How to Remove Stubborn Rebar Stakes

Many projects, such as an old farm or an old or abandoned home site, generally require a lot of cleaning up. However, you’ll need to do quite of bit of reclaiming before you can move in or begin new construction. Learn how to handle leftover pieces of rebar stakes sticking out of the ground or hanging from fractured concrete.

What is Rebar and Why Do I Need to Remove It?

The sturdy steel rods called rebar offer support to poured concrete, but they’re often used for other building projects because they can handle outdoor conditions quite well. For example, you might find rebar stuck in the ground for support fence posts, holding up plants, or anchor long-gone yard decorations. You don’t want bits of rebar hanging around because it’s a safety hazard and can seriously injure anyone who falls on them.

Trying a Puller

Start by using a simple rebar puller to try and wedge the material out of the ground. These tools are similar in design to nail pullers – they hook around the end of the rebar stake and rely on leverage to slide the rod up. While some pullers are only designed for bent or mushroom-headed rods, others offer a tight vise grip at the end you can attach to straight and short lengths. If you don’t want to buy another tool just to yank out a few pieces of rebar, try creating an improvised tool by:

• Attaching a pair of handled vise grips to the midpoint of the rod
• Grabbing a two-by-four or other similar piece of lumber that is at least three feet long
• Placing the lumber under the vice grip handles at the one foot mark so at least two feet are poking out one side or the other
• Pulling upward on the long end of the lumber to create a lever effect that presses upwards on the vise grips

Utilizing the Rebar Bender

Of course, pullers and other tools are much easier to use when there’s a bent tip on the end of the rebar. This gives the tool something to press against. Grip style pullers often slide along the metal instead of getting a good hold when there’s grease or a flaky layer of rust on the surface. Try a portable rebar bender to quickly add a hook at the end for getting a better grasp. If you don’t mind the rebar but want to prevent the trip hazard, consider bending the material all the way down to the ground and hammering it under the surface of the soil.

Trimming with a Rebar Cutter

The fastest and easiest solution for unwanted rebar involves little more than a handy rebar cutter. Clear the dirt and grass away from the rod, then trim the material right at the surface level to smooth the ground out again. You can even dig down a bit so the cut edge is buried and unable to damage your mower blades or other yard equipment. There’s little need to go through the trouble of pulling stakes if you’re not planning to dig, excavate, or build in the area filled with old steel rods.