A Brief Preview on the Technique of Concrete Sawing

1. A Brief Preview on the A Brief Preview on the Technique of Concrete Technique of Concrete Sawing Sawing

2. The Purpose of Concrete Sawing The key purpose of concrete sawing is the prevention of cracks that occur on the surface of the freshly poured concrete slab as it cures. This is done by cutting the control joints. Hard rock crystals are formed during the chemical reaction that takes place between water and cement. This results in the curing process. The control joints regulate the shrinkage pressure when they form during water evaporation from the concrete slab surface. The top surface of the concrete starts to dry creating internal pressures that start to mount. Finally, the force evolves greatly and conquers the tensile stability of the concrete. This makes it pull apart from itself and cause plastic shrinkage crack. These cracks will permanently damage the surface of the concrete slab. However, the reaction is a bit slow which leads to evaporation that decreases the hydration on the floor of the concrete.

3. There are two major types of concrete saws. Push behind saws Cut off saw Push Behind Saws Push behind saws or walk-behind saws are large and you have to walk with them. It is mounted with a saw blade at the bottom that cuts the control joint at a specific depth. Types of Concrete Saws Cut off Saws Cut off saws are almost similar to handheld saws. They are lightweight and very flexible to use.

4. Cut Timing and Technique The cutting depth into the concrete is an important consideration, it should not go deep beyond 4 inches. Diamond blades are the best for cutting as they can withstand wear and tear. Creating control joints requires critical timing and precision. If the cut is done too soon when the concrete is still very wet, the results will be joint spalling. Joint spalling occurs when a contractor starts sawing early on the concrete surface and the saw disturbs the concrete instead of cutting through. On the other hand, waiting too long before sawing will also lead to more damage. This means the concrete will have hardened and when you cut through it creates a force structure that leads to cracking of its own. This may lead to more damage on the concrete surface with an increased number of shrinkage cracks.

5. Up to you It is very important to understand all the dynamics of concrete curingbefore you start sawing. The cutting process does not apply the same for all concrete surfaces. Some factors like weather, humidity, curing process and the composition of the wet concrete mix may affect the sawing time. Concrete sawing should be accomplished between 4 to 12hrs after the wet concrete mix has been poured.