A thick section of reinforced concrete can raise a different question from an ordinary opening: how will the concrete be supported and taken away after it is cut? Wire sawing is one method worth discussing when a section needs to come out and the cut or access is difficult.
You do not need to specify a saw before asking. Start with what must be removed, what must remain, and the constraints around it. James can discuss whether the job is a fit and what needs to be established before a quote.
What wire sawing does
A wire saw uses a cable fitted with diamond beads, guided through pulleys and pulled continuously through concrete. Diamond wire can cut reinforced concrete. The method may be considered for thick sections or where another cutting method is impractical; the right approach depends on the actual structure, access and removal plan.
On NoCo's jobs page, you can see its wire-saw footage: a saw cuts reinforced concrete at the foot of a wall, with rebar showing in the cut. The footage is a look at the method, not a promise that the same setup suits every site.
Show the cut and the surroundings
A close photo of the concrete helps, but a wider view is just as useful. Show the whole section, both sides if accessible, and the route into the work area. Include nearby walls, floors, equipment and anything that must stay in place. Mark the proposed cut on a drawing or photo if you have one.
Share the approximate size and thickness if known, where the section sits, and whether the cut must meet an existing edge or opening. Say which dimensions are estimates. If the far side is buried, occupied or inaccessible, say that too. NoCo can discuss what access and setup the job would require; a tight space alone does not establish which method will work.
Confirm support and removal
Cutting the section is only part of the plan. Ask who will determine how the remaining structure and the section being removed are supported, and when that support must be in place. If the concrete is structural, involve the responsible engineer before deciding what may be cut. Share any drawings or engineering direction already available.
Also discuss what happens to the separated concrete: whether it must be divided, how it can be lifted or moved, where it can be set down, and who is responsible for hauling and disposal. Identify restrictions on the route out, overhead clearance, floor loading and access for lifting equipment. These are questions to resolve for the site, not assumptions a photo can answer.
Find out what is in the concrete
Share structural drawings and anything known about reinforcing, post-tensioning, embedded conduit or utilities near the proposed cut. Do not guess when the information is missing. Ask the responsible people how services will be identified and made safe, and whether an engineer needs to review the proposed location.
GPR scanning may help investigate concrete before a cut, but a scan is not a photograph and can leave uncertainty. Read what GPR can and cannot see and discuss any unresolved findings before the cut plan is settled.
Compare the approach and request a quote
Wire sawing is one possible approach. The guide to core drilling, wall sawing and flat sawing explains other common methods. Describe the result you need and the constraints, and ask James which approach fits the job.
See NoCo's service area, including Colorado and Wyoming, then use Request a Quote on this page. Choose Something else and describe the wire-sawing question. The location and details help establish whether the work is a fit; ask about availability for your particular job.
General information, not engineering advice — every slab is different.
