How to Remove a Concrete Anchor Bolt

When you install a concrete anchor bolt, it is meant to stay put. The entire point of a concrete anchor bolt is to make an attachment between concrete and a structure. If the concrete anchor bolt has been properly installed it will be very difficult to remove, but even the toughest bolt can still be sometimes removed using enough strength. You can remove the concrete anchor bolt yourself with effort, trial and error. The following article will show you how to do this and is designed that if the first fails you can move to the next.

Step 1 - Force

Place your pry bar against the plate of the anchor. Use the hammer and strike the pry bar so that it becomes lodged under the anchor plate. Use your strength and press down on the anchor plate to bend as much of it upward as possible. Follow up with the pliers to get a much better grip to aid in your efforts. You may need to drill holes in the plate then use the hammer to chip away at it. Eventually you will see the concrete anchor bolt. Use the grinder to cut the anchor bolt and then grind it down until it is flush with the concrete.

Step 2 - Anchor Bolt and Nuts

Place the threaded nuts onto the concrete anchor bolt. It's important that they're very tight and flush with the bolt's upper side. Grip the nuts with a pair of pliers and pull up. If the concrete anchor bolts were not properly set, then this method could remove it. This method is the least likely to work, as concrete is very strong, and anchor bolts will grip the concrete. This melding of the two essentially makes the bolt part of the concrete.

Step 3 - 2x4

Place one end of the 2x4 on top of the concrete anchor bolt while you hold the other end. Use the small mallet and strike the 2x4 with increasing velocity. After a period of time doing this, the bolt should come loose and then you can remove it. Be very careful when using this method. You don't want to break the 2x4, but you also don't want to accidentally strike the bolt, as you could bend it which will make removing it more difficult.

Step 4 - Pipe Wrench or Vice Grips

Grip the top of the concrete anchor bolt with either the pipe wrench or vice grips. Use the leverage provided by the wrench or grip until the bolt comes loose. It is important that the bolt stays straight. If this does not work, you can add a pipe to the end of the pipe wrench. Twist the wrench slowly to increase torque. When using the pipe as leverage, go slowly, as you do not want to bend the pipe. Doing so will make it ineffectual as a tool by decreasing the leverage you can utilize.