Concrete Cutting Service
Wall Sawing in Houston
Track-mounted wall sawing for precise openings in vertical and inclined concrete — doorways, windows, HVAC penetrations and elevator shafts.
Wall sawing cuts openings in vertical and inclined concrete surfaces that a walk-behind saw cannot reach. A track is anchored to the wall, and a hydraulic or electric saw head rides along it, driving a diamond blade to depth in successive passes. The track keeps the cut perfectly straight and square, which is why wall sawing is the standard for new door and window openings, mechanical penetrations, and stair or elevator work in existing structures.
Use wall sawing when you need a clean, dimensionally accurate opening in a concrete or masonry wall — for example doorway openings, window openings, HVAC penetrations, or stairwell openings. It handles tilt-up panels, poured foundation walls, and thick structural walls that overwhelm hand-held saws. Track saws routinely cut walls a foot or more thick from one side; cutting from both faces extends the reach further. Finished edges are square enough to frame directly against.
How a wall-saw opening comes together
- 01
Scan & lay out
The opening is measured and marked, and the wall is scanned for rebar, conduit and post-tension tendons before any anchor is set.
- 02
Mount the track
A rail is bolted to the wall so the saw head travels in a straight, repeatable line.
- 03
Cut in passes
The blade is stepped deeper on each pass, cutting the perimeter of the opening under water feed.
- 04
Remove the section
The isolated block is braced, cut into manageable pieces if needed, and lowered out safely.
Process & safety
Wall sawing is a wet-cut operation: water is fed to the blade to suppress respirable crystalline silica, cool the tooling, and clear the kerf, in line with OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153. Slurry is contained at the base of the wall and collected. Because wall openings often remove load path, crews coordinate shoring and lintel details with the structural engineer of record, and heavy cut sections are rigged rather than allowed to drop. On Houston post-tension and heavily reinforced walls, GPR scanning precedes anchor placement to avoid striking embedded tendons or conduit.
Frequently asked questions
- How thick a wall can a wall saw cut?
- Track saws commonly cut a foot or more from a single face, and cutting from both sides roughly doubles the reach. For very thick or heavily reinforced walls, wire sawing is the alternative.
- Are wall-sawn openings square enough to frame?
- Yes. The track keeps the cut straight and true, producing edges that are typically ready to receive a frame, lintel or door without additional dressing.
- Do I need an engineer for a new wall opening?
- When an opening removes structural load path, shoring and lintel design should be confirmed by the structural engineer of record. Crews coordinate the cut sequence around that design.
- How is dust and slurry handled indoors?
- Wet-cutting controls silica dust at the source per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153, and slurry is contained and collected at the base of the cut rather than allowed to spread into finished areas.
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