Construction projects have many phases that require contractors to use unique equipment and procedures. At some point, concrete contractors have to cut or break concrete to fit pipes, cables, windows, ventilation, doors, or reinforcement materials. However, many inexperienced contractors wonder when to cut and when to break concrete.
Both methods can deliver the desired results, but they also have their respective pros and cons, which can affect the outcome of the construction project. Contractors who are not familiar with these processes should learn when to use either and how each option affects the project’s time, cost, precision, and quality. This article will highlight the difference between concrete cutting and breaking and how to choose the correct method.
Tools and Equipment Used
Cutting concrete requires specialized tools, such as wire saws, blades, and drills, to create an opening or cut concrete. Seasoned contractors use concrete cutting to make straight or curved cuts on flat walls and floors. When done right, the cut surfaces do not require patching since the tools make neat and precise cuts. Many contractors cut concrete when creating trenches, removing damaged parts, and creating openings for plumbing and electrical systems.
Breaking concrete, on the other hand, requires heavy tools and equipment ranging from breakers, jackhammers, hydraulic hammers, demolition hammers, break bars, and concrete busters. The process involves breaking concrete into smaller pieces to remove walls, pavements, slabs, foundations, or other structures.
Concrete breaking usually creates rough or uneven finishes, which require repairs or patching. This method can also be used to create large openings for fitting windows or other large structures.
Access to the Target Part
Concrete cutting requires the contractor to access the concrete surface and use drills and diamond blades to cut the desired section. Therefore, contractors might need to use extensions and scaffolding to ensure their tools access the target area.
However, concrete breaking involves demolishing or removing larger parts. The equipment demands more maneuvering space than the cutting tasks. Therefore, contractors should assess the target area and determine which method works best.
Precision and Complexity
Some concrete surfaces require contractors to make complex curves and angles during construction. Concrete cutting is the best method in this case since tools such as drills and diamond blades can make precise and complex cuts.
However, contractors who need to make large and uneven pieces of concrete can use concrete-breaking methods. The goal is to break large sections of concrete into small bits that are easy to remove, so concrete breaking does not necessarily need precision and accuracy. It is used to remove large parts of walls or slabs without creating complex patterns or shapes.
Thickness of the Concrete
The size of the concrete can determine whether to choose to break or cut concrete. Cutting is a better option for small sections of concrete or thin concrete blocks that are less than 24 inches.
When cutting concrete, smaller tools, such as diamond blades and drills, are used, which means they can only cut smaller and moderately thick concrete blocks. As the thickness increases, using concrete cutting tools becomes challenging. Besides, large blocks of concrete have reinforcement steel inside, which wears the small cutting tools.
Concrete breaking can remove or demolish large concrete walls or floors, even those with reinforcing materials. This is because heavy equipment, such as pneumatic hammers and hydraulic breakers, which can break through dense slabs or thick concrete walls without trouble, are used. Therefore, concrete breaking is ideal for concrete materials that are thicker than 24 inches.
Noise and Vibration
Concrete cutting using a drill or saw generates less vibration and high-pitched noise, which can only disturb immediate neighbors. Although the high-pitched noise can be disturbing, it is relatively insignificant compared to the noise caused by concrete breaking. Since small tools are used for concrete cutting, vibration is less, which makes this method ideal for sensitive areas such as near delicate structures or utility systems.
In contrast, concrete breaking requires heavy equipment such as jackhammers and hydraulic breakers, which cause ground vibration. Concrete breaking can, therefore, cause damage to nearby structures, roads, buildings, and utility infrastructure.
Concrete breaking is not ideal for residential areas with large populations, where the equipment might cause vibration and excessive noise. It is more disruptive and suitable for reserved construction sites with fewer people.
Waste Management
Cutting and breaking concrete generates debris and waste materials. If waste management is a concern, contractors should choose concrete cutting, which produces manageable waste and smaller chunks of concrete.
These materials are easy to collect and remove from the construction site. They also occupy less dumpster space, which reduces the overall waste management cost. Contractors can also use water to control dust, especially when using dry concrete cutting methods.
Concrete cutting, on the other hand, generates large, irregular debris, which is heavy and expensive to dispose of. These waste materials require large dumpsters and heavy equipment to haul to the dump site.
The contractor or waste management company might need special licenses to handle the heavy waste materials. Safety equipment is also necessary when handling debris from concrete breaking procedures.
Project Timeline
Contractors need more time to cut precise shapes, which makes this method time-consuming. Therefore, concrete cutting is not suitable for projects with tight deadlines. The tiny tools require repetitive motion to cut specific shapes and patterns. However, the process might save time in the long run when installing fittings due to precise cuts.
Breaking concrete is faster, especially when large sections of a building are being demolished. The equipment used can break large concrete blocks within a short time, making it suitable for projects with a short deadline. However, the project may take longer if the contractor needs to install fittings, patch damaged parts, collect debris, and fix issues caused by the vibration of heavy machinery.
Inexperienced contractors should learn the right method of removing concrete to avoid making mistakes. They should consider the concrete thickness, complexity of cuts, noise, vibration, water management, and project timeline to make sound decisions. Overlooking these factors might lead to costly mistakes and project delays.
