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It’s recommended that you start cutting control joints on or at the centre of column lines. Where to Saw Cut Concreteīefore you begin saw cutting concrete slab, you must first select where these cuts will be done on the concrete. If you don’t see the telltale messy edge of ravelling along the edge of your cuts, you are good to begin cutting control joints.
CONCRETE SAW TRIAL
During particularly hot weather, you can even begin as early as four hours after the concrete is poured.īefore you get to work with your concrete cutting saw, however, it’s a smart idea to make small trial cuts to check for ravelling.
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So when do you want to begin saw cutting concrete slab?Īfter the concrete is poured, you can start cutting your concrete slabs within six to eighteen hours. If you cut too late, you can actually create more random cracking than would have occurred had you not begun cutting expansion joints at all. Cutting too early can cause ravelling, leaving a messy edge along any cut made. It’s very important to understand when the best time to start saw cutting concrete slab is. Any number of things can affect shrinkage cracks such as hot weather, elasticity, tensile strength, and more.Ĭontrol cuts help to alleviate random cracking by creating weak points in concrete slabs, forcing cracks to form along the cuts rather than appearing in more obvious, unsightly places in the concrete slabs. As the moisture leaves the concrete and it hardens, the concrete becomes prone to random cracking known as shrinkage cracks. What Is expansion joint Cutting?Īfter the concrete is poured and it begins to set it actually shrinks as it hardens, condensing into one solid mass. This guide will help to ensure that you are making the highest quality cuts to ensure the best possible finish for your concrete. This is because there is, even more, to know, such as when to time your cutting, where to place the cuts, and what techniques work best. By cutting control joints in the concrete you can better control the random cracking that inevitably occurs in concrete slabs soon after the concrete is poured and set.Ĭoncrete saw cutting can be a hard task, but cutting expansion joints can be harder still. Consider using a hydraulic or pneumatic diamond chainsaw, which has more power and can be used for openings up to 25 inches, if your cutting needs are significant.When concrete is poured, it is very important to cut expansion joints in the concrete. Most chainsaws start with a gas-driven two-cycle engine, which offers portability and low initial investment. In this case, a diamond chainsaw is a right tool. It is important to consider whether you will be cutting openings deeper than five inches when choosing a diamond chainsaw. They are also useful for cutting odd-shaped holes through material.” In addition to cutting deeper without overcutting, diamond chainsaws can also be used to make openings as small as 4 inches by 4 inches, the cutting depth of the bar. With a circular blade, this is not possible. With a 14-inch circular blade on a cutoff saw, the maximum depth is about 5 inches.ĭue to the guide bar of a diamond chainsaw, which has a long, narrow flat surface, the saw can provide a deeper cut with no overcut, allowing the operator to make square corners. There are hydraulic diamond chainsaws that can cut to a depth of 25 inches. The most common gas saw on construction sites has a depth of cut of 12 inches.