Concrete cutting in San Rafael CA - clean openings right where you want them
Need a slab or wall opened for a new drain, pipe or doorway? We cut straight, clean lines where we agreed they go.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
How do you get a clean opening in an existing slab or wall?
Concrete cutting in San Rafael means using saws to make straight cuts in a slab or wall, and core drills to make round holes, so a new pipe, drain or conduit, the tubing that carries wires, can go through concrete that's already there.
Usually the call comes because something new has to go through something old, like a drain line under a garage floor, a pipe through a foundation wall or a strip of driveway that has to come out. The price moves with the total length of cut, how thick the concrete is, how much rebar, the steel bars inside it, it carries, whether it's a slab or a wall, how many round holes you need and how easy the spot is to reach. The schedule turns on whether a permit is needed, whether we scan first and where the water and slurry will go. You get the figure for your own cuts from the written estimate, which lays out each step.
How we handle concrete cutting, from marked line to clean edge
Every job starts the same way. We mark each cut line on the concrete and agree it with you before the saw arrives, because a cut can't be put back. When cables or conduit could be inside, we scan first, and we settle where the water and slurry go so your yard or garage doesn't end up coated in gray mud. Then we pick the saw that fits the cut's location, shape and thickness, make the cuts, break out and haul away the pieces and wash the area down.
Cutting is often the first half of a bigger job. A trench cut across a driveway for a drain line needs a new strip poured back, and a driveway that's cracked all over may be worth rebuilding as a new concrete driveway on a dug-out, packed base. We also cut out sunken or broken sections ahead of concrete patio construction, so the new slab meets straight, clean edges instead of ragged ones.
Flat saws and core drills for slabs
Flat saws ride on top of the slab and make long straight cuts in driveways, patios and garage floors. Core drills bore round holes for pipe, drains and conduit, which leaves a much cleaner hole than breaking one out and patching it.
Wall, hand and wire saws for everything else
Wall saws run on a track for straight openings in walls, and hand saws reach tight corners a big saw can't get into. Thick or heavily reinforced sections usually call for a wire saw.
Call early if a plumber or electrician is waiting on the opening, because the cut lines, any scan and the slurry plan all get settled before the saw shows up.
What happens after you call us about concrete cutting in San Rafael?
I look at every job myself, and our own crew does the cutting with me on site. Here's how a job runs, from your first call to the last of the slurry.
Tell us what needs cutting
Call or send a message, and we set a time for me to come see the concrete. A photo of the area helps me know what to look for.
I measure and write it up
I measure each cut and ask what the concrete carries and what has to go through it. You get a written estimate that lays out each step, with saw cuts and core holes listed apart so you can see where the money goes.
Clear the permit before cutting
If your cut needs a permit, the city lists 2 to 6 weeks for residential building permits, so that wait goes in the schedule before any cutting. Once it's clear, we set the cut date and walk the marked lines with you again.
We cut, then clean up
I'm on site with our crew from the first cut to the cleanup, and the slurry goes where we agreed. You're left with clean edges, ready for the plumber, the electrician or our next pour.
Get a written estimate for your concrete cuts
We reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, measure each cut and send a written estimate that lays out every step, and it's free with no pressure to book.
(628) 234-2042What to know about concrete cutting in San Rafael
Whether a cut needs a permit depends on the job, so I don't guess at it. The City of San Rafael issues building permits for construction, repairs and improvements, and cutting a new opening into a home can count as that kind of work, so I check with the city for your address before we plan anything. When it does need one, we handle the application and the inspections. Skipping it doesn't save money, because the city charges extra fees for work done without a permit, and paying them doesn't approve work that isn't up to code.
Most cutting calls here are for older slabs, garage floors and patios that need a new drain or line run through them. When a job means digging under or near the cut, USA North 811 asks to be contacted at least 2 working days ahead, not counting the day of notice, so it can alert the utility companies and issue a ticket, and we plan the dig around that ticket. We take the same jobs in cities from Petaluma down to Berkeley, including Novato and Mill Valley.
Concrete cutting questions from San Rafael homeowners
How much does concrete cutting cost per foot in San Rafael?
Professional saw cutting of concrete slabs usually runs about $4 to $15 per linear foot across the US, and that's a market range, not our price. Wall sawing often costs more per foot than slab cutting, and a thick or reinforced slab costs more than a thin one that's easy to reach. Your written estimate gives the figure for your own cuts.
Why does a small concrete cutting job cost more than the per-foot rate?
On a small job, a minimum charge or a mobilization charge, the cost of bringing the crew and saw out, can set the price more than the footage does. Round holes from core drilling are usually priced apart from saw cuts too, so if you need both, check that each one shows up on the quote.
Why do you scan concrete before cutting it?
Because you can't see what's inside, and some of it can hurt the house or the person running the saw. Before cutting structural concrete, or post-tensioned concrete that holds tightened steel cables, a scan may be needed to find rebar, cables, conduit and pipes. A cut cable can weaken the structure, and a cut electrical conduit can electrocute the operator, so the scan comes before the saw.
How do I get ready for a concrete cutting crew?
Plan where the crew will hook up water and power, and agree on where the slurry, the watery concrete mud the saw throws off, will be collected. The cutting trade's spec puts water and electricity on the owner or the firm running the project, and calls for the slurry plan to be agreed with the owner before work starts. We walk through both at the estimate so nothing gets decided with the saw running.
What is the best way to cut concrete inside a house?
Use a saw that isn't gas-powered, because gas saws are normally run outside on account of their exhaust. Hand saws can also run on hydraulics, air or electricity, so ask which power source the crew will bring, and we'll tell you at the estimate which one fits your indoor cut.
Does a concrete cutting contractor need a license in California?
Yes, California's Contractors State License Board has a license class for concrete-related services that covers sawing, breaking and coring. It's fair to ask anyone cutting your concrete about their license, and we're licensed and insured.
Related concrete work we often do after cutting
If a drain or utility line has to cross your driveway, we pour the strip back or rebuild the driveway so it sits flush and sheds water.
When an old patio has a cracked or sunken section, cutting it out cleanly is the first step before we pour a new slab on a packed base.
Send us your concrete cut locations
Have the cut locations, slab or wall, rough length in feet and indoors or outdoors handy when you call (628) 234-2042, use the contact form or email quotes@sanrafaelconcretecontractor.com, so I come out already knowing which saw the job might need.