Diamond drilling and diamond sawing are precise methods for creating openings and cuts in concrete, reinforced concrete, brick, and natural stone. Compared to jackhammering and impact drilling, this work does not transmit impact or vibration to the structure; therefore, the surrounding wall or ceiling remains intact and the edges of the opening are clean. We perform diamond work across Estonia, and our team has over ten years of experience in this field.
How diamond drilling works
Drilling uses a hollow core bit with diamond segments on its rim. The bit does not break the material but grinds a ring through it, leaving a cylinder in the center that comes out at the end of the job. That is why there is no impact: the diamond drill does not pound the concrete, it cuts it. The same principle applies to sawing, where the edge of the blade or wire is diamond-coated.
During the process, cooling water runs onto the core bit. The water keeps the bit temperature down and binds the dust, so practically none is released into the air. This is why diamond work can also be performed in finished rooms and occupied buildings.
When to use diamond drilling
Diamond drilling is suitable when the opening must be of a specific size, the edges must remain clean, and the structure must maintain its load-bearing capacity. The most common use is for utility penetrations: ventilation, sewage, water pipes, and electrical cables. During renovations, it is often necessary to enlarge an existing opening or cut a new window or door opening into an existing wall.
Rebar is not an obstacle. The diamond segments cut through steel, which makes the method suitable for reinforced concrete, where impact drilling gets nowhere. Dense or thick reinforcement slows down the work but does not prevent it.
When to use diamond drilling and when diamond sawing
Drilling gives a round opening of a set diameter: utility penetrations, ventilation openings, anchor holes, openings for pipes and cables. Sawing gives a straight cut and an angular opening: door and window openings, opening up walls and stairs, cutting through a slab or a foundation, and joints.
| Need | Method |
|---|---|
| Round opening of a set diameter | Diamond drilling |
| Angular opening, for example a door or window opening | Diamond sawing |
| Straight cut in a slab, a wall or a foundation | Diamond sawing |
| Cutting a joint in a concrete floor | Diamond sawing |
| A row of openings in dense reinforcement | Diamond drilling |
| A large opening the equipment cannot reach by diameter | Corners drilled, edges sawn |
The two often go together: the corners are drilled first and the edges are cut with the saw, which is how the corners come out accurate and the cut clean. Send the size of the opening and the thickness of the structure, and we will tell you which method suits.
What we do
- cutting window and door openings and enlarging existing openings
- drilling ventilation, sewage, and pipe openings in walls, ceilings, and floors
- cutting openings required for the installation of lintels
- diamond sawing of floors and walls
- milling channels for electrical wiring and piping into walls
- demolition work for bathrooms and other rooms
Wet drilling and dry drilling
Wet drilling is the standard choice: water cools the bit, extends its lifespan, and binds dust. However, the water must be collected on-site, so surrounding surfaces are covered and the water is vacuumed up.
Dry drilling is used when water cannot be allowed into the room, for example, near finished surfaces or sensitive furnishings. In this case, a vacuum cleaner is used, and the work is slower because the bit wears out faster. Which option suits is decided on site.
How the process works
The work begins with an inspection: the material, the thickness of the structure, the size of the opening, and how it can be accessed. Based on this data, we can provide a price. On-site, we mark the openings, secure the equipment and cover surrounding surfaces. At the end of the job we clean up the debris. Hauling away the cut concrete cores and the waste is agreed separately.
What is required on-site
For most jobs, access to the drilling site, electricity, and pressurized water are required. For work performed higher than 2.5 meters, scaffolding or a lift is necessary. If there may be cables or piping in the drilling area, please inform us before work begins, as these are not visible inside the wall. If there are cables or piping inside the wall that were not reported before the work, the client bears the cost of any resulting damage.
Cutting a larger opening into a load-bearing structure must be coordinated with a structural engineer, and depending on the opening, a lintel or temporary support may be required. This is usually not necessary for smaller penetrations.
When you order an opening in a load-bearing wall, allow for the beam or lintel as well. Tell us when asking for a quote whether you install it yourself or whether we should include it. A 1.3 × 1.3 m window opening in an 80 cm silicate wall, for example, needs a beam, and that has to be settled before the cutting is ordered.
Price
The price list is indicative. Dense rebar, stone, drilling into a ceiling and difficult access can raise the price, and we include them in the quote. Send a description of the job, dimensions and a few photos, and we will send you a quote.
Diamond drilling
| Hole diameter | Floor, €/cm | Wall, €/cm |
|---|---|---|
| 12–102 mmhole diameter | Floor0.80 €/cm20 cm deep hole ≈ €16 | Wall0.90 €/cm20 cm deep hole ≈ €18 |
| 103–162 mmhole diameter | Floor1.00 €/cm20 cm deep hole ≈ €20 | Wall1.10 €/cm20 cm deep hole ≈ €22 |
| 163–240 mmhole diameter | Floor1.55 €/cm20 cm deep hole ≈ €31 | Wall1.65 €/cm20 cm deep hole ≈ €33 |
Prices are per centimeter of drilled depth. We also drill holes larger than 240 mm in diameter, priced by agreement.
Diamond sawing
| Structure thickness | Wall or floor, €/m |
|---|---|
| up to 120 mmstructure thickness | Wall or floor12.50 €/m10 m of cut ≈ €125 |
| 121–200 mmstructure thickness | Wall or floor23 €/m10 m of cut ≈ €230 |
| 201–270 mmstructure thickness | Wall or floor36 €/m10 m of cut ≈ €360 |
| 271–370 mmstructure thickness | Wall or floor50 €/m10 m of cut ≈ €500 |
Prices are per running meter of cut. Cutting thicker structures is priced by quote.
Examples
- One 102 mm ventilation hole through a 250 mm concrete wall: €130 drilling €22.50, covered by the call-out charge
- Six 132 mm penetrations through a 300 mm concrete floor slab: €180 6 × 30 cm × €1.00/cm
- A 1000 × 2000 mm door opening in a 120 mm concrete wall: from €180
The smallest diamond job, the call-out, is €130. That is a minimum charge covering travel within roughly 50 km and the work on site: it takes in one opening, a 102 mm ventilation opening within Harju County for example, or up to three when the openings are small. For a site further away, travel kilometres are added. For larger jobs and several openings the price comes by quote, as travel and setup are then spread across more work. Prices exclude VAT. VAT is added to the final price.
Frequently asked questions
Is diamond drilling suitable for reinforced concrete?
Yes. The diamond core bit cuts through rebar, so reinforced concrete is not an obstacle. Dense reinforcement slows down the work but does not prevent it.
Does the work create a lot of dust?
With wet drilling, dust is bound by the cooling water and practically none remains in the air. For dry drilling, a vacuum cleaner is used.
Can the work be performed in an occupied building?
Yes. We cover surrounding surfaces during the work, collect the water, and clean up the debris.
How large can the openings be?
The diameter of the opening depends on the equipment and the structure. Write to us with the size of the opening you need, and we will tell you if it can be drilled or if it needs to be sawn out.
Does drilling weaken the structure?
Every opening changes how a structure functions. Small penetrations are usually not a problem, but cutting a larger opening into a load-bearing wall or ceiling must be coordinated with a structural engineer and supported if necessary.
How quickly can you come to the site?
This depends on the schedule and the location of the site. Call or write to us, and we will tell you immediately when we can come.
When is it better to drill and when to saw?
A round opening of a set diameter is drilled. An angular opening and a straight cut are sawn. For a larger opening we use both: the corners are drilled first and the edges are cut with the saw.
