Concrete cores are also often poured to provide extra structural support for tall buildings.
Concrete is an important part of any construction project. For new builds, you will likely spend a good deal of time planning, reinforcing, and pouring slabs and walls. For renovations of existing buildings (and for some new projects), you are more likely to need concrete scanning and cutting services. Another concrete process that you may or may not have heard of is concrete coring. What is concrete coring and why might you need to do it? Let’s investigate this important concrete work skill.
What Is Concrete Coring?
Concrete coring is a process of drilling through a concrete structure, like a floor slab, a wall, or a ceiling, with a diamond cutting drill to produce a perfectly round hole. The goal of having the hole could be for various purposes, from needing to take a sample to needing to allow something through the concrete structure.
Construction Applications For Concrete Coring
Most concrete coring will need to be done to remove a section of concrete for some sort of access. This could include utility penetration, like water pipes and sewer lines that need to be installed, air circulation installation and HVAC openings, conduits for running computer and phone lines or similar utility lines. The other major reason to take a core out is for the core itself. If you need to analyze the concrete, you will need to take a core sample, by drilling down in to the slab (or through the wall) and removing the intact cylindrical sample.
Concrete Core Creation
One way that the term concrete coring is sometimes used is to describe adding a solid concrete core to some part of the building. This is often used as a reinforcing tactic around things like vaults and safe rooms. Concrete cores are also often poured to provide extra structural support for tall buildings. This is kind of a miss-use of the term coring, since it refers to adding a core, not cutting a core.
Coring For Concrete Removal
Another miss-use of the term concrete coring is to describe when you remove concrete in order to shape up or clean up the slab or wall. This is a case of a term being thrown around incorrectly more than anything else. While you could use a concrete coring specialist for this job, it really requires a concrete cutting or sawing specialist instead.
Concrete Visions Will Get The Job Done Right
Concrete Visions has been working with clients for over 25 years. Our G&M Services installers are certified with the industry’s major firestop product manufacturers. As part of our firestop service, we can assess abnormal field conditions and, with the manufacturer’s technical support assistance, provide engineering judgments in a timely fashion to comply with contract specifications. Our Field Mechanics undergo ongoing training, including mandatory monthly safety meetings, weekly Toolbox Talks where safety and equipment information is shared, and training on safe work standards and safety best practices.