Identifying Concrete Problems

There are many major home renovations that will require you to drill holes through concrete, such as those for sprinkler or plumbing pipes, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) slab ducts, and electrical conduits. If you are trying to figure out which concrete drilling method you should use, you may want to consider the advantages of diamond core drills.

What is a core drill?

Core drills are annular cutters that can make circular cuts or holes in concrete. Like other annular cutters, the drill bits have grooves in the center which hold the drilled material—known as the slug or core.

Why are the advantages of a diamond core drill?

Diamond core drills are great for home renovations because they can be operated by either a concrete contractor or by a layman. If you are doing do-it-yourself (DIY) repairs, you can rent diamond drillers from a home improvement store for a few hours or days after the provider goes over the operations and safety instructions.

There are many other advantages of a diamond core drill, such as versatility and safety.

Versatility

Core drillers can use either dry-core bits or wet-core bits. Wet-core bits generate a lot of heat, so they require a water-cooling system in order to run. If you are doing the renovations yourself, dry bits are more user-friendly. However, if you are doing lots of renovations and/or hiring a concrete contractor, then wet-core drill bits will be better since they have more power.

Core drills can often be fitted for hydraulic, electric, or pneumatic power sources. This means you don't need to provide multiple power sources for different tools.

Diamond drill bits are very versatile, as they not only cut through concrete, but they can cut through glass, stone, and other materials. Drills can also be fitted with bits for very small holes or very large holes.

Safety

The safety benefits of diamond core drills are huge. With other drilling methods, you may be exposed to air pollutants, such as silica dust. Because diamond drills are so accurate and produce very little debris, you and your family won't have to worry about the air quality or temporary relocation during renovations. Because there is very little debris, this also means the site will be safer to walk through and easier to clean since there won't be shards of glass or broken concrete.

Accurate tools are vital for DIY projects since they lower the risk of structural damage if you have less experience. Because diamond drills are so accurate, they cause less noise pollution. This is a great benefit to your neighbors, and you and your family's hearing won't be at risk like it would with other loud power tools.

For more information on core drilling, contact a concrete contractor, such as A & B Concrete Coring Company.