There are many reasons why you may need to hire a concrete cutting contractor. Perhaps you have a project for your home and need professional help removing an entrance, patio, driveway, walkway, or more. You may also need a contractor for your business to break down a wall, floor, or road.
While you may have considered doing it yourself, you should realize that concrete cutting work can be hazardous – even for professionals. It can be especially risky in the hands of an amateur. Concrete cutting tools are powerful. Used at the wrong angle, without the right safety equipment, they can result in serious injury.
Moreover, mistakes with these tools can damage your property. For example, you may be tempted to rent a jackhammer for your basement project. While breaking out the concrete to install the plumbing yourself may seem simple, it can result in expensive and long-lasting problems. One wrong move with the jackhammer can result in expensive damage.
Here are some important questions you should ask your concrete cutting contractor before hiring them:
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1. How Long Have You Been in the Business?
While there are many concrete cutting contractors to choose from, some have only recently entered the field. It’s best to find a company that’s been in the business for decades. Their vast experience will help them efficiently tackle any unexpected complications.
CanWest Concrete Cutting & Coring are experts that have been in the business since 1982. They are a locally owned and operated enterprise, the biggest in Western Canada, and do both residential and commercial work. Here are some of the services they offer:
- Concrete cutting
- Slab sawing
- Wall sawing
- Wire sawing
- Core drilling
- GPR Scanning
With over thirty-five years of experience, they’ve been involved in all kinds of concrete related work.
2. What Are Your Prices?
Be wary of companies that don’t offer realistic quotes or drastically change their prices once the job has started. A trustworthy professional will offer competitive prices before starting the job. However, sometimes it’s worthwhile to hire a company that charges above-market rates if they’re experienced, reputable, and boast an excellent body of work.
3. What Sort of Tools Do You Use?
Because concrete cutting work can be elaborate, contractors have a variety of tools to work with. Whether you’re hiring for a small residential job or a complex industrial project, it’s vital that your contractor has the proper equipment.
Newer tools are more energy-efficient, faster, and safer to work with. If your contractor has the latest equipment, they’re more likely to complete the job on time.
4. What’s Your Safety Policy?
It’s important to hire a company with good safety policies. Contractors work with equipment such as concrete cutting saws, jackhammers, demolitions, excavators, and cranes. Mistakes with these powerful tools can be costly.
A strong safety policy means that workers are less likely to get hurt while working on your project. Moreover, it lowers the chance of property damage.
Concrete cutting results in the release of microscopic dust. If inhaled over long periods, crystalline silica can result in breathing issues. It has also been linked to diseases such as lung cancer. For this reason, workers should have the best safety gear. They should also dispose of the dust safely to protect others around them.
5. Are You Environmentally Friendly?
Some concrete cutting tools can be tough on the environment because of the energy they consume and the fumes they release. Thankfully, newer tools have zero emissions and are energy efficient. An eco-friendly company will use the latest equipment that’s more sustainable.
You should also look for a company that believes in recycling slurry. This is a byproduct of concrete cutting and harmful for the environment. When a blade cuts concrete, the friction causes it to heat up. To keep it cool, workers spray water on it. The water mixes with concrete dust and creates slurry.
This mixture of water and concrete solids can be toxic. If allowed to run down storm drains, it can reach streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans where it can harm the ecosystem. Fortunately, some environmentally conscious companies have taken steps to safely dispose of slurry.
Using a wet vacuum, they will remove slurry from all job sites. Then, using cutting-edge technology, they can dehydrate it and compress it into blocks. These blocks are easily recyclable.
These are some of the questions you should ask your concrete cutting contractor before hiring them. The right company will address all your concerns and complete your project to your satisfaction.
