Chicago Concrete Wall Sawing: Cobra Has the Expertise

During a construction or rehab project there are many instances where a precise opening in a concrete wall is required. Common examples include doors, windows, HVAC vents, access for wiring, and openings for elevators or stairways.

The best cutting method for these needs is concrete wall sawing. Cobra Concrete Cutting stands ready to tackle Chicago’s concrete wall sawing projects with the expertise that comes from a track record of success.

The wall saw, sometimes also called a track saw, consists of a circular blade mounted on a track attached to a vertical wall, incline, or other surface that will not allow use of a flat saw, such as a slab saw. The track allows the saw to climb walls or make cuts in ceilings. The wall saw is used to cut an opening to specified dimensions, and it is capable of making straight or beveled cuts.

The wall saw blade is circular, with a steel core and diamond sections at the outer edge. The blade is attached to a spindle and guided by a saw track. The track is bolted to the wall or other cutting surface for accuracy and safety. These blades are from 18″ to 72″ in diameter and are capable of cutting to a depth of 32″. Wall sawing leaves a smooth finish, ready for installation of doors or windows or other needs, and is also excellent at cutting round surfaces like towers or industrial silos.

Wall sawing sounds straightforward, but there are a large number of variables and safety issues to consider when working with this technique. Bolt holes, using drop-in steel anchors, are drilled into the wall, and the wall saw track is carefully installed and examined. The saw blade diameter is carefully chosen to meet both the specifications of the needed cut as well as conditions at the site. The operator must use sufficient water or other coolant to cool the blade and cut down on the amount of dust created to control silica exposure.

Sometimes renovations or modifications to an existing structure require a new opening. Wall sawing is an excellent choice because it is less intrusive and destructive than some other cutting methods. For example, structures such as residential buildings or hospitals require cutting without emissions. Wall saws typically use an electric power source, which is perfect in these instances. Wall sawing uses low vibration, minimizing any possible damage when removing concrete slabs from existing structures. For projects involving large cuts for new construction or demolition, we also have hydraulic-powered wall saws.

Wall sawing is sometimes used in demolition projects where large slabs of concrete are separated into more manageable sections for removal. Known as a separation cut, this kind of work poses challenges with regard to safety and knowledge of cutting techniques. When separation cuts are needed in large walls or at difficult angles, wall sawing is often the best technique to use.

Cobra Concrete Cutting can take care of all your concrete sawing, drilling, demolition, and removal needs. Contact us to discover what makes us Chicago’s concrete experts and put us to work on your next project.