How Deep Can Concrete Be Cut?

Weather Conditions The right time to cut concrete depends a lot on the weather conditions. If the weather conditions are hot, the process can start as early as four hours once the concrete is poured. On the other hand, the concrete cutting shouldn’t start for at least 12 hours after the concrete is poured in cooler weather conditions.

Depth of Cut As far as the depth of the cut is concerned, professionals recommend cuts ranging from one quarter to one third of the thickness of the slab. Simply put, this means that the cutting depth should be restricted to around 2.5 inches for an 8 inch thick concrete slab. In case the cut is too deep, the interlocking may not be sufficient enough for transfer of loads.

Choosing the Right Tool The choice of tool will depend on the particular application. Chainsaws are preferred for cutting square corners as well as for making deep cuts.

Spacing between Cuts If you are making relief joints in concrete, you need to figure out the spacing between cuts. Simply put, an 8 inch thick concrete slab should have cuts 16 to 24 inches apart.

Final Thoughts Overall, concrete cutting is not as straightforward as it looks. There are a number of things that need to be considered in order to make precise cuts.