Whether you are cracking a backyard patio slab or clearing reinforced footings on a commercial site, the tool in your hands matters as much as the labor behind it. At Arvada Rent-Alls, we have been helping Denver metro customers get this decision right since 1963, and hammers and breakers are one of the most mismatched categories we see at the counter.
This guide covers every machine in our lineup, explains who it is built for, and helps you walk out the door with the right rental the first time.
Our hammer and breaker rentals are available to both contractors and homeowners. That split matters because the two groups usually face different challenges and need different advice.
Homeowners are often tackling one-time projects: breaking up an old concrete driveway, removing a patio, busting through a slab to run plumbing, or cracking frozen ground to plant a tree. They usually want something straightforward to operate, easy to load into a truck, and powerful enough to get the job done without needing a second trip.
Contractors need the same efficiency but on a larger scale. They are managing job timelines, crew labor, and daily rental costs. The wrong tool means overtime. The right tool means wrapping up a demo phase before lunch and moving on.
Both groups are dealing with Colorado’s famously stubborn ground conditions, which we will get into below.
The Front Range is not forgiving terrain. You are working in a mix of dense clay and bentonite that locks up when dry, fill dirt loaded with old debris, compacted subgrade from previous construction, and seasonal frost lines that can reach 3 feet or more in a cold winter. Trying to work through any of that with an undersized tool is a way to burn through a full rental day and barely move the needle.
Getting to the right breaker class before you start is the most important decision you will make on a demo or excavation project.
Here is a breakdown of every tool in our Hammers and Breakers category, along with guidance on when to reach for each one.
Chipping Hammer, 35 lb Electric (Makita)
The Chipping Hammer 35 lb Electric Makita is the lightest tool in the lineup, and the one most homeowners reach for first. It is well suited for light tile removal, small concrete patches, chipping mortar joints, or breaking thin slab sections up to about 3 or 4 inches thick. No compressor needed. Plugs into standard power.
Who it is for: Homeowners tackling tile demolition, patching, or lighter concrete work. Contractors doing finish chipping or working in spaces where a bigger machine is overkill.
Who should step up: Anyone breaking concrete thicker than 4 inches or working outdoors across a large area.
Breaker Hammer, 60 lb Electric (Makita)
The Breaker Hammer 60 lb Electric Makita is the workhorse of electric handheld breakers. At 60 pounds of tool weight and serious impact energy, it handles driveways, sidewalks, patios, and slabs up to about 6 inches thick without hesitation. It is still easy enough to transport in a truck bed and runs on standard power with no compressor.
Who it is for: Homeowners breaking up a concrete driveway or removing a patio slab. Small contractors who need a powerful handheld that is quick to set up and tear down.
Who should step up: If you are dealing with rebar-reinforced concrete, a thick foundation, rocky ground, or a large footprint, look at the air-powered or machine-mounted options below.
Air-powered breakers hit harder than comparable electric models and thrive on outdoor jobs where a compressor is already on site. They require a separate air compressor rental, but the trade-off in power is significant.
Paving Breaker, 60 or 90 lb Air (Sullair)
The Sullair 60 or 90 lb Paving Breaker is what to reach for when the Makita electric is not quite enough. The 60 lb version handles heavy slabs and asphalt work. The 90 lb version is a step up for seriously thick concrete or compacted fill. Both require an air compressor, which we rent separately.
Who it is for: Contractors breaking thick asphalt or concrete slabs on outdoor job sites where a compressor is already in use. Homeowners who need more power than the electric models offer and are comfortable running an air setup.
Pairing tip: Ask our counter team about matching the right compressor to the breaker size. CFM requirements vary, and an undersized compressor will cut your tool’s effectiveness in half.
When handheld tools are not enough, machine-mounted breakers change the equation entirely. These attach to skid steers and excavators, allowing the machine to absorb recoil while delivering far more impact energy than any handheld tool can generate.
Skid Steer Breaker Attachment
The Skid Steer Breaker Attachment turns a standard skid steer into a concrete and rock demolition machine. If you already need a skid steer on-site for material handling or grading, adding the breaker attachment to your rental is one of the smartest cost-saving decisions you can make. It covers large slab areas fast, works well on thick pads and footings, and keeps your crew off the jackhammer for hours at a time.
Who it is for: Contractors running medium to large demo jobs. Homeowners tackling a significant slab removal who are comfortable operating a skid steer. Anyone who needs to break concrete efficiently across a wide area.
Best use cases: Removing a concrete pad, demolishing a large driveway, cracking up old foundations before excavation.
140 Excavator Breaker
The 140 Excavator Breaker is the most powerful tool in our lineup. When attached to our excavator rentals, it delivers the impact force needed to break reinforced concrete footings, fracture large boulders, and punch through frozen ground without slowing down. This is not a tool you use on a driveway. It is what you bring when a smaller machine would waste your day.
Who it is for: Contractors running major demolition, site clearing, or excavation projects with serious material in the ground. Projects involving rebar-heavy concrete, large rock, or mass demolition.
What makes it worth the cost: The productivity difference between a handheld breaker and an excavator-mounted breaker on a large demo job can be measured in days, not hours. If the job calls for it, the rental pays for itself quickly.
Use this as a starting point before calling the counter. Every job has variables, and our team is always happy to talk through the specifics.
No matter which tool you rent, the basics apply across the board. Our safety guides are available on-site and online, and our team handles setup at the counter. A few reminders worth keeping in mind:
Arvada Rent-Alls has served contractors and homeowners across the Denver metro area for more than 60 years. Our team at both our Arvada and Littleton locations has deep hands-on knowledge of the equipment we rent, and we are used to helping customers determine exactly which tool fits the job at hand.
Browse the full Hammers and Breakers rental lineup online, or stop in and talk to the counter team before your project starts. If you are not sure whether a handheld breaker will cut it or if you actually need a machine attachment, we will give you a straight answer.
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7 AM to 5 PM
(Closed Sundays throughout the year)
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