Occasionally concrete needs to be cut or even removed entirely to add to or change a building or project.
Concrete is a universally vital component of construction. Even things that look like they’re made entirely of wood have concrete footers holding the posts in place. Without concrete, nothing could be built. But occasionally that concrete needs to be cut or even removed entirely to add to or change a building or project. In those cases, you need a concrete cutting professional with the knowledge and experience to do the work safely. That professional is also going to have specialized tools. Let’s do a quick overview of the most common concrete cutting methods and tools.
Flat Sawing
This method is also called slab sawing and it is the process of cutting through a flat slab of concrete, such as a parking lot or a foundational slab. This process is often done with an electrical saw, and diamond blades are used. Diamond blades are incredibly strong and the best type of blades for concrete cutting. They do tend to be expensive, however.
Wall Sawing
Wall sawing is like slab sawing, but on the vertical, since it is used to cut through walls (to install a door or window, for instance). In these cases, diamond blades are preferable, as with most concrete cutting, however, in cases where only very small cuts are needed, masonry blades could also work. Masonry blades are not as strong as diamond blades, but they are cheaper. The toss up for masonry blades is that while they’re cheaper, they don’t last as long. They aren’t cost effective to use for large jobs, since you would go through many more of them than you would diamond blades.
Diamond Wire Cutting
Diamond wire cutting uses a diamond-edged wire to cut down very large blocks of concrete. Like all of these concrete cutting methods, diamond wire cutting is very dangerous and should always be left to the professionals. Diamond wire cutting is not the appropriate method in all cases, and it is much less commonly used then slab or wall sawing.
Hand Sawing
Hand sawing is done with a portable handsaw and is limited to much smaller projects. It is much more likely that yo could use a masonry blade on a hand sawing job than on a wall or slab sawing one.
Jackhammering
Finally, in those cases where precision is not necessary and the concrete simply needs to be broken up and removed, jackhammering is an option. Jackhammering is still very dangerous (and loud) and should be done by a professional. The jackhammer breaks up the concrete into large (usually ragged and heavy) chunks that can be hauled away.
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 shred, and trainings on safe work standards and safety best practices.