A concrete slab cutting service can help you cut through many different kinds of concrete safely. Their process and equipment are critical to the job to ensure that the cuts are accurate. To learn more about your cutting options, read on.
Slab Cutting
Typically slab cutting refers to a concrete slab on the ground that is lying horizontal and might be a floor or a concrete pad. When a concrete slab cutting service is going to cut the concrete in this configuration, the service will use a saw mounted on wheels and can be moved across the slab slowly. Using this method allows the cutter to control the line and ensure the cut is straight.
The saw is fitted with a blade made from steel and has a diamond edge that will cut the concrete and any reinforcement inside the slab. Steel rebar is expected inside a slab and holds the concrete together if the slab cracks. If the concrete slab cutting service did not cut through it, removing the concrete section from the slab would not be possible without cracking the remaining slab.
Water is pumped onto the blade while the operating is cutting through the concrete. The water is used to cool the blade and protect it from damage. If the blade gets too hot, the cutting edge will begin to get dull, making it difficult to cut through the material. Most cutting services will not remove the concrete once it is cut, so you will need to arrange for a crew to do that once the cuts are completed.
Wall Cutting
Many concrete slab cutting services also offer concrete wall cutting if you need it. The process is very similar to slab cutting, but because the saw needs to move vertically, it is mounted on a track system to support its weight and to assist the cutter in moving the saw up the wall.
If you are cutting out some concrete for a new window or door opening, the verticle lines must be plumb, and using the track system will ensure that the saw stays true as it moves along the wall. Once the vertical cuts are made, the track can be reconfigured to make horizontal cuts to complete the opening in the concrete wall.
You will need to have a machine like a loader or even a crane on the site to support the concrete when the concrete slab cutting service makes the last cut. An unsupported concrete section could fall and damage the structure or hurt someone standing nearby. Talk with the cutting company and make sure everything they require is in place before they arrive, and the concrete cutting should go smoothly.
