete is clean and the project allows crushing. We separate these items in the quote so you can see where the money goes. Our commercial developer clients often ask us to include grading after removal, which we price as an option.

Describe what comes out

Tell us what is being removed, what stays, and where the debris can go. We will give you a plan, a duration and a price with disposal shown separately.

Questions Owners Ask

Do you handle concrete recycling?

Where it is allowed, yes. Clean concrete can be crushed and reused as base or fill. We check the project requirements and the receiving facility rules, and we keep tickets showing where it went.

How do you know what is under the slab?

We review old drawings, scan with ground-penetrating radar when needed, and probe in test holes. On older industrial sites we assume there may be unrecorded pits, sumps, footings and utilities, and we plan for surprises.

Can you demolish next to an occupied building?

Yes, with controls. We saw-cut boundaries, use lower-vibration methods near sensitive structures, suppress dust and limit work to agreed hours. A vibration monitor can be added when an owner wants documentation.

What about rebar and steel?

Rebar is separated and sent to a scrap recycler when possible. Embedded steel plates, bolts and conduit are removed as part of the work. We cut protruding bars at the boundary so no one catches a trouser leg or a tire.

How long does a typical removal take?

It depends on size and thickness. A small commercial slab can come out in a day. A deep foundation can take a week or more, especially with shoring. We give a schedule with the quote, and we tell you if hidden conditions change it.

Related

Ready to talk about your project?