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Cutting doorways in concrete foundations
by Affordable Concrete Cutting Boston
What is Concrete Cutting?
Concrete cutting is a process of controlled sawing, drilling and
removal of concrete performed by skilled operators using special
saws that use diamond impregnated blades. Unlike the old-
fashioned dusty "jack hammer" method, modern concrete cutting
leaves a smooth attractive finish and utilizes water so as not to
create any dust or mess. There are many different kinds of
concrete cutting but the most common are wall sawing, core
drilling and slab or flat sawing.
Wall Sawing is the process of cutting openings such as doors or
windows in concrete walls, usually no more than 12" thick but in
some cases up to 24" thick. This is accomplished by using a saw
that attaches to a track on the wall to be cut. This process
utilizes an enormous 30" or even larger diameter diamond blade
that can cut 12" or more of concrete all of the way through from
one side. This aspect of our business requires the most skill and
cannot easily be done by your average "do it yourselfer." As
stated, wall sawing may entail cutting openings in concrete
foundations but may also include lowering a foundation elevation,
entire foundation removal and also the cutting of concrete
retaining walls in part or in whole. This type of concrete
cutting requires skill and experience to cut perfectly smooth
plumb and level openings with virtually no dust or mess, so it is
a rather expensive service. Most concrete cutting companies
charge a minimum of $425 just to take their equipment to a site
and cut.
Homeowners that build additions on to their home that have
basements or cellars commonly find they need to cut into their
existing concrete foundation to add an entry or passage between
the new and existing basements. It is much easier and in most
cases less expensive to have this service performed during the
construction process and not after.
Core Drilling is the process of drilling perfectly round holes
through concrete walls and floors. The diameters of the holes
range from 1" to 12" round but average 5" for most homeowner
applications. In commercial applications core holes can range
anywhere up to 60" round and more. Core holes are used for
"utility penetrations" such as electrical, plumbing and heating
but are also commonly used for venting furnaces or clothes
dryers. Although not recommended, core drilling can be performed
by an advanced "do it yourselfer" and the equipment necessary to
perform core drilling is readily available at your local tool
rental and supply store. Most companies have a minimum charge of
$250 to core a hole for you and it can take a professional as
little as 10 minutes to unload his equipment, core the hole, and
reload his equipment. Yet, I have seen homeowners rent the
equipment and spend an entire weekend trying to core a single
hole and then call a professional to complete the project. Just
like with any trade a professional concrete cutter will make his
job look easy.
Slab sawing, also known as flat sawing, is used to cut horizontal
flat concrete surfaces such as floors, bridge decks and pavement.
Slab saws feature a diamond blade that is mounted on a walk-
behind machine that requires only one operator. They can cut up
to 33 inches in depth but generally only 6" or less is necessary
in most homeowner applications. Slab sawing is the perfect
solution for making penetrations or openings in concrete floors
to access and repair a broken water pipe or sewer line. When a
basement or cellar is being remodeled to add a bathroom the
concrete is removed to add new plumbing for the fixtures. A slab
saw is also useful in demolition work to break up and remove a
cracked or unwanted patio, driveway or walkway. Sometimes a
homeowner might want just part of a patio or other concrete slab
cut in order to alter their landscaping. Attempting a slab saw
project can be very time consuming for your average "do it
yourselfer" however it can be accomplished. I always recommend
spending a few extra bucks and saving yourself some very serious
danger and aggravation by contracting a concrete cutting
professional.
No matter what your project is, don't let a little concrete stand
in your way. Concrete can be a homeowner's worst obstacle if he
or she doesn't know that there are companies out there that
specialize in removing it very quickly and neatly. To find a
reputable concrete cutter I recommend that you start with the
yellow pages and always check them out with your local Better
Business Bureau or your local Department of Consumer Protection.
To get more acquainted with the industry just do a search for
"concrete cutting" and check out a few websites dedicated to the
subject. Of course, be sure to visit our web site at:
http://www.affordableconcretecutting.com.
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