How to Find the Best Concrete Drillers

When you are looking for the best concrete cutting service in Sydney, it can be hard to know where to start. There are so many options out there that you do not always know which companies can be trusted to do a good job.

This handy guide should help you to know how to find the best concrete drillers.

Experience

When you are researching different companies that offer concrete drilling in Sydney investigate how much experience they have. Concrete drilling is skilled work and a skill that gets better with experience. If you choose a company that has a lot of experience, like Cutting In with over 35 years’ experience in the industry, you are much more likely to receive a good job.

Quotes and advice

You are always better off choosing a company that is willing to come and give you a free quote. This way, you will be aware of the cost. It is always a good idea to get several quotes to get a feel for the average price of your job. Beware of not just going for the cheapest quote; companies who offer ridiculously cheap quotes may not always offer the best service or have the right level of experience or expertise to complete a good job.

What’s more, when you get a quote, you can meet the company. Good companies will be willing to offer you free advice on the type of service you need and whether they can complete the job for you.

Trust your instincts

When you meet your potential drilling contractor, it is important to always trust your gut. Do they seem like a company you could work with and be able to discuss any concerns you may have with them? If not, trust your instincts and find somebody else. You should always be able to have a good working relationship.

Reviews

One of the best ways to find a good contractor is to ask around for other people’s recommendations. If you are in the commercial or residential development sector, ask your business contacts who they have used and whether they would recommend them.

If you are a homeowner and need a concrete driller, read any reviews that can be found on their website or on the internet.

Opt for a company with great customer service

Ultimately, you are going to be working with this company, so whether that is for a long or a short amount of time, you need to know that you are going to receive great customer service.

If they are prompt and responsive to your initial enquiries, it is a good sign that they will also be like that on the job.

Cutting In has the skills and experience needed, along with great customer service, for all your concrete cutting and drilling needs. Contact us today.

The Skills Needed for Concrete Drilling and Sawing

Concrete drilling and sawing take a lot of skill. You are working with complex machinery that requires a steady hand and know-how. With over 35 years of experience behind us, Cutting In can complete all your sawing and concrete drilling requirements in Sydney and much more.

What is concrete drilling?

Concrete drilling is also known as core drilling. It takes a lot of skill because it involves cutting holes into concrete, along with other materials such as asphalt and brick, and taking out the core, which is where it also gets this name from.

As many different sizes of width and depth can be achieved with concrete drilling, having experience is a must.

At Cutting In, because all our operators are trained and experienced, we can achieve core drilling from any angle and work to your specifications. We use our skill to bring you the best job.

What is hand sawing?

Like its name would suggest, hand sawing is where a hand machine saw is used. This particularly useful piece of equipment can cut through doors and floors, and it is often used where floor sanders cannot reach.

Your job might require a new doorway to be put in through an external or interior concrete wall. Our skilled operators can work to your measurements and create neat work with our specialist equipment and extensive training.

A precise job done well

When it comes to any kind of concrete drilling and sawing, you want your job to be done well. After all, the job you are doing will often need precise and exact measurements.

Using any piece of machinery is not as simple as just turning it on. It takes real skill to know how to angle it correctly, and experience to be able to withstand the weight over longer periods of time while still performing a neat job that fits the given specifications.

Putting safety first

A skilled operator of any sort of machinery should always put theirs and others’ safety first. At Cutting In, our trained operators know how to use our tools and machinery safely.

Cutting In: your best option when it comes to concrete cutting, drilling and sealing

When you need concrete drilling or concrete hand sawing in Sydney, make sure you call in the experts and choose Cutting In. We will come and complete your job with skill and precision, leaving you satisfied with our workmanship.

We can also provide you with the most economical options for your job, and that is where we use our skill to discern the right techniques and equipment needed.

With no job too big or too small, contact us today to see how our skills can help you.

Using Core Drilling to Create Stunning Lighting

Have you ever wondered how those beautiful homes on the covers of magazines or on the front page of high-end real estate sites look so absolutely stunning? That’s because they hire Sydney’s best core drilling company. Core drilling is necessary for a number of home improvement projects, from installing water features to outdoor lighting, and the end result is always functional and beautiful.

There are many times when placing a light fixture directly into the concrete is a more visually stunning, practical choice. This is most common when illuminating driveways, retaining walls and other areas with limited turf nearby.

What is Core Drilling?

So how does core drilling work? Well if you’re working with a good company, the highest priority will be making sure that it gets done right the first time. The team will measure and mark where the fixture needs to be placed and then use a core drill to create a hole in the concrete where the light needs to go.

This is a complicated process because even once the hole is drilled, the light needs to be wired in which can be extremely difficult, but ultimately worth it in the end for beautiful, inground, professional lighting.

Core drilling is necessary whenever you need to go through concrete, and hiring professional lighting specialists who focus on exterior lighting is the best choice you can make for your home improvement projects. Installing core-drilled fixtures takes skill, taining, experience and finesse that general contractors and landscapers just don’t have.

In fact, most wouldn’t even try and drill through concrete because they know how unforgiving of a material it is.

The suggestion you’ll probably hear to avoid drilling is to install a surface mounted directional light, but those are not only visually unappealing but also impractical, if this were on a driveway it would be a hazard and eventually would probably get hit.

Allows You to Fit Flush Lighting into Outdoor Surfaces

Installing driveway lighting flush into the concrete is the best and safest way to illuminate the outside of your home without cutting corners and risking more upkeep, maintenance or headaches later.

With a core drilled light, you could drive your car back and forth, park on top of it and play basketball in the driveway all while not needing to worry about the light fixture.

You deserve a job done right, and the best for your home. Don’t limit your lighting choices to what a general contractor is willing to do for you – always contact an outdoor lighting specialist or concrete drilling company in Sydney and see what they can offer instead!

Avoiding the Typical Hazards Associated with Concrete Sawing

Even the most experienced concrete cutters in Sydney know that there are a number of issues that can arise when cutting and sawing concrete.

In addition to the risk of injuries being sustained from the saw blades themselves, there are other hazards such as collapsing walls, toxic exhaust fumes, silica dust and saw kickback. However, it is possible avoid most of these issues by using safety equipment and ensuring that all equipment is used correctly.

The Most Hazardous Situations Arising from Concrete Cutting

Occasionally when cutting through with a concrete saw, you may feel as though the saw has stopped moving freely. In some instances, the force, known as kickback or pushback, can displace the saw and cause it to move out of its fittings and run across the ground.

Other issues may arise while carrying out concrete floor sawing. Sydney professionals often report finding obstructions beneath the concrete that will either cause kickback or pull the saw into the cut.

Other problems associated with saw cutting include injuries arising from blunt cutting edges together with pinched and off-line cuts.

How To Avoid These Problems

Fortunately, by preparing well and taking proper precautions, most of these situations can be easily avoided.

Issues Arising from Dust

Take, for example, the production of dust. Hazardous dust is commonplace during saw cutting, either from the concrete itself or from other substances such as asbestos. To keep safe during cutting, it’s essential that the operator wears the correct safety equipment and breathing apparatus to prevent the dust from entering the lungs. This can be either a respirator or a mask.

Cutting Through Concrete Pipes

Cutting through concrete pipes can often cause kickback or pushback due to increased pressure on the saw. It may also result in the saw blade shattering.

To prevent this, the operator should keep constant pressure on the saw as it cuts through the pipework to avoid pinching and resultant kickback. As always, sound preparation prior to starting work and understanding of the job at hand will help to avoid potential problems and injuries.

Be Prepared, Get the Training You Need

To cut concrete safely, it’s essential that you have a thorough understanding of the issues that may arise, and this only comes through thorough training.

Operators should understand that pinching and kickback may occur when cutting through concrete and also need to know the correct action to take to prevent this from becoming a much more serious problem. You should also ensure that you never cut corners with safety and that you always have the correct safety equipment to do the job properly.

Save Time and Money on a Retrofit Project with Core Drilling

When a building is no longer used for a specific purpose, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be demolished.

Many builders are now choosing to repurpose old industrial and commercial buildings and converting them for residential, business and leisure use. We’ve all seen old warehouses now being used as trendy apartments or the old factory that’s been reimagined as a restaurant or bar.

However, to repurpose a building takes specialist knowledge and usually involves using techniques such as concrete core drilling to accommodate electrical, plumbing and IT lines. This means that professionals in concrete drilling Sydney wide are in demand to facilitate the conversion of older buildings.

Retrofit Projects are Breathing New Life into Inner City Areas

In many cities, not just in Australia, but across the world, inner city areas have been decimated as businesses and manufacturing units have closed down. However, this is good news for developers and businesses that want to get their hands on prime land or who want to set up shop in the city.

This, in turn, has increased the demand for companies who have the knowledge and expertise in retrofitting that is needed to convert former industrial buildings into modern apartments, office accommodation, restaurants, shops and artist studios.

In order for the buildings to pass health and safety regulations, most of them require the addition of modern plumbing and electrics that are compliant with existing laws, not to mention bathrooms, kitchens and IT provision. This is when experts in core drilling in Sydney are called in to help by creating channels in existing concrete to carry electrical cables, pipes and conduits to all areas of the buildings.

By using a diamond-tipped concrete saw, concrete drillers make cylindrical holes that will vary in size to accommodate the services according to a pre-approved architectural plan.

The cuts made with this equipment are precise, and the amount of dust released into the atmosphere is minimal, which means that disruption is also kept to a minimum.

The Professional Way to Remove Sections of Concrete

Turning old warehouses into apartments requires many retrofit operations. In addition to fitting kitchens and bathroom, provision will need to be made for adding staircases and lifts. Where there is a concrete floor, core drilling can be used to remove the large areas of concrete necessary to fit stairs and lifts.

As core drilling can be done in relatively confined spaces, it offers a professional and cost-effective solution to removing sections of concrete.

However, for any large-scale retrofit project, it’s advisable to hire a professional concrete cutting company who have the experience and expertise to carry the job out correctly and safely.

They’ll have all the equipment needed to make light work of the task and to create accurate holes for the project to be completed successfully.

Concrete Cutting 101

Concrete is used in so many applications. This versatile, robust material can be mixed and poured to create everything from practical driveways to contemporary pieces of furniture.

However, once it’s set and in situ adjusting, moving or removing it can be an arduous task as it needs specialist machinery and knowledge to do it correctly. We asked our local concrete cutters in Sydney to give us a quick guide to concrete cutting.

Not Just One Type of Concrete Cutting but Three

Experts in concrete cutting Sydney wide offer three ways to cut and shape concrete depending on the outcome and finish required. These include sawing, drilling and grinding.

Concrete Sawing involves the use of a heavy-duty concrete saw. Powered by a diesel, petrol or electric engine, the concrete saw will have a diamond tipped blade to make clean cuts through concrete and other masonry materials including brick and stone. There are several types of concrete saws available, from hand saws to wire saws.

Hand saws are usually used in hard-to-access spaces or where an oddly shaped structure needs to be cut as they’re extremely manoeuvrable, while track-mounted saws are most often used to cut openings for doors and windows as they’re able to make cuts with precision.

For cutting concrete and asphalt roadways, a large, self-propelled road saw is used. These are invaluable for cutting channels into roads in order to access or install essential services below the surface.

When a large irregular structure needs to be cut, the cutters will use a wire saw which utilises a thick diamond coated wire that runs in a loop.

Concrete or Core Drilling is used when it’s necessary to cut a hole in the concrete. Using a diamond-tipped drill bit, holes of various sizes can be cut in concrete, brick or stone. To prevent the dust from the drilled concrete from entering the atmosphere, water is used to dampen it down and cool the surface.

It’s also possible to cut irregular shaped holes by overlapping the drilled holes to form the required shape.

Concrete Grinding is usually used to remove the surface of the concrete that may pose a trip hazard, such as a section of footpath that’s been raised up by tree roots or earth movement.

The concrete cutters will use a metal bonded diamond concrete grinder to smooth back the raised section of concrete until it’s in line with its adjoining slab once more. A concrete grinder is also used to polish concrete to create a stunning, low maintenance durable finish for flooring and other applications.

Concrete Cutting Experts

As you can see, concrete cutting should only be undertaken by professionals. The machinery used can be dangerous if you don’t have the experience and skills needed to control it, and it’s easy to make a mistake if you don’t know what you’re doing. Luckily, you’ll find many concrete cutting specialists in Sydney who will provide an expert service.

 

Choosing a Concrete Cutting Company

Whether you’re laying a concrete drive for a residential property or you’re building a road, if you’re using concrete it’s likely that you’ll need a concrete cutting service. While there are many professional concrete cutters Sydney-wide, how do you choose the right cutting service for you?

Check Their Portfolios

Most specialists in concrete cutting in Sydney will have a portfolio of their work, so ask to see it. In here you’ll find details of previous projects which give a clear indication of the quality of their work and service.

It will also give you the opportunity to see whether they’ve worked on similar projects to yours and determine what type of cutting they excel at.

What are their Safety Protocols?

There’s a direct correlation between safety standards and quality of service, so by examining a company’s safety standards, you should be able to judge what kind of service they will provide in terms of quality.

Any concrete cutter in Sydney worth their salt will be happy to disclose how well they adhere to set safety protocols, while companies that take shortcuts or don’t follow protocols are likely to provide a poorer quality service overall.

Do They Use Quality Equipment?

You’ve heard the saying that a tradie is only as good as their tools? Well, this is definitely true for concrete cutting – the better the tools, the greater the precision of the cut. For this reason, you should always check that a company is using high-quality cutting tools that are appropriate for your project.

If a firm is unwilling to tell you what tools they’re using, they may be trying to hide something whereas cutters that are happy to tell you exactly what they have in their concrete cutting arsenal are more likely to provide a high-quality and transparent service.

Check They Have Appropriate Insurances

It’s all too easy to assume that a firm has the correct insurances in place, but for your peace of mind, it’s worth checking every time, even if you’ve worked with a company before. It’s a sad fact that some companies are not insured at all or have inadequate levels of insurance.

You may have to ask some uncomfortable questions, but a reliable and trustworthy firm who has nothing to hide will welcome this level of scrutiny.

Remember, the correct insurance ensures that the cutting services can be carried out safely and securely for both the service provider and the customer.

Don’t Cut Corners

While it might be tempting to cut corners and just take a firm’s answers at face value, it’s always wise to dig a little deeper if a company is not willing to give you all the details you require about them. After all, you want the best job for your money, so it pays to do a little research.

Concrete: The Most Versatile Material for Creating Beautiful Patios

Poured concrete can be used to create some amazing patio areas that simply can’t be achieved by using wooden decking or even paving and natural stone. Because of this flexibility and versatility, poured concrete is the most popular patio material, despite the increasing popularity of wooden decks.

Polished Concrete Floors 101

For many years concrete has been relegated to spending life as a subfloor unless it was laid in industrial units. However, now this humble material has been elevated to a residential and commercial flooring choice with more and more people opting to install polished concrete floors in their homes and offices.

And it’s hardly surprising as concrete flooring is hard wearing, low maintenance, versatile, affordable and extremely long lasting. However, it’s not without its faults. So if you’re thinking of installing a polished concrete floor in your home, here’s some helpful advice.

What is Polished Concrete?

Before we go any further, let’s take a look at what polished concrete actually is. Concrete is made from a mixture of aggregate (usually granite chips, small rocks and stones) combined with cement and water.

A concrete densifier is applied over the surface of the concrete to fill in the pores and give it a smooth decorative surface. Once this has dried, grinding tools are used to refine the surface further.

The more refined the surface, the shiner it will be. As you can imagine, this is not a job for a DIYer, but a job for specialists in concrete sealing in Sydney.

Why Are Concrete Floors So Fashionable?

Thanks to the rise in popularity of utilitarian and industrial trends in interior design, concrete has been chosen as the flooring of choice as it gives the look designers are aiming for at a cost-effective price. Furthermore, its thermal conducting properties ensure it’s the perfect option for pairing with underfloor heating.

Is It Easy to Lay a Concrete Floor?

Laying a concrete floor correctly is all down to the consistency of the mix and the timing. That’s why it’s important to entrust this process to the professionals. It’s imperative that the concrete is levelled perfectly and that expansion joints are incorporated into the floor to avoid the concrete cracking once in use. To polish the concrete requires specialist contractors who use diamond drills to achieve a smooth and even effect.

Is There a Choice of Textures, Colours and Finishes?

While you may be used to seeing the typical greyish concrete floor of industrial units, modern polished concrete floors are available in an almost limitless choice of textures, colour and finishes. The texture and finish are all down to the grade of concrete used, how the concrete is poured and how it’s been polished.

Colour can be introduced either by adding pigment to the wet concrete or painting an acid or water-based stain onto the dry surface.

Do They Need Sealing?

As concrete is susceptible to oil and water stains, they should be sealed. Local concrete sealers in Sydney recommend that you seal your polished floors every two to three years.

And What About Concrete Floor Maintenance?

Simple! Just sweep or run a dust mop over it to remove dirt and then wet mop with a gentle cleansing product.

And there you have it – all you need to know about polished concrete floors in a nutshell!

Useful Tips for Concrete Cutting

Concrete cutting is performed for many different reasons, for example, if you need to add stress joints into an existing structure, you need to remove excess areas of concrete, or you want to remodel a concrete slab such as a patio. While concrete cutting is a standard process,

it’s usually carried out by skilled concrete cutters who have the knowledge and skills to handle the specialist cutting equipment correctly.

There are many companies offering concrete cutting in Sydney, who are experts in cutting techniques and in using equipment such as diamond cutting tools. But if you’re planning to do it yourself, here are our top tips for successful concrete cutting.

1. Select the best concrete cutting equipment

Any professional concrete cutter in Sydney will tell you that you need first class equipment to carry out a first-class job. While traditional saws can be used for the job, a specialised circular saw will make the process a whole lot easier and provide better results.

Being able to select the most appropriate concrete saw for the cutting job at hand is of the utmost importance. While there is a wide range of diamond saw blades and diamond drills available on the market, you need to learn which tool is the best tool for a particular job, as choosing the wrong piece of equipment has safety implications and may spoil the finished effect.

2. How to select a diamond blade for concrete cutting

Before you can choose the best blade, you need to understand how the blades work. Some diamond blades are only suitable for general cutting jobs while others are specially designed to complete specific tasks. So, before you begin any work you need to ascertain the kind of material you are cutting through, the size of the project and the required drill speed. Only then should you choose your blade.

3. Do’s and don’ts when cutting concrete

To ensure that you get the best outcome when cutting concrete here are some things you should do, and some things you shouldn’t:

• Do – inspect the blades and saw before using
• Do – make short, shallow cuts to prevent the saw from overheating
• Do – invest in a heavy-duty diamond blade for big or long jobs
• Do – wear protective equipment, including goggles
• Do – ensure that you have a variety of blades for different applications in your toolkit
• Don’t – apply excessive pressure
• Don’t – attempt to push the blade while you’re cutting
• Don’t – try to cut concrete with dull blades
• Don’t start any kind of concrete cutting without prior planning

Call in the concrete cutting professionals

Concrete cutters and saws can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, so if you have any doubts about whether you can cut concrete successfully and safely, it’s always best to call in the services of professional concrete cutters in Sydney.