Cutting a Poured Foundation Floor

Mark a cutting line onto the floor using a piece of chalk. Use a straightedge if you need to cut a straight line through the concrete, or a string compass for circles.

Put on a pair of work gloves, a face mask and a safety goggles to prevent injury when making the cut. Open all windows and doors leading to the cutting area as well, for increased ventilation.

Attach a 16-inch diamond-tip blade to a concrete cutoff saw to make the initial cut through the floor.

Turn on the saw and wait about 15 seconds for the blade to reach cutting speed. Lower the blade to the surface of the floor on the chalked line. Press lightly on the saw to cut through the surface, and then push the saw slowly forward, following the chalk line. At the end of the line, turn off the saw and wait for the blade to stop turning before lifting it from the concrete.

Move the saw to the connecting line if you’ve outlined a square to be cut into the concrete and begin the process of cutting again, moving to the rest of the outlined area of concrete you wish to remove to complete the outline.

Strike the concrete inside the outlined area with a sledgehammer until you break through the foundation. Continue breaking the area within the outline with the sledge until you’ve created easy-to-remove chunks of concrete. Remove the concrete from the space for disposal.