A few months back, we were proud to build a sleek concrete column for the colorful new signpost at Willoughby Town Centre. It was one of those projects that felt both challenging and exciting - especially seeing that vibrant sign finally hoisted up and standing tall on our freshly minted column this week.

But wait… we weren't done yet.

You see, the real challenge was still lurking underground - the old column.

This wasn't just any concrete chunk. This beast of a block was 6.5 feet deep, 4 feet by 3 feet wide, and made from concrete with a staggering 50 MPa strength rating. For anyone not fluent in concrete-speak, MPa (megapascals) measures how much pressure concrete can handle before it gives in. The higher the MPa, the stronger - and tougher - it is.

Now here's the kicker: 50 MPa is seriously over the top for a signpost. To put it in perspective, when the industrial slab for the All Roads Asphalt Plant in Coquitlam (designed to hold a 150-ton oil tank, mind you!) was poured, it only required 35 MPa. That makes this signpost column one unnecessarily tough cookie.

Hats off to the original builders - this thing was built like a bomb shelter. Multiple layers of steel rebar cages only added to the demolition drama. Kudos to them for durability; sympathy cards to us for the demolition!

Now, imagine trying to take down this concrete tank without the help of heavy equipment. Why? Because we're working smack dab in the middle of a bustling commercial area, where people are walking, shopping, and grabbing their morning coffees. Even hoisting the sign into place took a special city permit and a carefully timed window to redirect traffic.

So, the big machines stayed parked, and we rolled up our sleeves.

Armed with jackhammers, a three-man crew went to work - old school style. Under the blazing summer sun, we took turns hammering away, one painful inch at a time. It took more than two full days of non-stop effort. By the end, we had sore shoulders, numb forearms, and a whole new level of respect for jackhammer operators everywhere.

But in the end? Totally worth it.

Because now, the new sign shines bright on its custom-built perch, and the old foundation is nothing but a dusty memory. And that's the kind of job that makes the hard work, sweat, and muscle aches fade away - with pride in its place.