Concrete Sawing, Cutting and Coring in Casper, Wyoming

Every cut in concrete is permanent. A core drilled through a post-tensioned tendon or a saw blade that finds a live conduit can turn a routine opening into an emergency. We scan before we cut, mark what we find and cut only the path the drawings approve. The tools are loud and the dust is hazardous, but the real work is in the plan.

Our sawing and coring work covers slab openings, wall penetrations, control joints, trench cuts for utilities, pavement removal lines and cuts for repairs. Wall saws, slab saws, hand saws and core rigs each have a place. The choice depends on thickness, reinforcing, access and what sits behind the cut.

Contractors call us when they need a clean edge, an exact opening or a trench line through existing pavement. We deliver the cut and leave the area clean, with slurry collected and not washed into storm drains.

Scan, mark, then cut

Before any blade touches concrete, we scan with ground-penetrating radar or a rebar locator where the risk justifies it. We mark rebar, conduit, tendons and voids on the surface, and compare the scan with drawings. If something looks wrong, we stop and call the engineer. Cutting a post-tensioned tendon can release stored energy and injure a crew, so those slabs get extra care.

Silica dust is controlled with wet cutting or vacuum attachments, and operators wear the right respiratory protection when needed. Noise limits matter near hospitals and schools. We also barricade the area below a slab opening, because a section of concrete that falls can weigh several hundred pounds. Cut pieces are supported, rigged or broken before release.

Cuts that crews actually need

Slab sawing covers control joints, utility trench cuts, expansion joint removal and clean edges for patches. Joint timing is critical in new slabs: we cut as soon as the concrete will hold an edge without ravelling, typically within hours of finishing in warm weather and later in cold. Early-entry saws help when the window is short.

Wall sawing and coring create doors, windows, ducts and pipe penetrations in existing structures. Core drills make clean round holes for pipes, conduit and bolts. Floor sawing for plumbing rough-in cuts a trench through an existing slab so the plumber can set pipe, and we coordinate the cut and later patch with the demolition crew so the sequence stays tight.

Utilities, slurry and surprises

Casper's recent road reconstruction work on Poplar Street (WYO 220) between Collins Street and the North Platte River bridge included new road surface, storm and sanitary sewer and utility upgrades, a $12.79 million contract. Projects like that mean pavement cuts for connections, crossings and tie-ins, and the neighboring businesses still need access while the work goes on.

The Poplar Street corridor is a good example of what cutting supports on live roads: connections for storm and sanitary lines, new curb returns and driveways rebuilt to match. Slurry from wet cutting is a pollutant, so we vacuum or contain it. Existing slabs often hide conduit that is not on any record drawing. When we find an unexpected line, we stop and tell the owner. Some slabs also have old repairs, mesh at odd depths or thicker sections, so the cut depth is checked as we go and not assumed. We also keep a spare blade on site, because a blade that wears out in the middle of a cut leaves a half-finished line that is unsafe to leave overnight.

Sequencing cuts with other trades

Cuts are only useful if the next trade is ready. Plumbers need the trench open before their rough-in inspection. Electricians need cores for conduit before they pull wire. Mechanical contractors need openings sized for ducts and curbs before the roof goes on. We ask each trade for its dimensions and confirm them with the architect or engineer.

For commercial work, the permit and inspection process shapes the timeline. City of Casper commercial permits can require engineered drawings and plan review, and an issued permit is good for 180 days. When a cut is structural, the engineer reviews it, and we wait for the approval before we start. Our testing and quality control page explains how we confirm patches after cutting.

What we manage as one scope

We coordinate the layout, scanning, cutting, coring and removal for most openings as one scope, so the team that plans the cut knows how the patch will go back. That avoids the finger-pointing that happens when one subcontractor cuts and another patches. For difficult openings in thick structural walls, we plan the cut with rigging and support before the first pass.

We also use cutting as part of new construction. When a warehouse building floor is poured, we saw the joints. When a trench is needed for a new drain, we cut the line and then place a trench drain. Rebar and dowels are drilled and epoxied into existing concrete for additions and tie-ins.

Who calls for cutting

General contractors on tenant improvements, additions and renovation work are the most frequent callers, and general contractors and construction managers often need a cut done by tomorrow. Municipalities need pavement cuts for utility repairs, and plant owners need openings for new pipe and equipment.

Property owners with leaks, settling floors or new tenant layouts also hire us for targeted work. We always ask for a drawing or a marked-up photo, and if the opening is structural we ask who the engineer is. A clean cut at the right size saves time for every trade that follows.

Mark up the drawing

Send the drawing or a marked photo of the cuts, plus the access and the schedule. We will scan, set a price and tell you when the area has to be clear.

Questions Owners Ask

Can you cut through post-tensioned slabs?

Only with great care. We scan to locate tendons and avoid them. If a cut must cross a tendon, the engineer must approve a plan, usually involving detensioning. We never cut blind.

How deep can you saw?

Slab saws handle most slabs up to common thicknesses. Wall saws and chain saws cut thicker sections. Very thick concrete can be cut in multiple passes. The depth depends on the blade, the equipment and the reinforcing.

Do you wet or dry cut?

Wet cutting is our default because it controls dust and cools the blade. In places where water cannot be used, we use dry cutting with vacuum dust collection. We contain slurry and keep it out of drains.

When should control joints be sawn in a new slab?

As soon as the slab can take the saw without ravelling and before shrinkage cracks start. In warm, dry weather that might be a few hours after finishing. In cold weather it can be the next day. Early-entry saws extend the window.

Can you core for conduit or pipe?

Yes. We scan first, mark the location and core to the size required. We can also set sleeves in new work so coring is not needed later.

Related

Ready to talk about your project?