PRECISION BLASTING, LLCNon-Explosive Rock Breaking
When it cannot go bang but it still has to break.
Not every job takes explosives. We also use expanding grout — a natural chemical demolition agent used throughout the rock breaking industry.
It is mixed, poured into drilled holes, and left to work. As it cures it expands with enormous force and fractures the rock or concrete from the inside out. No detonation, no vibration, no flyrock, no noise.
Where it earns its place
- Interior and basement rock removal
- Sites immediately adjacent to structures
- Work where no explosives are permitted
- Confined spaces with no room for cover
- Concrete breakup — slabs, footings and thick sections
- Jobs where noise would be a problem
The trade-off, honestly
It is slower. Expanding grout typically needs 24 to 72 hours to do its work depending on temperature and rock type, where a shot is over in a fraction of a second. It also costs more per cubic yard on large volumes.
What you buy with that is access to sites explosives simply cannot go. On the right job it is the only method that works, and we would rather tell you that than sell you a shot that does not fit.
- Federally Explosives Licensed (ATF)
- Fully insured
- Blasting experience since 2013
- Licensed across ID, MT, WA, OR, NV, UT and NM
- Free on-site assessment and quote
- Owner-operated — you talk to Dan, not a call center
Questions about non-explosive rock breaking
How long does expanding grout take?
Typically 24 to 72 hours depending on ambient temperature, hole spacing and the rock. Cold weather slows it down considerably.
Is it safe around buildings?
Yes. There is no detonation, no ground vibration and no flyrock, which is exactly why we use it on sites where explosives are not an option.
Can it break concrete as well as rock?
Yes. Slabs, footings and thick concrete sections are common jobs for it, and it does the work without the noise and dust of breaking mechanically.
Related work
Hard Rock Blasting
Break stubborn granite and basalt into manageable material so the project can move forward.
Learn more →Low Explosive
A powerful alternative when full conventional blasting is not the right fit.
Learn more →Trenching in Rocky Soils
For utility, pipeline and foundation work stopped by hard rock.
Learn more →Stream & Pond Obstructions
Log jams, beaver dams and rock obstructions approached with care.
Learn more →Too big to dig and too hard to break?
Text a few photos of the rock, boulder, trench or tree in your way. We will tell you what it takes to move it — free, and on site.