Quick answer
Wall sawing uses a track bolted to the concrete surface. A hydraulic or high-frequency electric saw head travels along that track, guiding a large diamond blade to cut vertical or steep surfaces with exceptional accuracy.
What is concrete wall sawing?
Because the saw rides on a rigid track, it can cut thick, heavily reinforced walls and leave square, clean edges — ideal when an opening will receive a door frame, window, or finished trim.
Typical applications
- New doorways in basement or foundation walls
- Egress window openings for finished basements
- Passages between buildings or rooms in poured concrete structures
- Openings for large ducts, louvers, or mechanical equipment
- Removing sections of retaining or tilt-up walls
- Cutting precast concrete panels
Residential and commercial projects
Homeowners & residential
Homeowners commonly request wall sawing to add an egress window during a basement finish or to create a walkout door through a poured foundation.
Contractors & commercial
On commercial projects, wall sawing creates new openings in tilt-up and cast-in-place structures during renovations, expansions, and equipment upgrades.
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:
- Wall thickness and opening size (total linear feet of cut)
- Amount and size of reinforcing steel
- Whether temporary shoring or a header is needed (often engineered)
- Removal of the cut section — it can weigh thousands of pounds
- Access height and whether work is above or below grade
What to include in your quote request
- Opening width and height
- Wall thickness and type (poured, block, precast)
- Whether the wall is load-bearing, if known
- Interior or exterior access, and excavation status for below-grade walls
- Any engineering drawings or permit documents you have
Safety and preparation
- New openings in load-bearing or foundation walls frequently require structural engineering and a building permit. Check with the City of Murfreesboro or Rutherford County codes office for your property.
- Cut sections are extremely heavy. Removal must be planned before cutting begins.
- Below-grade wall cuts may require excavation and waterproofing afterward.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to cut a door in my foundation?
Often, yes. Requirements depend on the jurisdiction and the work involved. Contact your local building department before scheduling — we cannot determine permit needs for you.
How thick a wall can be wall sawed?
Track saws can cut through very thick walls, sometimes by cutting from both sides. Capability for your wall thickness will be confirmed when you request a quote.
What happens to the removed concrete?
The piece is usually cut into manageable sections and removed with equipment. Ask whether removal and disposal are included in your quote.
Is wall sawing the same as cutting with a handheld saw?
No. Handheld saws have limited depth and are guided by hand. Wall saws ride on a fixed track, allowing deeper, straighter cuts in thick concrete.
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.