Cutting an opening through poured concrete is no easy task. This is mainly due to the fact that concrete cures into a hard solid surface once it is poured.
To cut through it, you need to use a powerful concrete cutting saw.
The sheer complexity of the task at hand, as well as the powerful nature of the equipment involved, makes the task all the more challenging.
As such, it is best for you to call in a concrete cutting professionals to ensure that everything is handled safely and accordingly by knowledgeable and experienced professionals.
Before you decide to handle the project on your own, you need to consider the following important factors.
To cut a hole through a concrete wall or foundation, for the installation of a window, doorway or any other purpose, you need to prepare accordingly and have the right equipment in hand.
Type Of Concrete Cutting Saw
You need a concrete saw to cut through poured concrete. Different types of concrete saws are used in cutting through poured concrete.
The main guiding factor when it comes to choosing the right saw is the thickness of the concrete.
For instance, ring saws are suited to cutting through poured concrete that has a thickness of less than ten inches.
Concrete cutting chainsaws, on the other hand, are better suited to cut through thicker poured concrete.
While ring saws, or handheld saws, are usually used for smaller concrete cutting jobs, chainsaws are best suited to jobs that require a high level of precision.
The latter can be used to create openings through poured concrete without any overcut.
It is, however, worth noting that while ring saws are compact handheld pieces of equipment, chainsaws are bulkier and are therefore harder to operate.
Dust
Cut through concrete can be a messy affair.
The dust produced during the cutting process can be a nuisance and may even pollute the surrounding environment.
If you don’t want to pollute the environment or be left with a massive clean-up job after the concrete cutting work is complete, it is recommended that you find a way to deal with the dust produced by the cutting work.
While dry cutting saws are known for producing a lot of dust, using a wet saw helps to minimise the level of dust produced as the blade cuts through the poured concrete surface.
However, you will need to find a way to drain the water used in the cutting work.
If there are no drains allowing the water to flow away from the floor, the water might need to be pumped out mechanically.
Rebar
Rebar is commonly used to reinforce poured concrete; holding it together solidly for decades to come.
If the patch of poured concrete you intend to cut through is reinforced with rebar, the task at hand becomes all the more complicated.
For starters, you need to find a blade that is capable of cut through concrete and rebar as well.
A wet saw equipped with a diamond blade can be able to cut through concrete and rebar successfully.
Since rebar is used to reinforce poured concrete, you need to find out whether the area you are looking to cut through is load-bearing.
The entire structure may cave in if you cut through a load-bearing section of poured concrete. You might need some professional help with this.
Utilities
Any utilities, such as plumbing or conduits, buried within the concrete that you intend to cut through present another significant challenge.
For safety purposes and to prevent unnecessary damage, you need to find out whether there are any utilities running through that section of poured concrete.
Cutting Process
If, after factoring in all the above, you decide to proceed with the concrete cutting project on your own, you need to be familiar with the concrete cutting process.
Use a piece of chalk to mark the area you intend to cut through. These markings will help guide your cutting work.
Set up the cutting saw in use, as well as any dust suppression and water drainage systems where necessary.
Make sure that you wear protective goggles before you switch on the concrete cutting saw.
Once the cutting work is complete, you need to have the equipment needed to break the concrete down into smaller pieces, before disposing of it.
Summary
Cutting through poured concrete is a complicated process that requires proper planning and the right equipment and skills.
Even though it might be possible for you to do it yourself after sourcing the necessary equipment, it is best to leave concrete cutting work to the pros.
MegaSaw provides professional concrete cutting services to clients all over Melbourne.
With more than two decades of experience in this line of work, you can be sure that your project is in the right hands, and will be done right, the first time around.
If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website www.megasaw.com.au/contact-us/