I come out and see the job myself
I started this business in Lafayette in 2023. I come out to every job myself to measure, look at the concrete and listen to what you have in mind before I write anything down.
Concrete cutting in Lafayette CA - clean, straight cuts planned around what's inside
Need a doorway in a foundation wall, a trench across the driveway or a slab section removed? We cut it straight and clean.
How do you cut through a concrete driveway, floor or wall in Lafayette?
Concrete cutting in Lafayette is saw work with large diamond blades that makes straight cuts through driveways, sidewalks, floors and walls, so a section can come out, a trench can go in or a new doorway can open up without breaking the concrete around it.
Thank you for looking into this before anyone starts cutting. Most of the calls I get start with concrete that's already in place and needs to change, such as a cracked section of driveway coming out, a trench for a new line under a patio, or a new doorway through a foundation wall. Each of those needs a different saw and a different amount of planning, and I want to understand which one you have before I quote it.
The price mostly follows how much you're cutting, how thick the concrete is, what's inside it and whether it's a slab on the ground or a wall, since thick sections take extra passes and walls need a saw mounted on a rail. The schedule usually turns less on the cutting itself than on what comes before it, like a scan of a post-tensioned slab, which is one with steel cables pulled tight inside it, an engineer's plan for a floor or wall opening, and any permits. We help you work out whether your job goes through the city, the county or both, and we handle the permit paperwork with you as part of the job. Your own figure comes in the written estimate.
What happens after you call us about concrete cutting in Lafayette?
Here is how it goes from your first call to the last cut, so you know who you'll be dealing with at each step.
A written estimate with the permit steps laid out
You get a written estimate, and we go over your choices together, including whether a scan or an engineer belongs in the plan. We also walk through the permit steps so nothing comes as a surprise once the work is booked.
Licensed and insured, with the owner on site
We're fully licensed and insured. I'm on site with our crew while we cut, and we look over the finished job with you before we call it done.
How we handle concrete cutting
Before we cut, I ask what's inside the slab, because rebar, the steel bars that hold a slab together, and post-tension cables call for very different care. On a post-tensioned slab we want it scanned and any drawings in hand before the saw comes out, and if the cut opens a floor or a wall, we ask that your structural engineer be part of the plan from the start, which is also what structural engineering guidance recommends for a new floor opening. Then we match the saw to the surface, using a walk-behind flat saw on driveways, sidewalks and floors and a wall saw that runs along a rail bolted to the wall for new door and window openings. Most sawing runs wet to keep the dust down, which leaves a muddy slurry we vacuum up and contain as we go, and smaller hand cuts can run dry with a vacuum at the blade if that suits your site better.
Cutting is often the first half of a bigger job, so once an old section is out we can pour the new piece as part of concrete driveway building or concrete patio construction. On new slabs we also saw control joints, shallow grooves that tell the slab where to crack as it shrinks, usually within hours to a day or so of the pour, so the saw gets booked alongside the pour.
- Flat sawing for driveways, sidewalks, patios and floors
- Wall sawing on a bolted rail for new doors and windows in concrete walls
- Trench cuts for lines that need to run under a slab
- Control joints cut in freshly poured concrete
- Clean-up of the work area once the cut is finished
From the first mark to the last cut
Most of a good cut happens before the saw starts, so the first two steps take as much care as the cutting does.
Gather what you know about the slab
We start with the surface, the length of the cut and any structural drawings or post-tensioning records you have. If the slab is post-tensioned, the scan is set up before anything else is scheduled.
Mark the line and the work zone
We walk the area with you and mark exactly where the cut runs and where the saw and crew will work. That way you see the line on the ground before it's in the concrete.
Set up the right saw and cut
The flat saw or the wall rail goes in place, and we cut at a steady pace with water on the blade. Thicker concrete gets more than one pass so the blade isn't forced.
Lift out the section and clear the site
Cut pieces come out in sizes the crew can handle safely, and we clean up the area around the cut. If new concrete is going in, the opening is ready for the next step.
Get a written estimate for your concrete cut
We'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free and done on site, and there's no pressure to book. It helps to tell us the surface, the rough length of the cut and whether you have structural drawings or post-tensioning records, or call us at (925) 298-0707.
(925) 298-0707Questions about concrete cutting in Lafayette
How much does concrete cutting cost per foot in Lafayette?
Professional concrete cutting across the US usually costs about $3 to $10 per linear foot, and that's a national market figure, not our price. Where a job lands depends on the things covered above, mostly thickness, what's inside the concrete and whether it's a slab or a wall. Your own number comes in the written estimate after I've seen the job.
Do I need a city permit to cut concrete near the street in Lafayette?
If any of the work, or storage of materials and equipment, falls within the city's right-of-way, the City of Lafayette requires an encroachment permit. On most residential streets that strip generally reaches about 20 to 25 feet from the center of the road, so it can take in more of a front driveway than people expect. We help you check this as part of the permit steps before the cut is scheduled.
Which California license covers concrete sawing?
California's Contractors State License Board lists concrete sawing, breaking and coring work under its D-6 Concrete-Related Services Contractor classification. It's fair to ask any contractor which license they hold before you book them.
Why should a slab be scanned before concrete cutting?
A post-tensioned slab has cables inside that carry stored force, and one scanning firm warns that cutting one can damage the structure or release that tension near the people working. The same firm advises a professional scan before cutting these slabs and treats drawings and post-tensioning records as useful, though not enough on their own to clear a spot. That's why we ask about it first.
What cutting concrete in Lafayette means for permits and runoff
Contra Costa County handles Lafayette's building permits and says almost all projects require one. Its list names demolitions, alterations and foundation repairs but doesn't name concrete cutting, so the list alone doesn't settle your job, and the county's permit office is the place to ask, especially if the cut opens a wall or a floor.
Contra Costa's clean water program says storm drains here empty straight into local creeks and bays with no treatment, so slurry from wet cutting that reaches a drain goes right along with it. On many Lafayette driveways the slope runs toward the street, which is why we contain the slurry at the cut instead of letting it run, and we bring the same care to jobs in Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek and the other cities around Lafayette.
Call before the cut line is marked
Call (925) 298-0707 or use the form, and we can settle the saw and the cut line early so the right equipment shows up on cutting day.
If you'd like to talk through a cut before deciding anything, we're glad to hear from you.
Tell us about your project