How to Remove a Concrete Slab for Underground Plumbing or Electrical Work

People who have concrete floor and driveways at their homes or concrete sidewalk around it, may actually need to break up the concrete for underground plumbing, utilities repairing, or maintenance. This can be a daunting job, but here are a few basic steps that will prove to be helpful in this regard.

1.The first step is to determine the exact position where the concrete needs to be broken. Locating the exact area of the problem can save a considerable amount of time and money, and complete the job with greater efficiency.

  • If you are looking for plumbing related problems, locating the area and the depth of the pipes running underground is important. Exterior hose valves or clean outs are pretty helpful for identifying the location and the depth of those pipes
  • For water problems, try to locate areas where water is bubbling up through a crack in the surface of the concrete, or is seeping out from the edges
  • For electrical faults, before you start digging the concrete, you need to locate the conduit outside it, and then dig up a certain length for finding where the rest of it is running to
  • For installation of new utilities or other repairs that require excavating an area of the concrete cover, it is wiser to consult the construction plan and then come out with a design and place to start digging

2. Once you know where you will be digging the concrete, now it is time to determine the thickness of the slab. You can dig the ground at the edge of the concrete cover and take a look at the side of the slab for a more or less precise idea. But some concrete flooring has thicker edges, while others may come with abutting structures and a monolithic foundation that prevent digging. So, it is a good idea to hammer a drill at the place one needs to dig and have an exact idea of the actual thickness or the constructional structure of the slab. Electric clipping hammers are suitable for breaking up concrete slabs around 4 inches thick, but for thicker slabs around or more than 60lb; electric breakers or pneumatic jackhammers would be a better choice.

3.Once the research and homework is done, it’s time to gather the tools for the project. If the concrete is less than 4 inches thick or it is a small project, a sledge hammer is sufficient. But in many cases, power equipment like a demolition saw, a circular saw with dry cut masonry blades, and a chipping hammer may be needed.

4. Mark the digging area clearly, so that you can dig it in a regular shape, and make the finished job look neat and also less evident. Once the area is marked, then saw cut the line as deep as possible. A demolition saw, a circular saw, or even a grinder with a dry cut diamond blade can be used for the purpose.

5.For heavy hammer drilling, you need a rotary hammer or a breaking chisel to chip the concrete. First, break along the edges of the saw line, with the point of the chisel leaning towards the line. This will loosen the edge crack, but will not break the sides. Care should be taken not to chip or spall the adjoining concrete. You need to work around the area to enlarge it, while digging deeper, until the slab is fully penetrated.Until you create a space for the broken concrete pieces to drop in, they won’t be able to come free.

6. While digging a concrete slab, the point of the chisel should always be slanted towards the initial hole, so that it penetratesin the right direction, without breaking any concrete. If one penetrates straight too deep then that piece will be lodged in as a whole, and will not also be easy to remove. By chipping in parallel to the original hole, concrete bits that have lodged can be removed.

7.Try to break out the largest piece while digging, so that the hole becomes large enough. While working on the edge, chipping small pieces is nothing but a waste of time and energy. As the hole grows bigger, simultaneously remove the broken pieces, so that, there is enough space for the subsequent pieces to drop in without getting wedged. This will also help you to dig the spot pipes, reinforcing bars, or electrical wires,as the penetration continues.

8. Once the breaking is complete, use a chipping hammer for chipping the edges. This will fully thicken the repair, and will further prevent cracks from appearing once the patching is done.

9. Once the pipe is located,the digging needs to be done, along the length of the pipe to reach the actual damaged section. It is important not to further damage the pipe, while breaking and digging the concrete. Once the actual location of the damage is identified, breaking vertical concrete chips might be easier, but the adjacent surface must be protected, too.

10. Once the fault is rectified, the debris should be removed,before the hole is patched with graded and compacted fill material and new concrete. One can also use a sand layer to prevent the pipes from being damaged by the movement of the hardening concrete.

Here are a few more tips that you might find useful.

While working close to the pipes or other fragile equipment, it’s a good idea to use smaller tools. If you need to work on an area that is larger than 15-20 square feet, renting a jack hammer or a qualified demolition professional would be wiser.

Large hammer drills or rotary hammers, which are the best equipment for such jobs, are quite expensive. If they are required only for a single project, then renting them can be a better option than buying.

When digging a concrete slab also see to it that the reinforcement bars are not damaged, so that the patch and the original slab will be of the same strength.

Mega Saw:Door and Window Installation for that Added Sunlight or Exotic View

Concrete CuttingNumerous reasons dictate your desire to add an extra door or a window to your residential or commercial property. You may want to bring in the much-needed natural light and enhance the overall visibility and brightness in the rooms. Strategically placed windows and doors offer a pleasing view of the external surroundings.They help to perk up your mood when you’re feeling gloomy. Whether you are looking for such additions for practical or aesthetic reasons Mega Saw will do a great job for you.

How Mega Saw Helps

We Understand Your Needs Better

At Mega Saw, we understand and deeply value the needs of our clients better than our competitors. Over the years, we have gained robust experience and expertise to ensure commercial or residential building improvements result in 100% customer satisfaction.

Our products, knowledge and experience put us in a unique position to help you.Our advice, solutions and services are always right on target!

Years of dealing with various commercial and residential projects have given us the insight on what works and what doesn’t. This gives us an edge over others,helping us to serve you better.

Free Quote and Expert Advice on Window Installation

Simply deciding to add a window or a door to your property is not enough. You need a suitable plan, the right design, and a budget. With Mega Saw you can now add windows to your property in a safe and cost-effective way. Our team of professionals will be on-site to assess the situation and offer you a free quote and expert advice.

This will allow you to know your options, and plan your budget in advance before actual work begins. Our aim is to clarify everything starting from step one to avoid problems later on.

Quick Work Completion Using a Superior Quality Wall Saw

At Mega Saw, we use only high quality equipment for optimal results. Our aim is to cause minimal interference to surrounding structures, so that window or door installation can go as smoothly and as worry-free as possible.

Many people tend to postpone important renovation projects simply to avoid hassle.But, when you got us working on your project, everything happens almost imperceptibly and voila, your new door or window is ready in no time. Experienced handling, coupled with emphasis on the latest technology keeps the surrounding structures safe during installation and ensures on-time completion.

Site Cleanup and Concrete Recycling at the Close of the Project

Are you worried about the debris and the dirt left behind by your construction project? With Mega Saw at your service, this will be the least of your worries! We offer meticulous site cleanup and recycling of the concrete in the post-completion phase. The presence of the new door or window will be the only evidence of our presence, and you will reap the expected benefits. Simply leave the rest to us and set your worries aside.

Besides emphasizing on client satisfaction, we are concerned about the environment issues too. Recycling of concrete in the post-completion phase signifies eco-friendly disposal. So, just enjoy the new addition to your property and leave the rest to us.

Affordable, On-time Delivery,  Every Time

Generally, people associate making property improvements with staggering costs. Naturally, many try to postpone the same, until time demands it. At Mega Saw, we beg to differ; because we make a conscious effort to keep the related costs as reasonable as possible. Affordable pricing means customers can approach us without worry, and receive superior quality services that are well within their budget.However, this doesn’t mean that we are lax or laid-back! You can rely on us for the much-needed addition to your home or commercial space.

With Mega Saw at the helm, adding an extra door or window to your home or commercial property is a breeze. We consider the requirements of our clients when providing quotes and offering solutions.

Any architect or interior designer will tell you that a well-planned extra door, or window will enhance the beauty of your home.Not only will it make your home appear more spacious, but it will improve its value as well.

So what are you waiting for? If you want a new door or window to enhance the beauty of your home or office, call us now!

A Complete Guide on Using Circular Saws

Circular power saws are a basic tool used by builders, carpenters and home renovators. Here is a complete guideline and instructions for using power circular saws

Understanding Different Types, Sizes and Purposes: A variety of circular saws are used for many different purposes like the 5 inch trim saws, hand-held circular saws or the 7 1/4 inch saws, 8 and 10 inch saws and worm-drive saws. Among them, the hand-held circular saws are known as the backbone of the construction industry. They are used for cutting lumber up to a thickness of 2 ¼ inch. They are also used for ripping lumber and a variety of other purposes. Hand-held circular saws are available with a number of optional blades for cutting concrete, both ferrous and non ferrous metals, pipe, tubes and even cold-rolled steel bars. The 8 and 10 inch saws are used for cutting larger lumber lengths. Those can be up to 4 inches thick. All the different types of circular saws are specifically designed for different purposes. You must find one that is designed for any specific job you will be doing with them.

IMG_09012014_142827The Features: Before you start using any of the above mentioned types of circular saws, you must familiarize yourself with its important features. Most circular saws can be adjusted within a range of 90 degrees to a little less than 45 degrees. This makes angle cuts and cutting beveled ends possible. You will find a thumbscrew in most circular saw models that will allow you to maintain the correct angle of the saw blade while using. The depth of the blade can also be adjusted with the thumbscrew. A number of circular saw models also come equipped with ripping fence, dust ejector, laser tracking lights and blade guards to make them more efficient and also safe at the same time.

Basic Types of Circular Saws and Their Usage: Different types of circular saws come with different blade compositions, different number of teeth or cutting bits and also different blade quality. Compared to HSS saws or high speed steel saws, TCT saws with tungsten carbide tipped blades are more durable and are specially used for tough hardwoods. Carborundum made abrasive blades, diamond rim blades, special tempered alloy blades and Dado blades are also there for cutting different types of concretes and metals and before you opt for a circular saw you must find the one that best fits your requirement.

Quick Tips:

  • While using a circular saw always make sure that the material you are cutting is well supported. This ensures the saw blade does not come in contact with anything underneath while cutting.
  • Use a measuring tape and a square to mark the path of blade travel while cutting.
  • For minimizing kickback always set the saw to a proper depth.
  • Your saw guard must spring back to its place as soon as it is lifted off the work and must also slide up smoothly when you restart work again. Always make sure to put the saw guard in the down position before putting it down on something.
  • At the time of beginning your cut, keep your eyes on the right hand side of the blade and line it up with the mark you have put for cutting.
  • At the front of the saw, there are two guide notches for cutting perpendicularly or at an angle of 45 degrees. The notches are required to line up with the pencil marks for cutting.
  • While cutting always keep an eye on the guides. This offers a neutral position for keeping your eyes on the pencil line and to look away from the sawdust at the same time.
  • Always make sure the base of the saw is kept flat on the surface you are cutting.
  • While cutting with a circular saw always push the saw deep enough into the material to allow the blades to continue cutting. But you must not push it so hard it reduces the motor speed.
  • At the time of exiting the cut, always make sure that the lower guard has returned to its right position.