Published Jan 18, 2021
Maybe you’ve come across a construction contractor’s page mentioning concrete coring, or you’ve seen a company offering concrete coring services in a newspaper ad somewhere; whatever the case, we’re here to lay out the basic facts you should know about concrete coring.
What is concrete coring?
Concrete core drilling, or simply concrete coring, is the process of removing a cylindrical portion of concrete from the rest of the structure. Concrete coring’s purpose is to drill perfect holes into concrete walls, floors, ceilings, and other structures. Holes can be drilled at whatever angle seems appropriate, both horizontal or vertical.
The coring process is nondestructive and is relatively low impact being dust-free, low-noise, and non-percussive, making it an extremely attractive process for cutting concrete. Its applications span many different locations, including homes, offices, highways, and more. Now that we’ve discussed what concrete coring is let’s talk about its applications.
What is it for?
Concrete coring is used in construction for several reasons. The most common application is installing utilities, including plumbing, HVAC, phone lines, and sprinkler systems. It is essential in creating pathways for sewer lines, steam lines, water pipes, computer lines, and the like through concrete structures.
Another application is for removing a larger portion of concrete from a structure. This process will involve drilling multiple holes in succession in a row, where they intersect each other. This type of drilling is termed line drilling or coring and is quite common in construction and demolition.
What is involved in the concrete coring process?
A concrete coring drill uses a diamond cutting edge attached to the end of a steel tube. This apparatus is then attached to a concrete coring machine, which features a rotating shaft to power the drill. In many cases, this drill rig is attached to a wall, floor, or other surface using anchor bolts or vacuum seals to secure it in place. As the drill operates by cutting through the concrete, it is concurrently cooled by water to reduce friction and overheating. The drilling process commences when the concrete slug is extracted from the hole, leaving a perfectly drilled hole free of cosmetic damage and ready for use.
Concrete coring drill rigs come in different forms, such as electric and hydraulic, and in different sizes as well, in order to account for tighter and more sensitive areas.
Cutting Technologies Concrete Coring services
If you need a selective demolition contractor for your concrete coring job, Cutting Technologies (CTI) is the contractor for you. We have applied concrete coring in several jobs, ranging from simple to extremely challenging. These are the following industries we have worked in:
- Nuclear decommissioning
- General construction
- Heavy Industrial and Process Industries
- Refineries and Petrochemical plants
- Piers and Marine construction
- Bridges and Heavy construction
Contact us now for a free estimate!
Interested In Cutting Technologies?
For nearly 40 years Cutting Technologies (CTI) has been the go-to demolition contractor for technically demanding, one-off jobs. Our wealth of experience enables CTI to bring “outside-of-the-block” approaches to achieve the impossible. Contractors trust CTI to get the job done right. Take a look at our demolition services on our website.
About The Author
Terrence Tan Ting is an industrial engineer by profession but a full time writer by passion. He loves to write about a wide range of topics from many different industries thanks to his undying curiosity.