How to Cut Concrete on Your Own

Home repair and renovation projects often require cutting through or replacing concrete fixtures such as paving blocks, walls etc. Rather than hire a contractor to do the job for you, why not do the job yourself?

In order to cut through concrete, you will need a specialized concrete saw with a diamond blade. You can either buy a diamond saw from a tool shop or rent it out for a couple of days. There are several firms and tool shops that specialize in renting out home remodeling equipment and you can easily find one near you with the help of a business directory.

The first thing to do is to clean the area that you will be working on. It is easiest to cut through a clean, debris free surface. Having a clean canvas to work with also makes it easier to make neat cuts in the surface.

Next, using any sharp instrument, outline the area to be cut out. Having a clear guide for cutting makes it easier to avoid making mistakes.

Dig near the slab until you can see its bottom, and measure the depth. Connect a wide diamond blade to your concrete saw. You can either do a wet cutting or a dry cutting. A wet cutting reduces the amount of dust flying around and also helps keep both the diamond saw as well the slab cool. To do a wet cutting, use a garden hose to connect the water pump on your saw to a convenient faucet.

Roll the saw into place above the scored line in the surface, using its depth control knob to keep the blade clear of the slab surface. Start the saw and allow it to reach operating speed. Open the faucet to let the water run along the slab surface.

Now slowly maneuver the depth control lever until the blade is lowered to the surface of the slab. Once you've reached the desired depth, lock the depth into place on the saw.

Slowly start walking forward, moving the blade along the outline. Always move in a straight line to bending the saw blade. To angle the cut, raise the blade completely from the slab before repositioning the saw and lowering the blade to start along the new line.

Last but not the least; do not try to push forward too fast as this might strain the concrete saw.