Quick answer
Slab sawing — sometimes called flat sawing — is done with a walk-behind saw that rolls across horizontal concrete and lowers a large diamond blade into the surface. It produces long, straight, consistent-depth cuts in floors, driveways, patios, parking areas, and roadways.
What is concrete slab sawing?
Slab saws can be electric for indoor work or gas and diesel powered for outdoor jobs, and are typically water-fed to suppress dust and cool the blade.
Typical applications
- Trenching interior floors for new plumbing or electrical lines
- Cutting driveway or sidewalk sections for removal and replacement
- Control joints in newly poured concrete to manage cracking
- Removing damaged sections of a garage or shop floor
- Cutting openings for elevator pits, sumps, or equipment pads
- Pavement cuts for utility tie-ins
Residential and commercial projects
Homeowners & residential
Typical residential jobs include cutting out a cracked section of driveway, trenching a basement floor for a bathroom, or making a clean edge before pouring an addition.
Contractors & commercial
Commercial work ranges from warehouse floor trenching and parking lot repairs to cutting large interior sections during tenant build-outs.
Factors that affect pricing
We don't publish prices — quotes are based on the details of your project. These are the factors that typically matter:
- Total linear feet of cut
- Slab thickness and required depth of cut
- Reinforcement such as rebar or wire mesh
- Indoor versus outdoor work (electric saws and slurry control indoors)
- Whether removal and hauling of cut concrete is included
- Site access for equipment and water supply
What to include in your quote request
- Rough dimensions or a sketch of the cut layout
- Slab thickness if known
- Indoor or outdoor location
- Whether you need the cut pieces broken out and removed
- Photos of the slab and access path
Safety and preparation
- Locate buried utilities before cutting outdoor slabs. In Tennessee, call 811 (Tennessee 811) before digging or cutting into the ground.
- Indoor sawing requires ventilation and slurry control; gas saws are generally not appropriate inside enclosed spaces.
- Keep people and pets away from the work area and expect noise.
Frequently asked questions
How deep can a slab saw cut?
Depth depends on blade diameter and saw size. Smaller walk-behind saws handle typical residential slabs; larger saws can cut considerably deeper. Share your slab thickness so it can be confirmed in your quote.
When should control joints be cut?
Control joints are usually cut soon after new concrete can support the saw without raveling, often within the first day. Your concrete finisher or the sawing crew can advise on timing.
Can you cut just part of my driveway?
Yes. Sawing a clean straight line lets a damaged section be removed and replaced without disturbing the rest of the driveway.
Ready to get started?
Murfreesboro Concrete Cutting is your local source for concrete cutting, sawing, and core drilling in Murfreesboro and the surrounding communities. Call to discuss your project, or request a free quote and a concrete cutting professional will reach out to you.