Industry
Concrete Cutting for Parking Structures in Houston
Cutting and coring for parking garages and decks — post-tension awareness, drainage and expansion-joint work, and phasing to keep levels open.
Parking structures are almost entirely post-tensioned concrete, which makes them one of the highest-stakes environments for cutting. Every core and saw cut on an elevated deck risks a tendon carrying real load. Whether the work is new construction, drainage and joint repair, or opening decks for equipment and stairs, scanning and tendon mapping come before the blade.
Post-tension decks demand caution
Typical garage cutting includes drainage penetrations and trench drains, expansion-joint cutting and replacement, ramp modifications, and openings for stairs, elevators and equipment. Because the decks are post-tensioned, crews scan and mark tendons before cutting and stay inside cleared zones — cutting a stressed tendon is both a safety event and a structural repair.
- Drainage cores and trench-drain cuts on decks
- Expansion-joint cutting and replacement prep
- Ramp and slope modifications
- Stair, elevator and equipment openings
Scan, map, then cut
On post-tension decks, GPR scanning maps tendons and conduit before any cut, and openings are laid out to avoid them. Where a tendon must be crossed, that is flagged to the structural engineer rather than cut blind.
- GPR tendon mapping on every deck cut
- Openings laid out within cleared zones
- Phasing to keep levels open during work
Services for parking structures
Concrete Scanning
Map PT tendons before deck cuts.
Learn moreExpansion Joint Cutting
Joint cutting and replacement prep.
Learn moreConcrete Core Drilling
Drainage and utility deck cores.
Learn moreRamp Cutting
Ramp and slope modifications.
Learn moreStairwell Openings
Openings for stairs and elevators.
Learn moreSlab Sawing
Deck cuts within cleared zones.
Learn moreNever cut a garage deck blind
Post-tension tendons carry live load. Every deck cut is preceded by GPR scanning and tendon marking, and unavoidable tendon conflicts are referred to the structural engineer.
Frequently asked questions
- How are post-tension garage decks cut safely?
- Every deck cut is preceded by GPR scanning and tendon marking, and openings are laid out inside cleared zones. Unavoidable tendon conflicts are flagged to the structural engineer rather than cut blind.
- Can the garage stay open during work?
- Often. Work is phased by level or bay so portions of the structure stay open, with the active area barricaded and slurry contained.
- Do you cut and replace expansion joints?
- Yes. Expansion-joint cutting and removal prepares the deck for new joint systems, sequenced to keep traffic flowing where possible.
- Can you core for deck drainage?
- Yes. Drainage penetrations and trench-drain cuts are made after scanning to avoid tendons and embedded conduit.
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