Technology has indeed been very beneficial in different aspects of life, and it has helped to make many activities easier than they used to be. As a result, productivity has increased significantly in almost every field, and work has never been more efficient. 

Concrete cutting, as a profession, has also been affected by the introduction of technology, and it has undoubtedly experienced improvements ever since. 

Concrete cutting is an activity that is almost as old as time. Several professionals have utilized several techniques to carry out this task on construction sites, but each had several challenges. Their techniques involved using rudimentary tools like hammers and chisels. While these tools were relatively efficient, they required too much time to complete concrete-cutting tasks. 

The advent of technology has genuinely made things easier in this field, with several trends making task completion effortless. This article will explain the concept of concrete cutting while highlighting some vital information you need for a successful concrete cutting. 

What is Concrete Cutting?

Concrete cutting is the systematic process of cutting, rescaling, or resizing concrete to give it a modified look. While this is one of the more popular tasks in construction sites, it is sometimes necessary for home renovations too. If you have concrete in your house or business, you’ll probably need concrete cutting someday. So, your knowledge of the process might come to play when you want to improve your properties.

The tool used for modern-day concrete cutting is called a concrete cutter, and it is more than a significant upgrade to the rudimentary tools that were adopted in the past. 

A concrete cutter is a mechanized tool used to cut concrete to precision. It often uses a disk blade with sharp edges spinning at a very high speed. As you might have guessed, this tool requires a power source to function, and different possible power sources depending on the cutter type.

Types of Concrete Cutting

This controlled process has proven effective for various concrete-cutting tasks on different sites. But they come in different types, depending on the specific need. 

Here are some top types of concrete cutting and how they are approached.

• Wall Sawing: This concrete cutting system involves cutting through an existing concrete or brick to create space for extra features, like doors and windows. Wall sawing often requires a solid cutter like diamond blades that can cut through the concrete effortlessly without many cutbacks.
• Slab Sawing: This process is similar to wall sawing but involves cutting through horizontal surfaces, like concrete floors, rather than walls. This concrete cutting technique can be seen in road construction sites, and a slab saw is used for slab sawing. This technique can also be used at home to cut through concrete floors and fix plumbing or underground wirings.

• Core Drilling: Unlike other concrete cutting systems, core drilling makes cylindrical holes on concrete surfaces. For instance, when you need to make a perfectly round hole for plumbing, furnace, ventilation, or electrical repair, the core drill is your go-to tool.
• Wire Sawing: This is often a last resort technique when the above-listed techniques are unavailable, and it’s usually only utilized for large-scale concrete cutting tasks. For this technique, a wire made up of diamonds runs at high speed with a pulley system to cut through concrete surfaces.

Why Leave Concrete Cutting Tasks to Professionals

Concrete cutting is straightforward but can be much more complicated than it looks. The risks involved are also significant. Hence it is better to leave all concrete cutting tasks to professionals. 

Some concrete cutting tasks may look minor to the eye, and you may feel like it is one you can handle. But if you are not an expert or a professional, you’ll be putting yourself and your property at risk of injury or damage.

So, whether you need a new bathroom in your basement or want to make a slight opening on the wall for air conditioning, you are advised to call on professionals to handle the concrete-cutting task.

How to Know You Need a Concrete Cutting Service

Concrete is undoubtedly a solid element often used to construct houses and other significant structures. But it can sometimes require fixing, where concrete-cutting services become necessary. 

Here are some concrete faults that require the attention of professionals.

• Cracks: When concrete is exposed to extreme conditions, such as intense heat, it expands and eventually starts to crack. These cracks, if not promptly fixed, can lead to worse problems and cause significant damage to the structure.
• Leaks: If your concrete doesn’t have a functional drainage system, it may experience a water pool after rainfall. This condition can often damage parts of the concretes, leading to leaks in your building.
• Warping and Curling: Warping is a common concrete problem, especially on floors. It is similar to cracks but is triggered by excess moisture on the ground.

Once you notice any of these faults on your concrete wall or floor, you must contact contractors to fix them before they get out of hand.

Hiring a Concrete Cutting Contractor

Concrete cutting is also a delicate task that often requires a degree of expertise that only professionals have. In fact, not every contactor can handle this task perfectly. 

Here are some qualities to consider when hiring a concrete cutting contractor.

• License: The first thing to look out for in a contractor you want to hire is their license and insurance. These documents show their qualification, commitment, and professionalism — qualities that every professional requires.
• Experience: Sometimes, expertise is insufficient, and jobs like concrete cutting often require experienced candidates. Not only do they know how to handle the task, but they also know what to expect from various concrete types.
• Safety Practice: You don’t need anyone to tell you just how dangerous tasks like concrete cutting can be. One slip-up can cause life-threatening injuries and property damage. Since you don’t want anyone injured on your property, you must ensure your contractor understands the importance of safety. One way to ensure this is by checking to see if they have all the right tools and safety equipment.

Conclusion

Concrete cutting is a critical task we may encounter at some point. Thankfully, this article has explained everything you need to know about concrete cutting, including the qualities you look for in your concrete-cutting contractor.