Last Updated on February 16, 2026
Often during mid- to large-scale construction projects, workers encounter concrete that’s either in the way or needs repair.
Drilling or hammering through concrete may seem like the action to take, but it’s often imprecise. It can also be time- and labor-intensive. It can also make a huge, dusty mess that slows down the entire operation.
A better solution is cutting the concrete with a specialized concrete saw. In this article, you’ll learn about concrete cutting methods that help you achieve beautiful results with precision.
When to Cut Concrete and Why
There are countless reasons you may need to cut concrete from repairing roadways or accessing utilities to building demolitions and renovations.
No matter what the project is, concrete is always hard and thick. It’s meant to be durable. Cutting concrete takes a lot of power. And, depending on the project, you may also need a high level of precision to avoid cutting utility lines or damaging weight-bearing structures.
In these cases, concrete saws are the go-to solution over jackhammers or dozers. Concrete saws can easily power through concrete, brick, asphalt and similar materials. They allow you to cut through concrete floors, paths, walls and other concrete structures with precision.
They come in handheld and walk-behind models that enable you to make sharp, precise cuts while minimizing the risk of surface damage. Their speed also helps operators complete work faster and more efficiently.
In the next section, you’ll explore the four top concrete cutting methods to help you get the job done right.
4 Ways to Cut Concrete Safely and Efficiently
The method of concrete cutting that will be best for your project depends on the location of the concrete, how thick it is and its orientation to the ground. When done correctly, each of the following methods helps cut through concrete safely and efficiently.
Keep in mind, however, that concrete sawing is noisy and creates silica dust. Before you try any of these techniques, be sure to follow all safety regulations to prevent costly accidents and injuries.
- OSHA Fact Sheets:
With this in mind, review each method below to help decide which method and concrete cutter is right for your project.
1. Slab Sawing and Floor Sawing
Slab sawing, or flat sawing, is used for cutting horizontal surfaces, like floors and roads. Slab sawing allows you to create deep, straight cuts with less dust and debris than drilling or hammering.
Floor sawing is a type of slab sawing that uses a more compact saw to cut flooring with extra precision in tight spaces, such as creating space for doorways.
Slab sawing is usually done using a walk-behind concrete saw. Walk-behind saws allow you to cut large areas with minimal physical effort. Early entry walk-behind saws let you create control joints within two hours of finishing.
- When to Use: Use the slab (or floor) sawing method for horizontal concrete surfaces, like floors, roadways and foundations.
- Foundation repairs
- Road, sidewalk or patio repairs
- Accessing underground utilities
- Precise cuts in floors for doorways or expansion joints
- Tips for Slab Sawing:
- Lay the saw flat and use a specialized diamond-tipped blade to cut along pre-marked lines.
- Keep the blade cool. The most common method is to use a water-cooling system.
2. Wall Sawing
Wall sawing is similar in many ways to slab sawing but has a couple of key differences. Namely, wall sawing is used for cutting through vertical concrete surfaces, regardless of thickness.
Wall saws are specialty saws mounted on vertical tracks. These tracks allow the blade to move up and down the wall without someone holding the saw. This helps minimize the risk of injuries from falls or falling objects.
- When to Use: Use wall saws on vertical concrete surfaces, like walls.
- Creating openings for doorways, stairs, elevators or windows
- Wall demolition
- Accessing utilities or creating openings for duct work
- Tips for Wall Sawing:
- Map out the path of the cut before starting. The operator and saw will follow this path.
- Ensure the wall saw is securely mounted on the tracks and that the tracks are securely mounted on the wall.
- Keep the blade cool with a wet cutting or water-cooling system.
3. Wire Sawing
Wire sawing is a concrete cutting method that uses a diamond-covered wire or cable instead of a rotating blade. Wire sawing is designed to cut concrete structures that are too thick for blades.
Similar to cutting a block of cheese with a cheese wire, wire sawing pulls the cable through concrete. The cable is held in place by a pulley system and can either run a continuous loop through the system or oscillate back and forth, depending on the method used. Wire saws can provide very precise cuts on even the thickest concrete.
- When to Use: Wire sawing is best for horizontal or vertical surfaces when the concrete is too thick for other techniques.
- Demolition projects that need to avoid using explosives
- Removing thick walls, bridge sections or reinforced concrete
4. Handheld Sawing
Handheld sawing refers to any concrete cutting task that uses a handheld saw. Like other methods, handheld sawing techniques also use diamond-tipped blades to cut through the concrete, but the blade is attached to handheld devices instead of larger equipment.
Handheld sawing can be used on horizontal, vertical or angled surfaces, especially when space is limited. This method gives you the flexibility to create small, precise cuts as well as curved cuts.
The most common types of handheld saws are center-drive saws, ring saws and chainsaws. They are more portable and often less expensive than larger concrete saws.
- When to Use: Handheld sawing is most useful when other concrete saws and methods can’t be used, usually due to space constraints.
- Center-drive handheld saws are great for most simple concrete cutting tasks, especially long, straight and shallow cuts.
- Ring saws are better than center-drive saws for deeper cuts (up to approximately 11 inches) without any over-cut.
- Chainsaws are best for very deep cuts, curved cuts or small cutouts without over-cuts.
- Tips for Handheld Sawing:
- Keep the blade cool, but be sure to use the appropriate method. Some saws are designed for wet cutting, others for dry cutting.
- Go slow and don’t cut deeper than the blade is designed for. This can damage the saw and increase the risk of injury.
Cut Concrete Seamlessly with Equipment from Herc Rentals
Whether you are demolishing part of a building or cutting concrete for doorways and windows, you’ll need a reliable, high-quality concrete or masonry saw. At Herc Rentals, you’ll find the handheld, walk-behind and specialty concrete cutters you need for your next project.
Our saws are available in multiple blade sizes and power capacities, ensuring a custom-cutting solution for every project.
Browse our wide selection of concrete saws or call 1-800-432-6215 to talk to an equipment expert today.
