There is no denying that concrete is the most popular construction material. It is cheap, strong and durable. There are times when holes need to be cut into a concrete wall or a concrete floor or a concrete ceiling for various purposes. It could be for HVAC ducts, electrical conduits or for various other reasons.
Concrete coring is the process that is used for drilling a hole through a concrete structure. In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of concrete coring, why it is needed, the procedure, common problems and why you should hire an experienced team for any concrete core drilling project.
What is concrete core drilling?
It is a process that is used for making a cylindrical hole in a concrete structure. For this, a special type of drill bit is used which is mounted on a powerful rig. Extreme care needs to be taken when drilling a hole through a concrete structure as mistakes might lead to structural issues. Wet core drilling is preferred in most cases but dry core drilling may also be needed in certain situations.
What is the process?
Before the drilling can begin, the team of professionals will check all the details to make sure there are no obstructions or if there are any obstructions, they are prepared for the same. The next step in the process is the preparation of the rig and drill. While a handheld core drill is used for holes up to 3 inches in diameter, in most cases, a rig-supported core drill is needed for making holes with bigger diameters.
The rig is used to stabilize the drill. The process produces a lot of heat and this is why water is continuously fed to keep the temperature down. In most cases, diamond-tipped blades are used for making holes as other materials are not strong enough to be used continuously on the hard concrete surface.
Common problems
The most common problem is a broken or cracked bit that gets stuck on the concrete surface. It usually happens due to a lack of enough water during the process. If enough water is not fed during the drilling process, it quickly leads to a buildup of debris and dust which creates a roadblock for the drill bit leading to breakage.
Why hire an experienced team?
There are a lot of videos and guides available online for different types of concrete cutting processes including core drilling. It might look simple but concrete cutting is a tough and dangerous job.
Even using a simple concrete saw requires a lot of experience and core drilling is a completely different ballgame. A core drill rig could quickly get unstable if the operator is not careful and it could lead to expensive mistakes such as structural damage.
This is why you should never try to DIY a concrete core drilling project. Always engage the services of a professional team with plenty of experience and an excellent reputation.
Final Thoughts
Overall, concrete core drilling is a common process in the construction industry. It is used for making holes for lighting fixtures, HVAC pipes, plumbing pipes, electrical conduits, communication lines, analysis of concrete samples and a variety of other purposes. Since it is a difficult process and requires experienced hands, it is always recommended to use the services of an experienced concrete core drilling company for any such project.
Vic Sawing & Drilling is an experienced concrete cutting service offering concrete core drilling for domestic and commercial clients. Give them a call on (03) 8786 3621 to know more or leave an enquiry.
