easiest way to cut into a concrete slab??

Question

I am trying to cut a trench in an existing slab for a PVC drainage pipe.
Was thinking of an angle grinder. Need to go down about 6-8 inches. Then lay pipe with drainage -- any ideas?

should have clarified -- it's back patio slab -- older house. Water drains towards the house and want to route it away. Thought about the concrete saw - but that would work for the vertical - how do you cut along the horizontal to get the cut pieces out?

Answer 1

Rent a gas powered wet concrete saw. Your patio is probably not more than 4" thick. The saw will cut all the way through. Your slab may be a little thicker around the perimeter Say 6". Then take a sledge hammer and brake the cut strip in 1 place. You should be able to pry the rest out with a breaker bar. The wet saw is much better for depth control easier to follow a line & eliminates dust.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
easiest way to cut into a concrete slab??
I am trying to cut a trench in an existing slab for a PVC drainage pipe.
Was thinking of an angle grinder. Need to go down about 6-8 inches. Then lay pipe with drainage -- any ideas?

Answer 3

Just like Fordman said, rent a gas powered saw. It's basically a chainsaw engine hooked to a huge masonry blade. If you can rent the diamond blade otherwise you'll have to buy several of the other kind because they wear out quickly. I'd also suggest taking a magic marker and using a straight edge marking where you want to cut. A chalk line will work, but tends to get covered up by the dust from cutting. Most tool rental places will have the saw you need if you don't have a Home Depot with a tool rental department. I'd also have a utility mark out done so that you don't cut through anything important under that slab and then have to tear half of it up to make repairs.
Good Luck

Answer 4

You can rent a gas powered concrete saw. To get the cut material out you can then rent an electric jack hammer to break it up.

If you don't care about how ugly the cut is you can just use a jack hammer to bust a trench in the concrete but it will be ugly.

No matter what you use to do the job be sure to wear a respirator with the proper filter. Concrete dust is like tiny pieces of glass that will damage your lungs.

Answer 5

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/awDaI

The only way I know is with a concrete saw but be aware its bulky and 90 degree cuts close to a wall might be hard to accomplish. You might have to go on an angle and finish with a hammer and chisel. Finally the dust this will create will be enormous I cut through a block wall once and the clean up took longer than cutting the wall, you will have to cover everything. Its not an easy task. You might consider having it done professionally by a licensed/insured person.

Answer 6

Listen to fisherman - you want a wet saw - on wheels. With the gas dry saw you'll choke to death on the dust. After you're dead the rental place will take lots of money from your estate because you wore the crap out of their diamond blade cause you couldn't hand hold it real straight in the cut.

Actually, they take enough skill to run and cost enough to rent that you might just want to hire a concrete sawing company. You can still DIY the breakout, trench dig, new pipe, and out new concrete. Yellow pages, concrete sawing...

Answer 7

A gasoline powered circular saw - Partner K-12 or similar type with a masonry blade is what you need. An angle grinder would take you weeks.

Answer 8

you are going to need a concrete saw

angle grinder w/diamond tip blade isnt gonna do it

good luck

Answer 9

Rent a concrete saw from a home imrovement store where you bought the pipe.

good luck.