The Mishawaka, IN Hooters closed in 2011. Previously a franchised location, Hooters corporate has decided to reopen the popular restaurant.

As part of the reopening, the building is being extensively remodeled to bring it in line with the current Hooters corporate look and feel. JEM Concrete had the pleasure of doing a good bit of saw work in the bar, the dining area, and the kitchen area.

In the kitchen, the new layout requires the rearranging of a great deal of plumbing, and JEM was up to the job. The concrete flat sawing performed in the dining area was for electric to be installed for a brand new server station. The bar area is seeing an extensive renovation, and as such will see a complete new plumbing and electrical configuration. We performed substantial concrete slab sawing to make way for the new bar layout.

All told, we cut approximately 200 lineal feet of 5” thick concrete to allow for the renovations to take place. We supplied all of the water for the operation, removed the concrete from the cuts, and carried it outside for disposal.

South Bend Tribune Article

Excerpt from article by Heidi Prescott
If you wait long enough, sometimes history repeats itself. We’ve seen it happen with fashion trends and in pop culture.

Longtime local diners might remember the Hooters girls serving the restaurant’s signature chicken wings and beer from 2003 to 2011 in a free-standing building on Day Road, across from Kohl’s-anchored Princess City Plaza.

Read the full article Here.

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One of the latest innovative ways to cut large and thick concrete is by the use of Wire Sawing. Wire sawing is an accurate way to cut larger sections of concrete and steel.

Concrete wire sawing was created through great advances in diamond application technology. The steel braided wire is impregnated with small cutting diamonds similar to blades and bits used for cutting concrete. The wire is oriented in a looped fashion on the cutting plane. A hydraulic-driven wheel then forces the wire through the surface to be cut. The use of multiple pulleys allows the wire to cut any thickness at any angle, assuming there is access. The ideal applications include structures that are too thick or too large for conventional cutting means, tight areas, and submerged locations. Some examples include foundation concrete walls thicker than 30” that require openings, piers submerged in water, or large barrel chillers cut down for removal.

Planning, engineering, and creativity allow multiple cuts to happen simultaneously, which can reduce cutting time. Water is a necessary part of the process, keeping the cutting location cooled and any potential dust minimized. Rebar or other reinforcing is not an issue for the wire to cut.

This new technology was developed in the stone quarry industry. A wire saw consists of a wire coated with diamond-tipped cutting beads mounted on a flywheel driven by hydraulics and pulled through the concrete section being cut, executing the cut with precision.

With the use of the diamond wire saws it has become a more efficient way to remove large concrete structures such as foundations, bridges and equipment pads. It also provides a time savings when cutting openings in thick concrete walls.

Wire sawing benefits customers in any industry by consistently performing in confined spaces; the true advantage of wire sawing is that there is basically no limit to the depth that can be cut and the noise level is reduced considerably over the use of conventional breaking methods.

When materials are too tough, too thick or too large for conventional cutting techniques or space is limited, wire sawing has become the substituted technique of choice. JEM Concrete Drilling and Sawing technicians are prepared with equipment and techniques to meet any complex project demands.

Advantages of the Wire Saw

• Allows for mass concrete removal without breakage while minimizing damage to structure
• Quieter Concrete Cutting
• Confined Space Wire Sawing
• Unlimited Concrete Structure Sawing
• Leaves a Smooth Cutting Surface
• Cuts through heavy rebar & embedded steel
• No Vibrations

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Nearly every construction project requires some type of concrete cutting to complete the job. While cutting of concrete seems to be straightforward and simple, there are many other things that should be considered to have a safe concrete cutting project.

Safety first: you need to be mindful that the dust created by concrete wall sawing is potentially damaging to the human body, particularly to the eyes, sinuses and lungs. The dust can also be abrasive and corrosive and can create damage. Dust control has become a huge importance when it comes to cutting the concrete either with a core boring bit, saw or a drill.

Two common methods used in controlling dust are pneumatic devices and wet cutting. In terms of pneumatic devices, this pulls the dust away in the air stream to minimize the amount of dust created while wet cutting collects the dust using cooling water.

If you are using a diamond cutting blade like the ones by JEM Concrete, then the water will serve as lubrication and cool off the cutting tool. There are certain considerations that must be made when handling the resulting slurry. A drainage must be present or a vacuum system used to regulate the spread of cooling water.

When you are using electrical powered tools, adequate grounding, appropriate ground fault or insulation, then applying the right protection is a must. Standing in a puddle of water using an electrical tool is never a good idea.

JEM Concrete has decades of experience in Indiana concrete cutting. No job is too big or too small. For a free consultation, give us a call at: (574) 288-8464.

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Concrete handsaws are light weight hydraulic, gas, or electric powered saws and are small enough to be used where larger saws cannot fit. Hand sawing provides portability, speed and accessibility on construction jobsites. The hand saw safely and efficiently cuts concrete, concrete pipes, manholes, hollow or filled brick and block, and much more.

These saws can be used to cut flush with existing floors and walls, and to create window, door and mechanical openings. It is particularly useful for inside projects with limited working space.

Chain Sawing

If you need small HVAC openings where a wall saw may not be suitable, or floor and wall openings without any over cuts, then a diamond chain saw in conjunction with other hand saws is the best way for our technicians to save the integrity of the slab or wall that is to remain untouched. It is also more cost effective for some projects than other methods. Chain sawing is also beneficial for openings that a standard saw is too large to fit.

The chainsaw is a specialized hand held saw that lets you cut openings in masonry or concrete structures without overcuts.

Our professionally trained and OSHA certified operators can make penetrations through concrete structures, resulting in square corners, eliminating over-cuts and reducing patchwork. The Chainsaw is a “plunge cut” capable saw that is able to cut depths up to 24”.

Our Chainsaws are ideal for sawing in tight areas through structural concrete for Electrical, plumbing and HVAC openings, or decorative concrete where overcuts would either damage the integrity, or destroy the aesthetics of, the finished product.

Ring Sawing

To minimize over cut, our skilled technicians use special ring blades that are extremely proficient in cutting doors, windows, ventilation shafts, stairwells, piles, and foundations, plus many other finishing applications. Since this blade is driven from its periphery, not the center, it can cut up to 16” deep with just a 20” blade making this blade able to cut nearly as deep as its own diameter.

Handheld sawing techniques are generally used for smaller jobs where it is faster and more cost effective than using other cutting methods. Hand saws are highly portable and can access small, tight areas. JEM Concrete offers hydraulic, gas, and electric hand saws capable of cutting up to 24″ depth from one side. Typical applications include:

• HVAC openings in brick and cinder block, beam pockets, and small opening in slabs and walls
• Vertical and horizontal surfaces
• Tight spaces where larger equipment cannot be utilized
• To cut small and irregular openings
• To finish cutting corners that would be left irregular with other saws.

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Whether you’re running a steel mill at ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor, US Steel Gary Works, ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor East/West, or beyond, you need the services of a competent core drilling company that knows your industry. JEM Concrete Drilling and Sawing, Inc. has years of experience doing exactly that. Below is a partial list of core drilling applications we specialize in performing for Steel Mills.

Tap Holes and Bottom Taps

One of our primary focuses is drilling tap holes and bottom taps for your furnaces. Tap holes can be applied once the furnace has been allowed to cool for a few days. Salamander drilling can be done in order to profile the bottom of a furnace, check for brick integrity, etc. Safety is our number one priority. Bottom taps are drilled incrementally allowing the temperature to be measured as we go. The final step is to finish the hole with an oxygen lance.

Anchor Bolt Drilling

Another common request among our steel mill clients is concrete core drilling for anchor bolts. When removing or replacing equipment, be it large equipment or ancillary appliances, new anchor bolts are a must. We can drill nearly any size anchor bolt, although 1-2″ diameter holes are the most common. These holes are typically 6-8′ long (deep), but can vary extensively depending on the application. As a value added service, we have begun applying epoxy for many of our clients.

Grout Holes

We drill grout holes on a daily basis in furnaces, stoves, coke ovens, and more – basically anything that utilizes brick insulation can benefit from core drilling grout holes.

Cigar Coolers and Solar Coolers

Often when brick has failed and the location has been determined specifically, we are called in to drill for cigar coolers, or solar coolers. This allows for spot cooling of the furnace wall. JEM Concrete drills the hole, and the mill inserts the “cigar” with water lines. We have drilled thousands of these.

Core Drilling For Thermocouples

The last main drilling service that we offer our Steel Mill clients is core drilling for thermocouples. These are typically 1/4″ to 3/8″ holes drilled horizontally into the furnace or oven wall. Once completed, the thermocouple itself is inserted. This allows the mill to monitor for hot spots in the bricks or walls of the vessel.

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Concrete wall saws are typically used on vertical surfaces when a new doorway, window or HVAC openings are needed. Wall sawing employs a diamond blade on a track-mounted system that can be used for vertical or horizontal cuts. These saws run on hydraulic or electric power and are also commonly referred to as concrete track saws. Wall sawing allows for precise cuts in both concrete and masonry structures.

Wall sawing can be performed up to 30″ deep. Cutting can also be performed from both sides of the wall, giving a total depth of up to 60″. If your opening requires a specific angle through the concrete, this saw can accommodate.

Typical Applications Include:

• Straight, smooth finished openings in walls, ceilings, and floors
• Accurately sized, fixture ready openings
• Bevel cutting for a chamfered edge
• Flush cutting against the surface

Wall sawing employs a circular diamond blade on a track-mounted machine. The track is attached to horizontal walls or steep inclines that will not permit the use of flat saws. Wall or track sawing is typically specified to cut precise dimensional door, vent and window openings. It is also an excellent choice for creating precise openings in any concrete structure.

Generally speaking, a concrete wall saw is more versatile than a slab saw. We can cut just about anything that you can mount a track or rail to. At JEM Concrete we have even used a concrete wall saw to turn large boulders into functional benches – by using a custom track system, we don’t even need to start with a flat surface. While we start out with smaller blades for a guaranteed straight cut, we stock blades as large as 72″ in diameter, allowing for a cut that is 30-32″ deep.

With custom rails we have cut the inside of a circle. We also commonly use concrete wall saws for stairs, both to remove them, or make them narrower.

Down side to concrete wall sawing

One issue in with round blades is that the corner cuts cannot be completed without over cutting. If the opening is going to be trimmed out or the aesthetics of the cut are not important then overcuts won’t be an issue. For an 8″ thick wall, you can expect an overcut on ONE side of 3-1/2″. The opposite side of the wall will have no overcut. With an opening that cannot have over cuts, the chainsaw does a great job of cleaning these corners out as illustrated. This added cost is an affordable solution to the old style way of coring the corners that left scallops that needed to be chipped. Chain sawing is limited in its depth to 24″.

Other Applications for Vertical Cutting Include Ring Sawing or Hand Sawing

Ring sawing or hand sawing is commonly employed when general wall sawing cannot be performed. Hand held units can be gas, electric, or hydraulic. Hand sawing provides portable, quick cutting with minimal over-cuts. Like the wall saws and flat saws, the concrete chain saws can cut flush if requested. If we cannot utilize water in our cutting process, hand sawing can be accomplished dry. Specific Dry Sawing is available up to 4-1/2″ deep utilizing a protective cover and a HEPA vacuum. This is “dry” process has been used in ceilings over surgical suites, data centers, and other sensitive environments.

Typical Applications for Concrete Chain Sawing Include:

• Electrical and plumbing openings
• Ventilation and air conditioning openings
• Eliminating overcuts and corner cutting
• Small, tightly accessed areas
• Concrete Beam and Pipe cutting

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JEM Concrete Drilling and Sawing, located in the South Bend area, provides Concrete core drilling services in St. Joe and the surrounding counties. We focus primarily on the Northwest Indiana and greater Chicago areas, with a great deal of our work being for various steel mills in the Burns Harbor, Gary, and East Chicago areas.

Core drilling in Chicago is the process of drilling precise holes through concrete walls and floors, as well as many other concrete structures. Concrete core drills – also known as core rigs – can be operated with limitless orientation, vertical, horizontal and even upside down thru ceilings. Our drill bits consist of a steel tube with diamond segments brazed or laser welded on the drilling end.

Key Benefits of Core Drilling:

• Core drilling is the cleanest, most economical way to drill into a concrete wall or slab.
• Core drilling offers contractors flexibility and a solution to potential problems.
• It keeps the structural integrity of surrounding areas intact
• Core drilling can be done at any depth
• Precision drilling
• Very effective in limited spaces

At JEM Concrete, our combination of specialized equipment and efficient manpower reduce job down-time. We are safe, quick, and clean!

Typical Chicago core drilling applications include:

• Floor drains.
• Sewer drains and sewer tie-ins.
• HVAC openings.
• Phone, electrical, cable, and fiber optic openings.
• Handrail and anchor holes.
• Concrete bore for sampling.
• Line drills for removing concrete when other methods cannot be applied.

As a veteran in the field of Chicago concrete drilling, coring, cutting, and sawing, JEM Concrete has proved to be a reliable and dependable contractor with its personnel and equipment always ready to tackle the most challenging projects.

Throughout the United States, JEM Concrete offers core drilling (concrete coring) and has done so for many years. Core drilling is a necessary step at some point for virtually all concrete structures – Whether you need to make an opening for a manhole, install plumbing or electrical lines, or to pull a sample of concrete for testing, quality cores are a must. This is even more important for our steel mill clients, for whom we drill cigar cooler holes, thermocouple holes, tap holes, grout holes, and bottom taps – amongst others. Thankfully for our customers, JEM Concrete’s operators are highly trained and have decades of experience under their belt when it comes to providing safe, quality work.

At JEM Concrete, we strive to provide the best service possible for all your Chicago core drilling needs. Our dedicated team of professionals is outfitted with customized drilling equipment to safely and effectively drill holes through any hardened materials, no matter the size needed. We are able to effectively drill to any depth, in any condition, even in tight or confined spaces. No job is too big or small for our core drilling services.

When it comes to our equipment and skill, we are able to apply whatever method is needed to achieve success for your project. Our Electric, Pneumatic, and Hydraulic drilling equipment is maneuverable and adaptable to meet the simple or complex demands of different drilling projects. Whether drilling by hand, using a stand, or operating one of our customized drills, we are equipped to handle concrete core drilling projects of almost any magnitude, while ensuring quality work every time.

Basics of Core Drilling

Chicago Core drilling is a type of service in which a drill is used to remove a cylinder of material, called a core. JEM Concrete utilizes diamond core drills in order to best cut through the concrete and additional material and ensure that the customer’s utmost satisfaction is met. This type of technique of concrete cutting is used in many cases such as but not limited to:

• Walls, floor slabs, and ceilings for electrical and communication services, cabling, plumbing, or HVAC
• Slab and roadway holes for doweling drilling, rebar tie-ins, or drainage
• Recessed lighting and fixtures
• Sample and analysis of material

However, no matter what the project is, the process to create the hole is virtually the same. In terms of the process, the operator first uses a small threaded anchor to secure the drill stand to the wall and then bolts the drill stand, which will act as a guide for the core drill itself. This bolting of the drill stand allows for the core drill to hit its mark straight on and make one smooth, consistent core – no matter what angle.
Once the drill stand is securely fastened, the next step is for the drill bit to be mounted. This drill bit can be to whatever size the customer specifies. We offer core bits as small as 0.5” diameter and as large as 4’ in diameter. If JEM Concrete doesn’t currently have the bit specified for your particular job, we’ll have it in a matter of days.

After the drill is properly mounted, it is turned on while water is applied as both a coolant and to remove concrete slurry from the cut. Pressure is then placed on the crank. The hand crank on the core drill itself drives the drill to the surface to cut through the concrete. Most core drill bits are built to accommodate a depth of 12-14”, but can be any length if needed depending on the depth of the core. JEM Concrete stocks a number of longer core drill bits in many different diameters. Also, if necessary, the core drill can cut through rebar steel, plate steel, or sheet metal (pan decking). Once the surface and existing materials are penetrated, the core comes out with the bit, or the core can be pulled out manually if it is found in a slab. From there the coring of the hole is complete and additional holes can then be cored if need be.

JEM operators are rigorously trained and have a wide range of knowledge and skills that can help with whatever core drilling job you might have. No matter the depth, diameter, or angle, we have you covered. So whether you need one 2” hole core drilled or fifty 4’ holes core drilled, we can help. If you are in need of the highest quality core drilling services, please give us a call. We will be happy to give you a free quote on your next Chicago core drilling job.

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One of the many services we offer is Northwest Indiana concrete core drilling. Core drilling is essentially what it sounds like. We use special bits to “core” out a hole in all types of concrete surfaces.

Core drilling is used to create a perfectly round opening. This is very similar to a hole saw you may use for wood, however core drilled openings can be drilled at much larger diameters and depths. Core drilling is frequently utilized for plumbing, hvac, sewer taps, and many more. Watch the video below to get a feel for what is involved in large diameter concrete core drilling and then call is with your next project!

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Drilling round holes through floors or slabs is called core drilling. Core drilled openings can be used for things like plumbing, electrical, handrails, or wires, among other uses. The drill bits are hollow in the middle and when the cut is done, in addition to a round opening, you have a nice round “core” of concrete (or brick) left. Core drill bits vary in size from 1/2″ to as big as you want (JEM Concrete Cutting currently has bits from 1/2″ to 36″ in stock, but can order nearly any size bit with advance notice).

When scheduling core drilling service, these are some of the details to be aware of:

On the wall or slab to be drilled, we need this clearance:
6″ in all directions around the hole to be drilled
2′ (from the edge of the hole to be drilled), in one direction, in order for us to bolt the drill post to the wall.
5′ of space in front of the hole to be drilled for the drill post and drill.
While some core drilling applications can be hand drilled, the majority require the drill to be mounted to a post, which in turn needs to be securely anchored to the surface being drilled. To anchor the post, here are the most common methods:
If the surface is a concrete wall, we drill a small anchor hole (2″ deep and 5/8″ in diameter) and insert the anchor (which is left in the wall). The anchor is below the surface of the wall and is able to be covered up by the owner/contractor after the project is completed.
If an anchor bolt is unable to be used, we can drill the 5/8″ hole all the way through the wall and sandwich the wall (using a bolt through wood or metal plates on both sides of the wall), to create an anchor point.
If we are drilling on a slab, we can sometimes use a vacuum base to anchor the post. The big issue here is if we can get a good seal.

As with all concrete cutting, water is the most common lubricant and coolant for the core drill bit. One of the primary benefits of using water is dust reduction. This creates a “slurry”, which the water then carries out of the cut. Depending on where the cutting is done (inside or outside, finished or unfinished spaces), we can provide as much, or as little, “water/slurry control” as desired (letting it drain into the soil outside, using a shop vac to get the majority of it off a floor, or putting plastic up all around it to have maximum protection). With more control comes more prep time and thus increases the cost of the project. When water isn’t a viable option (for example, if mortar is drying) we are able to use nitrogen or air in its place.

If drilling a hole on a roof/floor, we will need to know what is below and how/if we need to “catch” the core. We can often drill close to the bottom of the floor and break off the majority of the core before we get through.

More often than not, we make use of on-site water and power when setting up a core drill. When either isn’t available or practical, we are positioned to provide our own.

Please contact JEM Concrete Drilling and Sawing of Northwest Indiana if you have questions about a concrete cutting or drilling need. We are committed to giving our customers excellent quality work in a timely fashion at a reasonable price.

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Did you know? That concrete is the single most widely used building material in the world? Think about it-our entire infrastructure, everything from schools, houses, roads, bridges and skyscrapers are assembled with it. It is estimated that around three tons of concrete is used annually for each person on earth. This is twice as much as the total of all building materials like wood, steel, plastic and aluminum combined.

Why concrete? Well it’s a very low impact material. It is also superior in strength, durability, thermal mass, affordability and abundance. Societies’ necessity for concrete isn’t just developing now, throughout history some of the most famous formations were built out of concrete. Famous structures like the Hoover Dam, Panama Canal and the Roman Pantheon were all crafted out of concrete. In fact, almost two thousand years ago the Romans utilized their own recipe with a mixture of water, aggregate and cement to create a gravity-defying 43.3 meter in diameter dome. It still holds its place as the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Did you know? Romans aren’t the only people who found concrete to be useful, though they did come up with some interesting ingredients to incorporate into their mixture. Odd additives such as animal blood were used because it made concrete frost-resistant. Horse hair made the Roman construction material less liable to cracks. Egyptians, like the Romans, also started adding volcanic ash so the mix set underwater. The Chinese, when building the Great Wall, used sticky rice to improve the performance of concrete. Even now in 2015, many Dubai skyscrapers rely on a special mixture of concrete to overshadow the rest of the man-made structures in the world. This concrete concoction doesn’t harden before it can be pumped to the top of the tower, but will form a highly dependable structure.

So what is the future of concrete? It’s impossible to predict the impending face of construction as it is an ever evolving industry which highlights a dichotomy between engineering and art. However, one thing remains certain- wherever there is concrete needing to be cut drilled, or sawed – JEM Concrete Drilling and Sawing will be there to do it.

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