Going through a rebuild or a significant renovation is a challenge as it is, but when you add a giant slab of concrete set to impact your progress, it becomes a little too much. In those scenarios, it may feel like you've hit a dead end. However, with core drilling contractors, there is a way to get around these giant slabs literally. Whenever the need occurs, you might think that your construction contractor or even you yourself can get the job done.
However, when it comes to items that can affect structural integrity, it is both better and safer to let a professional core-drilling service handle the job. In this blog, we will talk about the key advantages of hiring a professional service, the process of core drilling, common mistakes to avoid, and some key tips before you hire a core drilling service.

What Are the Advantages of Core Drilling Contractors?

During a renovation, it is always a challenge to juggle two contractors. However, when we look at the benefits of hiring a core drilling contractor, we see a clear winner between core drilling vs traditional drilling.

  • Precise Cuts: With Specialized tools and a pre-drilling survey of the site, core drilling ensures cuts are as accurate as possible.
  • Minimal Structural Impact: Thanks to their specialized tools equipped with diamond bits, a professional service can ensure smooth cuts without excessive vibration. This lack of vibration is critical, as it ensures that the building's structural integrity is not compromised.
  • Minimal After-job Cleanup: If you have opted for a reliable core drilling expert, then you can save a lot of time on after-job cleanup. This is because professionals use wet drills that minimize dust and light debris.
  • Versatility: With options to drill in the range of 1'' to 60'', core drilling is very versatile. It can be used in installing HVAC, plumbing, electrical and structural modifications.
  • Time and Cost Effective: Hiring a core drilling contractor can seem costly; however, in the long run, it saves both time and money, as it is faster and requires less labour to complete the job.

What Process Will the Core Drilling Contractor Follow?

While hiring a contractor is certainly the right decision, it helps a lot if you have prior knowledge and a basic understanding of the process. Here is a basic guide of the process your core drilling contractor should follow while doing the job.

  • Site Assessment: The first step in the drilling process is to conduct a thorough site assessment and plan the following stages of the job accordingly. This process will include checking and accounting for all site constraints, water and power availability, and finalizing the location to mount the drill.
  • Scanning the Site: Once the site's basics are checked, the next step is to conduct a thorough assessment of the area around the drilling site. This includes scanning the area with specialized tools such as GSSI Structure Scan Pro SIR 400. This helps the contractor detect items such as PVC, rebars, and even air pockets. Once this is done, a contractor will create a layout for the
  • Drill Machine Set-up: One of the things that makes core drilling machines so accurate is their mounting. These drills are tightly mounted with suction cups, ensuring the machine does not move. Once the site has been scanned, properly mounting the rig would be the next step in the process.
  • Drilling: Once the rig is mounted correctly, drilling can begin. But the drilling process is not just completed with just a press of a button. Throughout the process, the contractor will adjust the water flow rate and rotation speed to ensure accurate cuts with minimal impact on the building's structural integrity.
  • Removal and Initial Cleanup: Once the cut is complete, carefully remove the cut concrete slab. It is a crucial part of the process, as any complications during removal may cause damage to the nearby area. Once the removal is done, the initial cleaning of the slurry and debris can begin.
  • Finishing up: The final stage of the process involves giving the drilled area a final touch-up. In this, the contractor will smooth the edges of the drilled area and clean up the remaining debris. Once the drill has been removed from its mounting place, you can proceed with the installations that you had planned in the drilling area.
Core Drilling Contractors

Some Key Tips to Keep In Mind While Hiring a Core Drilling Contractor

Once you are clear on all the concrete drilling basics and the process you will follow, it is vital to keep a few tips in mind to ensure that you do not face any issues during or after core drilling.

  • Check Prior Experience: Before hiring a core drilling concrete, verify their prior experience. Check their client reviews and ask for testimonials to confirm whether this contractor is the right fit for you.
  • Check the Proper Equipment: Ask the drilling service questions about the tools that they will use. Once they share the information, check whether the tool they plan to use is the right one for your drilling needs.
  • Request a Project Plan: To ensure everything runs smoothly, ask for a clear project plan with timelines. This plan should cover everything from initial site assessments to final site cleaning.
  • Getting Accurate Quotes: While it is always possible that things can change and estimates may change before drilling begins, request quotes for core drilling. Doing so will give you a better idea about how the plan is going and how much financing you need to arrange for the job.

Conclusion

Handling renovation processes on your own or hiring a single contractor for all the jobs is always easy. However, some serious jobs require professional hires who can carry them out without complications. When it comes to something as serious as concrete drilling, hiring a core drilling contractor is the way to go.
If you are looking for a coring services expert near Virginia, Maryland, or DC, check out Concrete Insights.

FAQs

Q. Do you offer free quotes?
Yes, we offer free quotes through our website. You can also email us at rfq@concreteinsight.com.

Q. What are your work timings?
Concrete Insights' hours of operation are Monday through Sunday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Q. Which machine do you use to scan the drilling area?
We use the GSSI Structure Scan Pro SIR 400 to scan the drilling area thoroughly.

Q. Is core drilling safer than traditional drilling?
Yes, core drilling is safer and more effective than traditional drilling because it causes minimal vibrations, resulting in little to no impact on the structure.

Q. Does Concrete Insight use diamond-coated drill bits?
Yes, Concrete Insights offers a wide range of drills, including diamond-coated drill bits.