When, Where, and How to Make Saw Cuts in Concrete

Saw cuts are a used to create control joints in concrete, which help control where cracking occurs
due to shrinkage. The cuts should be made at a predetermined spacing and only after the
concrete has obtained sufficient strength but before internal cracking begins. Therefore, the timing
of saw cuts is critical. Determining when to make cuts depends on many factors, including the type
of admixtures and aggregate used in the concrete, the air temperature, and the concrete's mix
design.

When to Saw-Cut Concrete

In addition to the concrete mix and the weather conditions, determining when to saw concrete is
based on the concrete's hardness as well as the type of cutting equipment used to make the saw
cuts. Cutting too early causes raveling, an effect created by the saw blade pulling the aggregate
out of position, leaving a messy, weakened edge along the cut. This also causes undo wear on
diamond concrete saw blades. Sawing too late can result in uncontrolled cracking as the concrete
contracts during curing.

In hot weather conditions, saw cutting may start as soon as four hours after the concrete is
poured. In cooler weather, sawing may not start for 12 hours after pouring. The best way to
determine whether the slab is ready is to make trial cuts to check for raveling. Saw cutting should
start as soon as the raveling stops during these trial cuts.

Some contractors delay sawing to protect their equipment and saw blade to reduce blade
abrasion. There are several types of saw blades that can be used, depending on the concrete type
and how soon the cuts can be started. Other factors that can lead to excessive blade wear and
joint raveling include:
 Pushing the blade too hard
 Saw cutting at high speed
 Using a saw with a ben spindle
 Using an inappropriate saw blade

Where to Saw-Cut Concrete

Before you start saw cutting concrete, is important to select where these cuts will be done. It is
recommended to start saw cuts on or at the center of column lines. Joints shall be spaced at 24 to
36 times the slab thickness but this need to be confirmed by a structural engineer. Joint spacing
normally ranges between 10 to 18 feet depending on the amount of reinforcement the slab has. If
you are using high shrinkage concrete, you might want to decrease the cut spacing. Here are
other factors to will help you determine where to saw cut:
  Try to form square patterns
 Make saw cuts continuous
 It is important to select an area that doesn’t have continuous steel reinforcement from one slab or
square to another
 It is better to have smaller cracks than to increase cost by having and maintaining several joints.
 Under hot weather conditions, you might want to try forming a larger square and then cutting interior
joints. By doing this you will be controlling fast setting concrete cracks in larger areas.

How to Saw-Cut Concrete

Factors such as curing techniques, slab thickness, slab length, and base type must be analyzed
before selecting where joints should be cut. Once you've laid out the joints to be cut, mark them
using a chalk line. If you're using water cutting equipment, make sure that the water is running all
the way down to the blade. Allow the blade to reach the required depth, then start walking or
moving the equipment following the chalk like mark. Here are some recommendations when
sawing concrete:

 Do not twist the saw blade.

 Do not let the blade spin in the cut, as this will increase wear on the bond.
 When cutting concrete with heavy rebar, use blades with soft metal segment bonds.
 Always use the required PPE (personal protection equipment).

How Deep to Make Saw Cuts

A good rule of thumb is to cut the joints one-quarter to one-third the slab thickness. For a 6-inch-
thick slab, that means cutting 1.5 to 2 inches deep. Ensure that the saw cut depth meets the
structural engineering specifications. If the joint is too deep, aggregate interlocking will not be
sufficient to transfer loads. If the saw cut is too shallow, random cracking might occur.