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A good rule of thumb is to cut the joints one-quarter to one-third the slab thickness. For a 6-inch-thick slab, that means cutting 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep. Ensure that the saw cut depth meets the structural engineering specifications.
How deep should you cut 4 inch concrete?
Cut joints 25% of the depth of the slab. A 4″ thick slab should have joints 1″ deep. Groover tools cut joints in fresh concrete. Saw cutting cuts joints as soon as the concrete is hard enough that the edges abutting the cut don’t chip from the saw blade.
How do you cut a 4 inch concrete slab?
Use a standard circular saw, equipped with a corundum or diamond blade, for small tasks. For slabs, it’s best to cut through the top inch, then use a sledgehammer to break off the rest. The jagged edge left below the cutting line provides a good rough edge for the new concrete to bond to.
How long after pouring concrete do you cut it?
For most concrete work, cutting should take place within the first 6 to 18 hours and never beyond 24 hours. Smaller early-entry saws are available, which may allow cutting to begin within a few hours after placement.
How deep can 12 inch concrete saw cut?
Cured Concrete/Asphalt Blades Diameter Cutting Depth* 12″ (305mm) 4″ 14″ (356mm) 5″ 18″ (457mm) 7″.
How many times do you float concrete?
For a really smooth finish, repeat the troweling step two or three times, letting the concrete harden a bit between each pass. At first, hold the trowel almost flat, elevating the leading edge just enough to avoid gouging the surface.
Do you push or pull a concrete saw?
Always let the saw do the work; simply guide its direction, but don’t push it down into the concrete. You only need a quarter-inch cut at this point, but if the saw bites in a bit deeper, that’s fine too. This first guided cut will ensure you keep your cuts straight during the rest of the project.
How deep can a 16 inch concrete saw cut?
Diamond Blade Cutting Depths Maximum Blade Cutting Depths Concrete Saw Blades 12″ 3 5/8″ 14″ 4 5/8″ 16″ 5 5/8″.
Can you cut concrete with a chainsaw?
The hydraulic-powered Lynx LCC31 concrete cutting chainsaw from Stanley Hydraulic Tools will cut concrete (wire or rebar reinforced), brick, block, masonry and stone. It can cut square corners for openings and wall cut-outs, as well as plunge cut into walls and make full-depth cuts at one pass.
How do you cut concrete by hand?
Use your dominant hand to grip the back handle and push the blade forward and backward. Begin cutting at the edge of the concrete and slowly follow the chalk line. Don’t press the blade into the ground—let the weight of the blade and saw do the work. Remove the blade every 30 to 45 seconds to avoid overheating.
What happens if you don’t cut concrete?
Cutting too early can mark the pavement surface as well as cause joint raveling. Late sawing can result in random concrete cracks. Shallow cracks aren’t sufficient to prevent uncontrolled cracking while deep cuts are excessively labor intensive and undermine the aggregate interlock in the concrete.
How far apart are concrete expansion joints?
Usually, expansion joints should be no farther apart than 2 to 3 times (in feet) the total width of the concrete (in inches). So for a 4 inch thick concrete slab, expansion joints should be no more than 8 to 12 feet apart.
How big can a concrete slab be without expansion joints?
Rule #1 – Keep joints as square as possible. Rule #2 – In order to prevent intermediate cracking, space joints (in feet) no more than 2 – 3 times the slab thickness (in inches).
How deep can a 14-inch concrete saw cut?
A 14-inch circular blade on a cut-off saw is designed for a maximum depth of slightly less than five inches.
How deep can a walk behind concrete saw cut?
Usually, a concrete saw can cut up to 10 feet per minute. The 14-inch blade can easily cut a 5-inch thick concrete. The cost of saw-cutting concrete is less than a dollar per linear foot.
How deep can a 5 grinder cut?
If you only occasionally use a grinder for odd cutting jobs, then purchasing a smaller size works well. A 5-inch grinder can cut through several feet of wood in no time at all. However, using that same grinder on a larger project like cutting beams for a deck would quickly become a chore.
Can you smooth out concrete after it dries?
Sand the Surface and Wash the Concrete Finish by fine-tuning with light sandpaper, until the surface is perfectly smooth. We recommend using a hand planer to smooth and compact the surface. If the concrete dries a lot then we recommend that you add water to the surface, this will help you give it a good finish.
How long does it take for 4 inches of concrete to cure?
Your concrete should be solid enough to walk on, without leaving footprints, after anything from 24 to 48 hours. By seven days, your concrete should be cured to at least 70 percent of its full strength.
What if it rains after pouring concrete?
If the rain begins 2 to 4 hours after pouring the concrete, the surface will not be damaged. Similarly, if it rains soon after the finishing stage, rainwater will not cause much damage if it does not seep into the surface. Light sprinkles of rain can cause no damage to freshly prepared concrete structures.
