Have you noticed how well concrete slabs fit together on sidewalks, driveways, and inside buildings? You may believe that all construction workers have to do is pour concrete into a mold and let it harden. However, there’s more to the process than that.
Once the concrete hardens, workers need to fine-tune the concrete they pour. Precision concrete cutting allows them to make cuts in concrete that provide smooth angles and create intricate designs. There are lots of tools and techniques workers use to get the shapes they want.
Here’s everything you need to know about concrete cutting.
What Is Precision Concrete Cutting?
Precision concrete cutting comprises the techniques necessary to remove and modify concrete. Concrete is incredibly thick and durable. Because of this, there are special processes to cut into it. Concrete isn’t easy to modify, which is why it requires expertise and the correct tools.
Without these things, you could end up making a costly mistake. This is why you should hire professionals if you need concrete cutting done.
How Do Concrete Saws Work?
Concrete saws allow construction workers to cut through concrete and other tough materials like masonry bricks, tile, and asphalt.
Concrete saws use diamond blades to cut through these materials. The diamonds on the blades create a grinding motion that allows the blades to get through these materials. The saws can be powered by gasoline, hydraulic pressure, or an electric motor.
Diamond blades generate a tremendous amount of friction in concrete cutting. After use, they should be cooled.
Cooling the blades prolongs their usage. It also helps reduce the amount of concrete dust released into the air during cutting. Saws are available for wet and dry cutting.
Dry cutting is the standard method of cutting through concrete. Wet cutting requires water to operate. Wet cutting reduces the amount of concrete dust released into the air.
It also further prolongs the life of the saw blades.
Flat Saws
Flat sawing, otherwise known as slab sawing, is one of the most common concrete cutting methods. This cutting method is used most often for flat surfaces like driveways, parking lots, and sidewalk cutting.
Electric saws are the best type of saw for these surfaces. You should avoid using electric saws in wet environments, but they are excellent for dry cutting. Their light weight and maneuverability make them easy to work with and transport.
They also don’t emit gasoline, which makes them more environmentally friendly.
Wall Sawing
Wall sawing is a way to add openings in concrete. Workers do this to add things like doors and windows. To do this, workers use diamond saws.
These saws have to be strong enough to cut through the concrete itself, and the attachment that marks the cutting pattern.
Walk-Behind Saws
Walk-behind saws are ideal for large projects on floors.
They are the heaviest saws on the market. They make the deepest cuts of any saw, which eliminates the need for making multiple shallow cuts.
These saws use wet cutting to help reduce the dust emitted and keep the blades cool.
Core Drilling
Core drilling allows workers to drill a perfectly round hole in a piece of concrete. Workers might do this to ventilate a furnace, add plumbing, or do electrical work. The size of the hole will vary by usage and can range from a few inches to several feet in diameter.
Coring a hole in concrete is a pretty simple thing to do; you can even find the equipment at your local hardware store. If you don’t know what you’re doing, however, you should contact a professional even for simple jobs such as this.
Wire Sawing
Wire sawing is used more for large projects, like piers, towers, and bridges. Wire saws can cut through large areas of stone and reinforced concrete.
Wires made of diamonds are rigged to a pulley system. The pulley runs at high speed which allows the wires to cut through large swaths of concrete.
Look for Concrete Cutting Companies That Prioritize Safety
Cutting concrete is a dangerous job. The equipment concrete cutting services use are heavy machines, which always carry a risk of injury. However, there’s another aspect of working with concrete that is just as dangerous.
When cutting concrete, silica dust releases into the air. When silica dust is inhaled over a long period, the particles can become lodged in the lungs. The particles make it more difficult to breathe.
In addition, people that inhale silica dust over a long period may also develop a condition called silicosis. It takes several years before symptoms start to show, but once they do, the condition is irreversible. In some cases, the condition can be fatal.
Concrete cutting companies should do all they can to protect their workers. The best companies partner with OSHA to become certified. By becoming certified, they acknowledge to adhere to the agency’s workplace safety measures.
Concrete cutting services should provide safety equipment for their workers that protects them from physical damage. They should also have the equipment to protect their workers from silica dust.
Ask a company you’re thinking of hiring what safety measures they provide for their workers. Hiring companies that protect their workers is responsible and supports companies that care about their workers.
Concrete Cutting Professionals
Precision concrete cutting is a specialized process that affords concrete great versatility. The equipment and techniques to make these cuts within concrete vary widely. Diamond saws, coring, wall sawing, and other techniques allow us to craft concrete for many uses that help improve our lives.
JP Hogan Sawing Corp. is a company with trained professionals that offers excellent concrete cutting services. We provide many services for our clients that includes curb sawing, angle sawing, core drilling, and much more. If you need concrete cutting services, you can get started by requesting an estimate and we will get back to you.
