Concrete cutting in Placentia CA - a clean cut, checked first and done wet
Need a damaged section of driveway out, a path for a new walk, or a curb cut? We check each spot first and cut wet.
Concrete cutting is the sawing, breaking and coring we do in concrete you already have around your Placentia home, like a driveway, a sidewalk or a curb. Most calls start with a sunken panel that has to come out, a walk that needs a new path, or plans for a wider driveway that needs a straight edge to pour against. I spend the first visit asking what you want the cut to do, because that decides where the saw goes.
What you'll pay mostly follows how many feet we cut, how thick the slab is, how much steel is inside and how easy the spot is to reach. The schedule turns on the city, because a cut in the curb or sidewalk needs a permit first, and we handle that. Your written estimate lays out both.
How we handle concrete cutting at your house
- Checking each spot first. Before the saw starts, I talk you through what could be hidden in your slab, like rebar, the steel bars that hold it together, and how we'll check each spot.
- Slowing down on post-tensioned slabs. Some slabs have steel cables pulled tight inside them, and that pull is part of the structure, so we slow way down and plan every hole before we drill.
- Wet cutting to hold down dust. We cut wet, with water fed to the blade, because concrete dust carries silica, a known cause of cancer and of silicosis, a lung disease with no cure.
- Me on site, our own crew. I come out to look the job over and give the estimate, and our own crew does the cutting with me there. We've been at it since 2021.
- Licensed and insured for street work. We're licensed and insured, so when a cut reaches the curb or sidewalk, the certificate of insurance the city wants with the permit application is ready to go.
What brings people to cut concrete
| Problem | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sunken or broken panel | What it looks like: One section dropped or cracked while the rest of the driveway sits fine | Usual fix: Saw a clean line around it, break it out, repour |
| Lifted sidewalk edge | What it looks like: A raised lip on the walk that people catch their toes on | Usual fix: Cut out the lifted panel and pour it level |
| Slab too small | What it looks like: Parking half on the lawn or no room for a patio table | Usual fix: Saw a straight edge so the new pour ties in |
| Line through the slab | What it looks like: A pipe or conduit has to pass through the concrete | Usual fix: Core a round hole once the spot is checked |
Patch it, add on or start over
- Cut out a section. When one panel sank or broke and the rest of the slab is sound, we saw around it, break it out and pour just that piece.
- Cut and add on. If you want more room, we saw a straight edge on what you have so a wider driveway or a new patio can tie in cleanly.
- Break out and replace. When cracks run across most of the slab, patching usually just chases a failing base, so I'd break it out and repour on a dug-out, packed subgrade, the ground it sits on.
How a cutting job runs
- I come out. You call, and I come out to see the spot, measure it and ask what you need the cut to do.
- Written estimate. You get it all in writing, spelling out where we'll cut, how deep, and how we'll check each spot before the saw starts.
- City sign-off first. Cuts in the sidewalk, curb, gutter, parkway or driveway usually sit in public right-of-way, so we get an encroachment permit from Placentia Public Works and set up inspections.
- Cut day and walk-through. On the day, our crew protects your yard and cleans up as we go, and when the cutting's done, I walk the job with you.
Keeping the cut edge sound after we leave
A cut stays sound when the edge is straight and the new concrete goes in on a base that's dug out and packed, not just raked flat. If we cut out a piece of your driveway, give the new pour its curing time, the wait while it hardens, before you drive on it.
We're based in Placentia and work across Placentia and the cities around it, so we cut a lot of older driveways, walks and curb edges beside lived-in homes, here and in places like Fullerton and Yorba Linda. If you've got a slab that needs cutting, ask for an estimate and I'll come take a look.
Tell us where to cut
Send the address, the spot you want cut and whether it touches a curb, sidewalk or driveway. We reply within one business day to set a time to come out.
(714) 798-2825- Free, on-site estimate
- Every cut in writing
- No obligation to book
Questions about cutting concrete
How much does concrete cutting cost in Placentia?
Across the US, professional concrete cutting usually runs about $3 to $10 per linear foot of cut. Thicker slabs, more steel and tight spots push a job toward the high end, and curb or sidewalk work adds the city's permit costs. Your written estimate gives you the figure for your slab.
Do I need a permit to cut my curb or sidewalk in Placentia?
Usually yes, because the sidewalk, curb, gutter, parkway and driveway generally sit in the public right-of-way, and work there goes through an encroachment permit from Placentia Public Works. That permit has a separate plan check fee, plus a cost tied to the inspector's hours, and we handle the application. Building permit questions go to the city's Building Division at 714-993-8124.
Can a scan show what is inside my slab before you cut?
A scan can show a lot, but not everything. It lowers the risk of hitting rebar, post-tensioning cables, buried lines or ducts, yet it can't promise a spot is completely clear, so before we cut I go over with you how we'll check each location.
What license covers concrete cutting in California?
California's licensing board puts concrete sawing, breaking and coring under the concrete related services contractor classification. So it's fair to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring which license they hold before they bring a saw to your driveway.