What Are The Risks Involved With Dry Cutting Concrete?

Most people don’t know that dry cutting concrete in Sydney can be dangerous. This is a common practice and often used by many contractors, but it’s not without risks. 

Dry cutting concrete has become a popular method of sawing concrete because it’s fast and cost-effective. It allows you to cut large pieces of material with less waste than wet methods do, which is great for construction companies in Sydney who want to save money on the cost of materials. However, there are also some serious safety issues involved with this kind of work.

In this article, we’ll be talking all about the risks involved with dry cutting concrete as we explore the following topics:

• What is dry cutting concrete and how does it work?
• What are the risks involved with dry concrete cutting
• Wet concrete cutting vs dry concrete cutting
• Why should you consider wet concrete cutting instead of dry concrete cutting
• The benefits of wet concrete cutting 

What Is Dry Cutting Concrete And How Does It Work?

Dry cutting is a procedure that cuts concrete without the use of water. The process works by using diamond-tipped saw blades that are guided along the desired line, where high-pressure air blasts through an opening onto the saw blade where it contacts the concrete surface in order to create a clean finish. 

Generally, dry cutting is used for preparing surfaces and removing small sections or pieces from large structures. Examples include working on walls that need patching up without having to remove multiple layers at once or making holes in them so they can be reinforced with new materials like steel rods later down the line. 

What Are The Risks Involved With Dry Concrete Cutting?

The risks involved with dry cutting concrete are vast and can include various workplace health hazards. Some of these risks include the following: 

• Inhalation of dust or silica particles, which have been linked to lung cancer in some people who work on construction sites for extended periods. 
• The need for safety gear at all times, even when not cutting concrete, due to all the dust debris produced in the dry cutting process.
• Prone to creating cracks in the concrete which can affect plumbing, oil, and/or gas lines.
• Can spark an explosion if mixed with other combustible materials in the area like gas or oil, which can cause serious damage to nearby objects and people. 
• Can leave very rough edges which are difficult to seal against moisture penetration, leading to further deterioration of your structure’s integrity over time.

Wet Concrete Cutting Vs. Dry Concrete Cutting

While dry concrete cutting involves cutting through dry concrete, wet concrete cutting, as the name suggests, is the process of using a diamond saw to cut through wet, newly poured cement. 

Wet concrete is known to be softer and easier to cut. The blades don’t need much pressure, so it’s safe because the blade doesn’t wear out as fast or require major repairs. While dry concrete cutting can be more precise, it can also be dangerous if the concrete is not purposely wet or damp.

For example, if cutting outside in poor weather conditions such as rain, other unforeseen hazards may arise including electrocution if using an electric powered concrete cutting saw.

Additionally, when cutting wet concrete, it requires the use of a diamond blade. Dry concrete uses different blades and can be cut with just an abrasive wheel; however, dry cuts are usually less clean than wet ones. This is because there is no water used to cool down the blade or wash away excess material from the surface being cut by the blade.

Why Should You Consider Wet Concrete Cutting?

The first reason you should consider wet concrete cutting instead of dry is that there are fewer safety concerns, as the process does not involve using any harmful chemicals or dust which can be hazardous to the health of you and others.

Wet cutting also eliminates downtime for operators as they are able to use diamond blades which produce faster cuts. This means more jobs are completed in less time! This technique also saves money on the frequent purchasing of worn-out blades compared to conventional dry sawing techniques. 

If you’re an environmentally-minded individual, wet cutting also reduces the impact on the environment because there is less dust and generally less waste created.

The Benefits Of Wet Concrete Cutting 

In the construction industry, wet concrete cutting is an up and coming technology that offers monumental benefits. Some of these benefits include the following:

• Allows for faster production times on job sites by removing excess water from fresh cement before it sets using a powerful jet of high-pressure air or steam. Curing rates are faster as a result.
• Saves time due to  faster curing rates. No need for anti-skid sandpaper when pouring paving stones so there’s more time saved later on with maintenance checks too!  
• Reduces noise pollution due to its quieter machinery when compared with traditional methods like jackhammers or dry cutting.
• Water added to the mix helps keep air bubbles from forming that rupture the concrete over time while drying, causing cracks.
• Reduced costs to transport the material around because less weight has been added upon drying. This is because the water facilitates the removal of unwanted materials, such as rebar and excess cement.
• Doesn’t produce any harmful dust and fumes from burning fuel oil.

Final Thoughts

When planning your next construction project, be sure to weigh up the benefits and risks of dry cutting concrete against wet cutting. It’s important that you know what both processes entail so that you can make an informed decision about which one will work best for your needs.

If you are looking for a concrete cutting company that is trustworthy and reliable, then don’t go past Sydney Sawing & Drilling. Please call us today on (02) 9158 6101 or leave an enquiry.