FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need permits to cut a window in my basement?

A building permit and possibly a development permit is required for cutting a window(s) at a residential dwelling.  Furthermore, in order to do any digging, we require locates for underground utilities to be done before we dig.

Who is responsible for marking out the required measurements for window cutting?

The customer is responsible for marking out measurements and location of where cutting is to be performed.

How much room is needed to access the window for cutting?

Typically our crews need a minimum of 1’ on either side of the cut to be made, 1’ below the cut, and 4’ back from the cut. Keep in mind this may require excavation. Use cut backs to avoid having your excavation collapse.

What if I physically cannot do the digging required to have my window cut?

Rodeo Cutting & Coring Ltd. will dig your windows with excavating equipment and/or manual digging for an additional fee.

Do I have to have overcuts on my marked out windows?

Ideally, yes we would prefer to have overcuts for easier removal of the concrete.  We typically estimate overcuts to be 6” on all four corners.

What is slurry, and why is concrete cutting so messy?

Well, slurry is a by-product of the cutting process. It’s a waste material made up of the water used to lubricate the diamond blade or bit, as well as the fine concrete dust created by the cutting process. As to the second part of the question, we pride ourselves on keeping our work as clean as possible. That being said, slurry is messy and can be difficult to control. We use guards, poly, vacuums, and other measures to minimize the mess and to ensure your job site or home looks exceptional when we leave.

Why does my job require vacuum cleanup?

Not only is slurry messy, it’s also environmentally hazardous. It is mildly acidic and should never be allowed into the water supply. At Rodeo, we pride ourselves on our environmental awareness. We cleanup slurry at the job site not only because it is unsightly, but it can also pose an environmental risk. On certain jobs this will require an extra cleanup unit or crew. In other situations, our operators will have vacuums or other cleaning supplies with them.

What are overcuts?

When cutting with a circular saw (nearly all linear cutting is performed with a circular saw) overcuts are caused by the depth requirements of the cut. If, for instance, you want a window cut in 8” deep concrete then there will be an overcut of around 8”. Basically, the cut will extend beyond the end of the window opening but this cut is not going all the way through the wall. These cuts are easily patched and they can be minimized in some cases by plunging the blade deeper, but, in most cases, you can expect all your overcuts to be at least as long as the depth of the material being cut.

Should I have my window cut from the inside or outside?

Well, if you have the room, you should almost always have your windows cut from the outside. There’s a number of reasons for this. First, concrete cutting is inherently messy (see above) and it’s much easier for us to keep your house clean if you leave the drywall up and we use it to protect your house while cutting from the outside. Another reason is that overcuts can often run into problems on the inside where we might run into a header beam other obstacles. In other situations, there simply isn’t enough room for us to operate from the inside. Since you’re almost certainly already digging a window well, having the outside wall excavated to make room for a saw is actually very cost-effective.

Why do I (the customer) have to mark out the cutting I need done?

At Rodeo we’re more than happy to help you understand what your job requires and to explain the process. However, cutting concrete is always a structural change. This kind of job requires that the job is marked and approved by the customer. According to legislation, it is the customer’s responsibility to acquire job permits so we can’t take responsibility for marking out the cutting. We’re here to help and work with you but final decisions like this are up to you.

Why are removal fees separate from cutting fees?

Some customers like to remove their own cut concrete or asphalt. Often, customers require our specialized cutting equipment and operators but they have all the labor they need to remove the job afterwards. Sometimes this is just about time and other times it’s about saving money. So, we simply offer all our customers the option. If you want us to remove the concrete after a job just talk to us about it and we’d be happy to help!