Concrete Cutting & Core Drilling
in Houston, TX

How much does concrete cutting and core drilling cost in Houston?

There is no flat rate. Core drilling is usually priced per hole by diameter and depth, and sawing is priced by the linear foot and the cut depth. A single small core can be a quick same-day job, while a full demolition cut is a bigger number. Four things move the price. Hole or cut size and the amount of steel in the way set most of it. Access to the work and the dust and slurry cleanup do the rest. We do not publish a price per hole, because a number given before we see the slab is a guess. Ask for the free written estimate and every item gets its own line.

Do you scan for post-tension cables and rebar before cutting?

Yes, on every job. We run ground penetrating radar (GPR) to map the post-tension tendons, rebar and conduit, then mark safe cut lines around them. This matters most on a post-tension slab, where a cut tendon can snap loose and become a structural repair. It also protects the steel in a conventional reinforced slab. The blade only goes where the scan shows clear concrete.

How do you keep concrete dust and slurry under control?

We wet cut. Water at the blade or bit holds down the crystalline silica dust that OSHA regulates under 29 CFR 1926.1153. It also cools the diamonds so they last longer. Wet cutting makes slurry, so we berm it and vacuum it up as we go. None of it reaches your floor drains or the storm drain. In an occupied building we tarp off the area and clean as we go.

Can you cut an opening in a post-tension slab?

Yes, and it is one of the most common calls we get in Houston, where many homes and pads are post-tension. We scan the slab with GPR, map the tendons, and lay out the opening so the cut misses them. If a tendon has to be cut and re-anchored, that is engineered work, and we coordinate it. Read more on our post-tension slabs page, and if the opening needs closing back up, see concrete repair and restoration.

Do I need a permit to cut a hole in my slab or wall?

For a small plumbing or electrical penetration, usually not on its own. Cutting a structural opening, a doorway in a bearing wall, or a large section out of a slab can need an engineer detail and a permit. Inside city limits that goes through the City of Houston. Outside it goes through Harris County Engineering or your county office. We flag it in the estimate and pull what is needed. When the cut ties into new drain lines, see our trench and slot drains page.

What is the difference between slab sawing, wall sawing, wire sawing and core drilling?

Each tool fits a different cut.

• Slab sawing: a walk-behind saw for straight cuts in floors, driveways and pads.
• Wall sawing: a track-mounted saw for openings in vertical walls.
• Wire sawing: a diamond wire for thick or heavily reinforced sections a blade cannot reach.
• Core drilling: a rig that bores round holes for pipes, conduit and ducts.