What is Concrete Cutting?

Concrete cutting, also known as concrete sawing and drilling is the process of using a diamond tipped blade or core bit to cut or drill a solid surface most often representing concrete, hence the reason it is commonly referred to as Concrete cutting. Various specialist concrete cutting equipment facilitates accurate cuts that are smooth and precise on completion. Staff undergo an extensive training and assessment program prior to be verified competent as a concrete cutter.

Material that can be cut includes concrete, brick, asphalt, stone, rock, or other masonry products as well as any metal within these materials. This ability to cut steel like rebars within reinforced concrete makes concrete cutting very popular and versatile.

Most common service types

• Core drilling, represents the use of a core drill with a core barrel or bit used to drill precise circular holes of varying depth and sizes to suit the application. Applications include openings for pipes, conduits, air conditioning vents, hand railings, etc
• Road sawing, also known floor sawing, slab sawing or flat sawing due to the type of machine utilised and the fact that this type of machine can only cut the floor. Applications include the cutting of roads, highways, footpaths, bridge decks, driveways, pedestrian walkways, and pavements. 
• Hand held sawing, or more specifically hand sawing, ring sawing, chain sawing, or flush cutting. These are all hand-held devices with a blade or bar of differing type and size attached. Depth of cut varies up to a maximum depth of 550mm.
• Track sawing, also known as wall sawing, utilises a blade mounted to a motor that is attached to a track. The track is mounted against the surface to be cut with the motor operated via remote control to move the blade along the track whilst the blade is spinning. Depth of 1000mm can be achieved via multiple blade passes. 
• Wire sawing, used where other options are not suitable or to remove extremely large sections of concrete. 

Concrete cutting consumables (Blades and core bits)

Pressure and heat are combined to fuse diamond crystals within the metal matrix to form the cutting segments. These segments are attached to the outer perimeter of a core bit or saw blade. The cutting occurs as the diamonds are exposed at the segment surface with the exposed diamond cutting the material similar to sand paper against timber. The next layer of diamond is exposed slowly as the metal of the segment wears away. This takes placed as the blade or barrel rotates against the surface being cut.

Concrete cutting power source options

• Electric, both 240 Volt as well as Hi-frequency electric (3 phase, 415 Volt) represent a fume free solution perfect for indoor application.
• Hydraulic, provide a water proof solution perfect for working in and around water such as cutting the top of a sea wall, pontoon, or wharf.
• Petrol and diesel, remain the most common due to their versatility and stand-alone operation thereby not reliant on an external power source.