If you are in commercial and industrial construction or mining, your projects will surely need core drilling expertise often. Even in a residential construction project, the need to create holes and openings in the concrete is high. But you may be wondering what core drilling is and why it is so needed.
Coring is the process of cutting out a cylindrical concrete of a decided depth and diameter from a slab. You might be thinking, how does core drilling work? An advanced device shaped like a hollow cylinder from the front is loaded with drill bits (industrial diamond bits). The equipment cuts the concrete with downward pressure and high rotation rates of drill bits. The result? The core of the desired length and diameter is made with accuracy and precision.
What is core drilling in construction?
The core drill helps to cut large holes in bricks, stone, and concrete. Concrete Core drilling is essential in a construction project because it helps to create space to pass utilities and parts of equipment, including:
- Plumbing pipes
- Electric, phone, and Wi-Fi cables.
- Heating ventilation and air conditioning system.
- Installing industrial equipment.
- Creating manholes and utility holes.
Concrete needs to be cut for many reasons; therefore, core drilling has multiple uses. It is useful not only for cutting holes but also for extracting samples for testing. Other applications of core drilling are the installation of a sprinkler system and runway lights at the airport, and the creation of maintenance holes. From fresh construction to renovation, coring is required for each project.
Who can perform the coring?
The process of core drilling is not simple. The equipment needs to be drilled at the perfect distance from the hole to be created. Moreover, only a well-trained person can handle the vibrations and pressure of the device while it’s working. So, a Coring professional from a licensed concrete coring company can perform core drilling. Let us see what are the benefits of reaching out to a coring company for construction contractors and homeowners:
Competitive pricing: Companies like us (concrete Insight) can offer multiple services like concrete scanning, coring, and testing. Thus, when a company can perform different aspects of a project themselves, the clients get competitive pricing.
Avoidance of legal issues: When you work with an experienced and licensed company, they follow all the regulations to avoid any compliance. This will ensure the client will get quality cores, and there will be no legal dispute about the quality of service.
Faster results to meet timelines: A professional coring company helps to finish the project faster, and therefore, the construction contractor can complete the project within the timeline provided by the client.
Promised safety: Someone who knows how to perform coring will ensure the safety of the construction site. A professional has access to a GPR scan that makes the coring process more safe by providing an estimate of subsurface material.
What are the different types of core drilling?
Two types of core drilling involve dry coating and wet coring:
Wet coring: As the name suggests, wet coring includes water to loosen up the surface. This allows the equipment to move faster inside the concrete. Water helps water in the following ways:
- Cleaning the hole for better visibility.
- Creating a dust-free environment.
- Helps with smoother coring
Dry coring: No lubrication is used in dry coring. The process needs more pressure and causes more wearing down of the concrete teeth. However, reason of choosing dry coring is obvious- electrical work.
What is inverted coring, and when do we need it?
Inverted coring is performed upside down through the concrete at places where access from one side of the concrete is restricted. Inverted coring is performed in ceilings, tunnels, bridges, road surfaces, walls, etc.
When the drilling is to be performed upside down, the drilling rig is supported from the below. This way, the operator is comfortably able to apply enough pressure on the surface to create a hole against gravity. If the diameter of the hole is small and it meets reinforcement bars, the bits will warm up and need water to cool them down. Only a professional will be able to manage inverted drilling and its challenges.
A closer look at concrete coring applications:
Core drilling helps to create cores of any depth and diameter, and therefore, it has many applications. Let us discuss them one by one:
Openings for primary utilities: Electrical and plumbing work needs to pass cables and pipes from one side of the wall or floor to another. In offices, internet and communication cables need coring for the installation. A core drill helps to create clean holes of the right size.
Concrete testing: Coring can help when we need to extract samples from a deeper part of the concrete. It brings out cylindrical samples for lab testing which helps the engineers to study properties like strength and composition of concrete.
Service space openings: In huge buildings, coring helps to create a service opening or passage to install new elements in the walls or ceiling.
Choosing Concrete Insight:
Concrete Insight is your multi-service contractor. We provide concrete coring, testing, and scanning services. Whether you are a construction contractor or a homeowner looking to hire reliable and precise concrete core drilling in MD and VA, we can meet your needs. To get a quote from us, contact us today!
For more read click >>> what is concrete coring?
Frequently Asked Questions about Core Drilling
Q1. What is core drilling in construction?
Ans1. Core drilling involves cutting cylindrical concrete from a slab to create openings for utilities and equipment, essential for various construction projects.
Q2. Why is core drilling necessary?
Ans2. It facilitates the installation of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems, as well as industrial equipment. It also allows for concrete testing and creating maintenance holes.
Q3. Who performs core drilling?
Ans3. Core drilling requires skilled professionals from licensed concrete coring companies who can handle the equipment and ensure safety on the construction site.
Q4. What are the benefits of hiring a coring company?
Ans4. Professional companies offer competitive pricing, ensure compliance with regulations to avoid legal issues, deliver faster results, and prioritize safety with tools like GPR scanning.
Q5. What are the different types of core drilling?
Ans5. There are two types: wet coring, which involves using water for smoother cutting, and dry coring, preferred for electrical work due to the absence of lubrication.
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