Rock Breaking Perth
Perth's underground limestone is one of the most common challenges on residential excavation and trenching jobs. Once the sandy topsoil is gone, the machine hits rock and standard GP buckets stop making progress. That is where the hydraulic hammer comes in.
Hydraulic rock breaker on Komatsu PC18 and PC55
Limestone, hardpan, rock and concrete breaking
Komatsu-trained operators manage attachment changeovers on site
Paired with excavation or trenching in one hire rate
When You Need Rock Breaking on a Perth Site
Most Perth residential blocks start with sand - sometimes 300mm, sometimes a metre or more. Below that, limestone is common in the coastal suburbs, the northern corridor, and the Hills edge. When the bucket stops cutting cleanly and the machine starts rocking instead of digging, you have hit rock.
We run hydraulic rock breaker attachments on the Komatsu PC18 and PC55. The breaker cracks and fragments the limestone or rock, and the GP bucket then clears the broken material. It is slower than sandy ground digging, but it is controlled and it gets through.
Rock breaking is almost always paired with another service - excavation, trenching, pool digs or soakwell installation. Tell us at the quoting stage if you expect hard ground, and we bring the right setup from the start.
Jobs Where Rock Breaking Is Commonly Needed
- Pool excavations in the western and northern suburbs where limestone is shallow
- Stormwater and sewer trenches that pass through the limestone layer
- Soakwell installations where the pit needs to pass through rock to reach sandy subsoil
- Site cuts on blocks with a limestone cap under the topsoil
- Demolition of old concrete driveways, footings and paths
- Breaking up rubble fill material before excavation can continue
Tell Us About Hard Ground When You Book
Rock breaking changes the job duration significantly. A 20m trench in sand might take 3 hours. The same trench through limestone can take a full day. We price this correctly and bring the breaker setup from the start rather than losing half a day when the bucket hits rock.
Not Sure Which Machine The Job Needs? Ask Us.
Call Us NowOur Rock Breaking Equipment in Perth
PC18
Komatsu 1.8t
Compact rock breaker for tight access and residential jobs
PC55
Komatsu 5.5t
More powerful breaker for thick limestone and harder rock
2
Breaker Sizes
Matched to machine size for maximum efficiency
On Site
Fitters On Board
Operators change attachments themselves - no delay
| Machine | Attachment | Suitable For | Not Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Komatsu PC18 (1.8t) | Light hydraulic hammer | Soft limestone, thin rock layers, concrete slabs | Very thick solid limestone, basalt |
| Komatsu PC55 (5.5t) | Medium hydraulic hammer | Medium limestone, rubble, thick concrete, rock cap | Very hard igneous rock, deep solid formations |
Rock breaker attachment guide for Perth ground conditions
If you hit rock harder than limestone - such as granite or basalt found near the Hills - we will tell you honestly if our equipment is the right tool. We do not run machines beyond their capability.
Rock Breaking vs Standard Excavation
Rock Breaking (Hard Ground)
- Hydraulic hammer breaks material before bucket clears
- Slower progress - limestone takes 3-5x longer than sand
- Higher day rate - breaker attachment costs more
- Necessary when GP bucket cannot penetrate the ground
- Often paired with a GP bucket on the same machine
Standard Excavation (Sand and Soft Ground)
- GP bucket cuts through sand and soft fill quickly
- Faster progress - a good operator moves volume efficiently
- Lower effective cost per cubic metre of material moved
- Suitable for the majority of Perth residential sites
- Rock breaker not needed unless hard layers are hit
“We dig, trench, break rock and cart the spoil away. Perth limestone is not a problem we hand back to you.”
Plant Hire Perth
Rock Breaking Pricing in Perth
| Machine + Attachment | Indicative Rate (from) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Komatsu PC18 + light hammer | From $1,700/day | Tight access, residential, soft limestone |
| Komatsu PC55 + medium hammer | From $2,000/day | Thicker limestone, concrete, general rock |
| Spoil cartage (8t tipper) | Call for rate | Broken rock removal, per load or per day |
Rock Breaking Takes Longer - Budget Accordingly
If your job involves rock breaking, plan for more machine days than a comparable soft-ground job. We will give you a realistic estimate when we quote. Surprises in the ground happen - we let you know as they arise rather than running the day and presenting a large invoice.
Pairing Rock Breaking with Other Services
- Rock breaking + excavation: breaker fragments the rock, bucket clears it in the same session
- Rock breaking + trenching: we break through the limestone layer, then cut the trench to required depth
- Rock breaking + soakwell install: breaking through rock to reach sandy subsoil for soakwell drainage
- Rock breaking + tipper: broken rock and rubble carted off site in the same mobilisation
The Rest Of The Fleet
Most jobs need more than one machine. Everything below comes off the same yard, so it can turn up on the same day and go on the same invoice.
Excavator Hire
Komatsu 1.7t to 15t · PC18 · PC55 · PC138
Komatsu diggers from 1.7t to 15t, including the PC18, PC55 and PC138.
Excavator Hire
Mini Excavator Hire
Komatsu PC18 (1.8t) · rock breaker · plant trailer included
Komatsu PC18 1.8t for tight backyard and side access, rock breaker available.
Mini Excavator Hire
Bobcat Hire
Bobcat T450 · T590 · S590 · tracked or wheeled · 4-in-1 buckets
Bobcat T450, T590 and S590 skid steers with 4-in-1 buckets for levelling and clean-up.
Bobcat Hire
Skid Steer Hire
1.7t to 4.2t · tracked or wheeled · 4-in-1 bucket
Tracked and wheeled skid steer loaders 1.7t to 4.2t, matched to your ground.
Skid Steer Hire
Forklift Hire
2.5t to 5t · hardstand or rough terrain
Counterbalance forklifts 2.5t to 5t for yards, warehouses and building sites.
Forklift Hire
Scissor & Boom Lifts
6.3m to 9.8m working height · scissor · boom
Scissor lifts and boom lifts 6.3m to 9.8m working height, indoor or rough terrain.
Scissor & Boom Lifts
Telehandler Hire
2.6t to 5t · forks, bucket or jib · rough terrain
Telescopic handlers 2.6t to 5t that reach up and over, not just straight up.
Telehandler Hire
Generator Hire
Single or three phase · silenced units available
Diesel site and standby power, sized on your real load, delivered and fuelled.
Generator Hire
Air Compressor Hire
Towable diesel · sized on cfm not just psi
Towable diesel compressors for jackhammers, rock drills and air tools.
Air Compressor Hire
Lighting Tower Hire
Masts to 12m · diesel or hybrid
Towable diesel and hybrid lighting towers, masts to 12m, for night works.
Lighting Tower Hire
Tipper Truck Hire
2.5t to 10t · 8t Isuzu FVR workhorse
Tippers 2.5t to 10t for soil, sand and spoil cartage, the 8t Isuzu on most jobs.
Tipper Truck HireJobs We Have Done With Rock Breaking
Finished work off our own machines, written up with the ground conditions, the method and what came off site.
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Wet hire in Perth - machine plus trained operator on site. Komatsu excavators, bobcats and tippers available. Call us direct for a fast quote.
Wet Hire PerthRock Breaking Questions
A hydraulic rock breaker is an attachment fitted to an excavator arm that delivers rapid hammer blows to break hard rock, limestone or concrete into smaller pieces. A GP bucket then clears the broken material from the excavation.
Rock breaking with the Komatsu PC18 starts from around $1,700 per day and the PC55 from around $2,000 per day on wet hire. These rates are higher than standard excavation because the breaker attachment changes the machine's output and wear profile. Call us for a job-specific quote.
Yes. Our hydraulic hammers break reinforced and unreinforced concrete effectively. Old driveways, footings, hardstand areas and slab sections can all be broken and loaded for removal. The reinforcing steel is cut out separately.
Yes. The hydraulic rock breaker is an add-on to the machine hire rate. It is priced separately because it changes machine wear and job output. We include this clearly in your quote so there are no surprises.
If the ground conditions go beyond what our hydraulic hammers can handle efficiently, we will tell you. Very hard igneous rock or deep solid formations may need specialist blasting or drilling equipment that sits outside our current fleet.
Need Rock Breaking In Perth?
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