5 Tips on Using a Floor Saw to Do Paving Projects

A floor saw is extremely handy when constructing a patio, walkway, or driveway in any type of property using pavers. Because most paving projects require some degree of cutting to fit the materials, like bricks, natural stones, and concrete, into existing areas, it certainly pays more to have the right equipment for the job. Not only can it help you do the project right, it can also help you save time and energy. Meanwhile, if you're planning to do a paving project, here are some tips you might want to consider.

Tip No 1. As you may know, it would a catastrophe if you make a wrong cut on the material because undoing your mistake is next to impossible. Therefore, before you use the concrete saw to cut the pavers, make sure that you carefully mark all edges to be cut. Use marking tools that you can easily see and won't be erased easily. A good example is chalk in a contrasting colour or a felt-tipped marker.

Tip No 2. You might be tempted to cut the pieces in advance and bring them in the work area using a hand truck so you can save time. However, many experts agree that such a practice isn't really advisable. According them, you should cut the pieces using the floor saw only as required and not in advance. If the pavers have incorrect sizes and you still decide to fit them into the design, they can cause stress on the surrounding stones and result in fractures over time.

Tip No 3. If you're not a professional contractor and you're just an avid "DIYer," cutting patios or walkways that curve around existing landscape features, such as shrubs and trees, will prove to be quite difficult. If you don't want to bungle up your project and damage your concrete saw in the process, it's best that you leave this particular task in the hands of experts.

Tip No 4. Before you start with any cutting project, ensure that your floor saw is equipped with the right kind of blade. For paving projects, many experts recommend using diamond blades as they allow you to cut smoothly and effortlessly through hard paving materials like bricks and stones. If you don't want to make any mistake, be sure to ask your dealer for advice.

Tip No 5. This is pretty much a no-brainer, but some people often neglect their safety when working around the home. So before you use your floor saw, be sure to wear the necessary safety gear to avoid injuring yourself. Also, don't try to pick up bricks or chunks concrete on your own. Use a lifting device for maximum safety and convenience.

Important Things You Should Know about Using a Concrete Saw to Cut Asphalt

Contrary to popular belief, concrete is not the only thing a concrete saw can cut. It can also be used to split masonry, bricks, and tiles into two or into smaller pieces. Even asphalt has no match for the cutting prowess of this great cutting tool. For cutting projects where the use of ordinary saws is impossible, you can always rely on this saw to get the job done.

In case you're thinking of using a road saw to cut asphalt, there are a number of things you must remember to ensure the success of your project. Keep in mind that asphalt is different from bricks or concrete. It is much softer yet more abrasive. Cutting asphalt is trickier, too, because asphalt can get hot easily and it can melt in. As a result, if you're not careful enough, it might pinch the sides of the saw blade in and render it useless.

To prevent both the asphalt and the blade of your concrete saw from overheating, utilising water cutting is highly recommended. If your saw has a built-in water tank, it can be a huge advantage and it can provide you with maximum convenience since you don't have to rely on a water hose to keep both the blade and the material cool. But don't worry. You can still use your saw to cut asphalt even if it doesn't have a built-in water tank. Just make sure that you have a good source of water nearby so you can easily splash water on the asphalt while making the necessary cuts.

Before you proceed with the task, make sure that the saw is equipped with the right kind of blade. In most cases, contractors use diamond blades on their road saw because they are of different matrix as compared to the blades used when cutting concrete. But what kind of blade should you use if you are tasked to cut asphalt that has been poured over concrete? In this kind of situation, equipping your saw with a general purpose blade will help get the job done properly. For short-term use, on the other hand, you can utilise abrasive blades.

Just like when using a lifting device, or any other type of construction equipment for that matter, always exercise extreme caution when using a concrete saw to cut asphalt. Don't forget to equip yourself with proper safety gear to avoid accidents and injuries.

And if you're not sure about the type of blades you should be using with your concrete saw, don't be afraid to contact the equipment dealer or manufacturer and ask them questions. Don't worry, they are usually more than happy to help you out so don't hesitate to ask them to provide you with the assistance you require.

4 Ways To Give Some TLC To Your Floor Saw

Like any type of equipment used in the construction industry, the floor saw needs some tender love and care or TLC. Because this tool is used for cutting very hard objects like concrete, bricks, tiles, and asphalt, you are subjecting it to huge amounts of wear and tear. As a result, it will become more prone to damage. If you want your saw to last a very, very long time, it is only logical that you take good care of it.

Take care of your blade

If the most important part of a power washer is its motor engine, then the blade is one of the key components of a concrete-cutting saw. As such, one of the things you can do to ensure the longevity of your saw is to take good care of the blade. One way to do this is by reversing the blade from time to time, especially if your saw has a diamond blade.  This will help ensure even wear across the blade.

Cleaning the glaze

Cleaning the glaze is another strategy used by many contractors to maintain the blade. Over time, glazing can occur over its surface. Fortunately, this can easily be removed by using the floor saw to cut through a soft, abrasive material. According to experts, this will help "exfoliate" the blade and clear away any glazing that has occurred.

Don’t get too hot

Now, if the saw has a water tank and it can be used for wet cutting, you should try to utilise this cutting method as much as possible. As you may know, when you use the saw to split concrete slabs in two as well as cut and remove ceramic tiles, the blade can get extremely hot due to friction. This could shorten the lifespan of the blade. During wet cutting, the water acts as lubricant for the blade and helps keep it cool, thus, helping prevent any potentially serious damage to the blade and the equipment itself.

Is it strong enough?

You should also avoid using a type of blade that is "too harsh" for the material you are planning to cut. Many experts agree that such a practice can damage the blade. Similarly, you also have to ensure that the blade of your floor saw is strong enough to handle the material you want to cut. Otherwise, not only can it ruin your equipment, it might harm your construction project as well.

Always ensure that you have the appropriate type of blade in your floor saw before you take on any project. If not, you might have no choice but to load the equipment into one of your site dumpers and take it for expensive repairs.

4 Things to Remember When You Remove Floor Tiles

Are you planning to remove floor tiles as your next home improvement project? If you are, then make sure that you know exactly what you are doing. If this is your first time replacing old floor tiles in your home with new ones, see to it that you equip yourself with proper knowledge to ensure the success of your project and prevent accidents that can cause harm not only to you, but to your home as well. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Tip No 1. Depending on the type of tiles or materials you have installed in your floor, make sure you have the right equipment for the task at hand. For instance, if you're going to remove cork, carpet, or vinyl tiles from the floor, a floor stripper would be an excellent choice. In the case of ceramic or porcelain tiles, a jackhammer trolley would be ideal. Always remember that removing floor tiles is not a simple as using a hand truck. It requires the use of the proper equipment to do a job well done.

Tip No 2. If you are planning to use a specific piece of equipment to remove floor tiles, make sure that you have a good working knowledge of how to operate it. The same applies for using mini dumpers. It is a must that you know how to operate the equipment. The same principle applies to using a piece of equipment when removing floor tiles. It is very important that you know how to use it right so you won't botch the project.

Tip No 3. Always remember that your safety is very important. If you don't exercise caution, you might end up hurting yourself. So before you start using any construction products to accomplish this project, be sure to read the instruction manual that comes with the equipment. Also, don't forget to suit up and wear protective gear to protect you from broken floor tiles.

Tip no 4. Before you remove floor tiles, don't forget to check the equipment itself. See to it that it is working properly and all of its moving parts are in excellent condition. Ensuring that the equipment is in tip-top shape can help you avoid accidents. It can also give you the guarantee that the project will turn out fine.

While it could be challenging for a beginner to remove floor tiles, this task is certainly doable as long as you have the right equipment for the job. It is also essential that you arm yourself with proper knowledge so you can avoid making mistakes. As such, follow thetips discussed above to ensure the success of your tile removal project.

Top 3 Reasons Why Investing in a Hand Truck Will Increase Your Profits.

Also known as a two wheeler or a trolley truck, a hand truck is a lifting device with handles at one end, wheels at the base, and a small ledge to set objects on. This piece of equipment is a huge help in many construction areas, industrial sites, warehouses, and factories because it makes transporting and moving heavy objects from one place to another a piece of cake. Here are 3 reasons why as an owner of a construction or industrial company you should be using a Hand Truck to improve your productivity and profits.

#1 SAVE TIME

Just like how the concrete saw helps you save time when cutting extremely hard objects, a two wheeler can help you finish more projects at the soonest possible time. Because it simplifies the process of moving a small equipment, bulky goods, or different supplies and materials from Point A to Point B, it allows you to save more time and resources. This, in turn, helps improve your overall business productivity and efficiency.

#2 STAY SAFE

Meanwhile, the safety of your workers should be one of your top priorities. If they are tasked to remove ceramic tiles from a construction site for instance, make sure that they are wearing safety gear and using the right tools to avoid accidents or injuries. Otherwise, they might hurt themselves, which could cause delays to the project.

On the same note, letting the members of your staff use a hand truck helps ensure their safety at the workplace. This piece of equipment helps reduce their risk of having back injuries, dislocated shoulders, muscle pains, and other health conditions brought about by constantly lifting and carrying heavy objects.By equipping your workers with an excellent device, therefore, you can keep them safe and protect them from injuries and debilitating health conditions. In addition, you can avoid breaking labour laws and being penalised by regulators and workplace safety watchdogs.

#3 BOOST REVENUE

But if there is one huge reason why you should invest in tools and pieces of equipment like the two wheeler and a tracked dumper is that it can help boost your revenues and reduce labour costs. With the help of such tools, a single person can do the job of several people. As a result, you don't have to hire as many people as you would. You don't have to purchase a fork lift, either.

Indeed, a hand truck brings a lot of benefits to any business or organisation. So if you want to improve business productivity, protect your employees from harm, and at the same time, generate bigger profits, you should consider investing in this nifty piece of equipment.

Simple Tips on Maintaining Different Types of Construction Equipment

Having a wide range of construction equipment and tools is an asset to any construction company. Just think about it. With some many power tools and equipment pieces at your disposal, it will be much easier for you to accomplish different types of construction products. As a result, you can have more opportunities to generate profits. Clients would be flocking to you since you can take on projects other construction businesses cannot.

Because of the benefits and the advantages the construction tools bring you, it only makes perfect sense that you take good care of them. If one or two of them are put out of commission, doing certain tasks can definitely be a challenge. Therefore, you must know how to take care and maintain your tools and equipment properly. Let's start with the concrete saw.

Concrete cutting saws should be taken care of properly, especially their blades. If the blades get dull, the saws won't be able to deeper and more efficient cuts. They might even cause problems to your staff. Therefore, when it comes to this particular type of construction equipment, make sure that you clean the saw properly after each and every job. Also, be sure to inspect the equipment before using it. If the saw is showing signs of a problem, don't continue to use it. Otherwise, it could make the problem worse. Instead, you should let technicians check the saw and fix it.

In case you own a powerwasher, a jackhammer trolley to removefloor tiles, and other medium-sized equipment pieces that run on electricity, see to it that you unplug them properly once you are finished using them. Some contractors have the habit of pulling the cords from several metres away instead of taking the time to safely unplug the device from the wall. As a result, the power cable becomes twisted and frayed.

To avoid having damaged power cords that could potentially become fire and safety hazards, make sure to properly unplug any electrical construction equipment. Also, when the power tools are not in use, you should roll the cable around each and every one of them. This way, you can avoid damaging the electric cords.

Always remember that proper car and maintenance is the key to long-lasting construction equipment. So no matter what type of construction tools you own, see to it that they are well-maintained to ensure that they are always in excellent condition. With your construction tools and equipment always in good shape, you can significantly improve the efficiency and profitability of your construction company.