A common task for many construction and renovation projects is to create grooves in concrete. When installing plumbing lines, electrical conduits, or other utilities, being able to create accurate, clean grooves will save time and guarantee a polished finish. Even though it might seem difficult, with the correct resources and methods, it’s quite doable.
Creating grooves in concrete with a hammer drill and a grinder are two common techniques. Every approach has a unique set of benefits, and you can select the one that best suits the demands of your project. Even if you’re not an experienced professional, you can use these tools effectively with a little practice.
This tutorial will show you how to make grooves in concrete using a grinder and hammer drill. We’ll go over the necessary equipment, safety measures, and advice to get the greatest outcomes. You can confidently and efficiently finish your project by adhering to these instructions.
Method | Description |
Hammer Drill | Mark the groove location, use the hammer drill with a chisel bit, and apply steady pressure to carve out the groove. Move along the marked line until the groove reaches the desired depth and width. |
Grinder | Mark the groove line, equip the grinder with a diamond blade, and carefully cut along the line. Make two parallel cuts, then chisel out the concrete between them to create the groove. |
To guarantee accuracy and security when creating a groove in concrete, the appropriate equipment and methods must be used. To obtain a clean, straight cut, it is imperative to adhere to step-by-step instructions when using a grinder or hammer drill. This tutorial will lead you through the steps and provide helpful advice on how to use these tools safely and effectively so you can confidently finish your do-it-yourself concrete project.
- How to make a groove in a concrete wall
- How and what to make grooves in walls
- Angle grinder
- Ham drill
- Hammer and chisel
- Drill
- Chaser
- How to chase a wall for wiring
- Work order
- We mark the walls for the chases
- Features of reinforced concrete walls
- Making a groove in concrete
- Work on aerated concrete
- Dust-free wall chasing
- Video on the topic
- How to make grooves without a wall chaser. Super method with a drill
- Fast plaster chasing with a minimum of dust with a renovator (multi-tool)
- A wall chaser from a grinder without dust + cable laying without fasteners. Useful idea!
- How to make a groove for a cable with a grinder.
- Grinds in concrete with a grinder with two disks and without dust
How to make a groove in a concrete wall
SNiP 3.05.06-85 is the primary document that governs the features of creating grooves in a concrete wall using any type of tool. It outlines the guidelines for installing electrical wiring as well as all necessary safety precautions and distances. Disregarding them may result in fines in addition to endangering the residents’ comfort and safety.
Prior to beginning any work, make sure that everything is well marked, that the wiring is installed in the proper locations, and that switches and sockets are installed among other things. The requirements listed below are taken into consideration when installing.
- You can not stroke the load -bearing walls.
- The channels must be laid parallel to the structures: horizontally or vertically, diagonal chasing is not allowed.
- The distance between the ceiling and the chase must be at least 15 centimeters.
- The distance to the gas pipe must be at least 40 centimeters.
- The depth of the chase is no more than 2.5 centimeters.
- Before laying new wiring, you need to check the walls for the presence of old (if this is not a new building).
- Chasses are laid exclusively vertically/horizontally, no oblique lines are allowed. An exception may be the need to lay wiring on walls with a slope (attic, for example), when the main line can be run parallel to the slope of the wall.
- You can turn the chase between two points only once: each turn is a bend in the cable, which heats up more in such places. And if there are a lot of turns, the danger of operation increases.
- The sizes of the strobes should be as follows: in width 3 centimeters maximum, in a depth of not more than 2.6 centimeters. The total length of the main line from the distribution box to the point should not be more than 3 meters.
- Optimal indentations: from batteries and gas pipes 40 centimeters, to the door 10 centimeters, from the floor – at least 5 centimeters (but better 10).
- It is prohibited to touch reinforced concrete structures during the chasing process, but if you do this, then do it in such a way as not to touch the reinforcement frame and with a minimum groove depth.
- It is prohibited to chasing internal load-bearing walls, on the first floors the work is carried out very carefully, since here the walls support the entire building.
- Chasing in the ceiling is carried out with the calculation of the shortest path to the lighting point.
- Cutting grooves in floor slabs is prohibited. When the main line is laid on the floor, it is made in a concrete screed, which is poured taking into account the need to lay grooves.
- In the process of performing work, they must take care of personal protective equipment – a respirator or mask is suitable for these purposes.
How and what to make grooves in walls
There are several tools and techniques available for creating grooves in walls; the costs, labor intensity, amount of dust, and work speed and complexity vary for each option.
Every home has a hammer and chisel; this is the least expensive method, but it is also the slowest and most labor-intensive. Drills, grinders, and hammers speed up the process but also raise the risk and demand skill and attention.
Using a specialized tool made for cutting grooves is the most effective solution. However, a wall chaser is rather pricey, so this option will incur extra costs for a one-time task. But there won’t be any dust, the work will be simple and quick, and the grooves will be even.
Angle grinder
Prior to starting work, the locations where the grooves will pass are marked.
- Attach a special disc to the tool, which is designed specifically for concrete cutting.
- Make two cuts parallel to each other at a distance of about 5 millimeters.
- Gouge a groove between the cuts with a hammer drill.
Using a grinder to widen the groove is not advised because the discs may not be able to sustain the load and may burst, posing a risk to the operator and damaging the consumable.
Ham drill
Using a hammer drill to chase produces a lot of scattered dust that gets everywhere and ruins items and furniture. It is necessary for the master to wear safety gear.
First, 8 millimeter holes are drilled in the designated area of the wall, one centimeter at a time. Subsequently, an impact mode is activated, a groove is punched between the previously made holes, and a special nozzle is attached to the tool.
Hammer and chisel
Even though the task is challenging and dusty, it can be completed with common household tools. In other words, you don’t have to spend money or buy anything.
- Cut two grooves 2 cm deep along the marked lines on a section 20-50 cm long. The chisel must be placed perpendicular to the wall surface, simply punch the monolith with force.
- Knock out a groove between the grooves by setting the chisel at an angle and simply chipping off the material in pieces.
- Continue to make grooves in the same way along all the markings.
Drill
If you take care of three attachments beforehand—a spatula and two drills of varying lengths—you can also use a drill to create grooves. Initially, drill holes with a step of 1 to 1.5 cm down the designated line to a depth of 2.5 cm. Subsequently, switch to a spatula and move point to point along the trench to construct a continuous highway with the required depth and width. Next, use putty to carefully cover up the grooves’ ugly appearance.
A piece of colored electrical tape glued to the drill slightly above the desired mark will make controlling the hole depth easier. When there is almost no material left on the mark, stop drilling.
Chaser
This is a specialized professional tool used to cut chase grooves. The apparatus is highly costly and serves a particular function. It is limited to use in chase cutting.
The two saw blades on the chaser must be adjusted in height to achieve the appropriate separation between them (cutting depth adjustment). As the tool is heavy, vertical chases are typically made from top to bottom. It cuts two parallel grooves in the wall at the same time, knocking out the material in between so that flawlessly smooth, exquisite chases are ready.
How to chase a wall for wiring
Even though the tasks are different, room chases are typically designed with the purpose of installing electrical networks in mind. It’s crucial to follow these instructions precisely so that you can subsequently operate each component in a safe and comfortable manner.
Work order
Create a thorough work plan first, including a summary of the key phases and thorough calculations and consideration of every detail.
- Determination of location of sockets, switches, eyeliner wires, etc.d. The plan is drawn carefully, marking each element and its location (taking into account the above rules and requirements of SNiP).
- Development of routes in accordance with the locations of the main elements.
- Transferring the plan to the walls with a marker or pencil. How to do it: mark the locations of the elements (lamps, sconces, chandeliers, switches, sockets, etc.d.), draw lines vertically from them upwards, not reaching the corner with the ceiling, marking the installation locations of distribution boxes, which are connected horizontally with a straight line and go to the electrical cabinet.
- Checking all places where drilling will be carried out (both grooves and recesses for socket boxes) for the presence of old wiring using a detector. If a metal frame or lines are found, you need to adjust the plan and go around them.
- After the plan with adjustments is transferred to the wall, you can start chasing: first, make holes for distribution boxes and socket boxes, then they are connected with chases.
- After everything is done, the distances are measured and entered into the plan.
- Next, cables are laid, fixed in the chases. All cables must be checked for insulation integrity before and after laying.
- The chases are sealed with mortar, then the cables are checked again, the outer parts of the elements are mounted.
We mark the walls for the chases
All of the general SNiP guidelines apply when laying chases for electrical wiring, but there are a few particular things to consider as well.
- Prepare the tools – these can be both modern devices (laser, electronic rangefinders), and conventional tools (markers, pencils or crayons, ruler or tape measure, plumb line and level, construction cord).
- Marking the locations of lamps on the ceiling, sockets and switches on the wall, distribution boards/boxes with a marker. Measuring the distances indicated on the plan. It is advisable to outline the boundaries for chasing according to samples of cables, boxes, and wall boxes.
- Choosing the width of the groove in accordance with the cable (here B is the width, H is the height). For a three-wire cable with a cross-section of 0.75-4 millimeters from the box to the wall box, the groove is made 1 centimeter wide and 1.5 centimeters deep.
- Possible deviations that must be taken into account when marking: the height of the floors rises after pouring and laying the covering, the ceilings will lower after installing suspended/tension structures, the walls can change configuration after leveling with plaster, drywall. It is also worth making adjustments for the curvature of the walls, which can often be observed in old and new houses.
Features of reinforced concrete walls
It is important to avoid damaging the metal frame when pursuing reinforced concrete structures. Prior to adjusting the groove’s parameters, the steel frame’s depth must be ascertained. If it is difficult to determine the passage of metal rods, it is preferable to conceal the indentations with a layer of plaster rather than making any small indentations in the wall itself.
You can also create open wiring by laying the wires in designated cable channels or creating a retro look. A designer that integrates communications into the interior can be hired. Locating a professional will not be difficult in Moscow or the surrounding areas.
Making a groove in concrete
Concrete grooves can be created using a variety of tools, including a wall chaser, hammer drill, grinder, and chisel. Power tools expedite the procedure, but they also lower safety standards and can cause a lot of dust to appear. Although a wall chaser is more costly, it makes the work much faster, more effective, and virtually dust-free. Every craftsman selects an appropriate technique for cutting grooves and carries it out.
Work on aerated concrete
For aerated concrete, the same techniques that work for regular concrete can be applied to make grooves. For foam/aerated blocks, however, it is best to use a specialized wall chaser that simultaneously creates two grooves. Working with aerated concrete has one drawback: a significant amount of dust appears. If you use a wall chaser, this dust goes into a special compartment; otherwise, you’ll need to use an industrial vacuum cleaner.
Dust-free wall chasing
It’s important to plan ahead and consider the best ways to handle dust at work because it can cause major issues.
- Moisten the surface regularly during the process.
- Use a household vacuum cleaner.
- Use a wall chaser with a vacuum cleaner already connected to it – the device has a special casing that covers both disks and isolates the cutting space, while dust is extracted through the vacuum cleaner outlet.
- Wet cutting of concrete with a grinder – a hose is used that continuously supplies water to the disk, the entire cutting area. But here you need to be careful, because if water gets on the tool, it will ruin it.
For accuracy and safety, creating a groove in concrete calls for the appropriate equipment and methods. You can efficiently make grooves with a hammer drill or grinder for a variety of uses, such as installing cables or pipes or just as decorative elements.
Mark the area where the groove is to be placed first. This lowers the possibility of mistakes and aids in maintaining accuracy. Select the appropriate bit size for your groove when using a hammer drill, and proceed gradually while applying constant pressure. A grinder fitted with a diamond blade could be more appropriate for grooves that are wider or deeper. Always abide by safety precautions, such as donning protective gear and operating in an area with adequate ventilation.
Making grooves in concrete requires patience and practice. Don’t hurry the procedure; instead, take your time. Clean, accurate grooves that satisfy the requirements of your project can be achieved with the appropriate strategy and cautious execution.