No matter what you do, concrete will crack, but you can control where cracks happen. Concrete control joints are deliberate cuts you make in concrete to dictate where the cracks will appear. Cutting the concrete control joints is done with concrete saws. If you have an upcoming concrete project, check out these three types of saws you can use.

Early-Entry Saws

The biggest advantage of an early-entry saw is that it allows you to start making control joints sooner than any other saw, so you are sure to prevent unwanted cracking. The reason you can start cutting so soon is that early-entry saws are lightweight and have an anti-ravel skid plate. With other saws, cutting too soon leads to chipping along the control joint (raveling). An early-entry saw allows you to start cutting within about 1 to 4 hours or as soon as you can walk on the concrete without damaging it.

Wet-Cut Saws

If you choose a wet-cut saw, you can't start cutting until about 4 to 12 hours, which can be dangerous because the longer you wait, the greater the risk of unwanted cracks. However, wet-cut saws have their own advantages over other types of saws. They spray water as they cut, which reduces friction on the blade to reduce damage. Because they spray water, wet-cut saws also do a better job of controlling concrete dust, which contains dangerous silica. The water causes the dust to clump together, making it harder for you to inhale. For these two reasons, wet-cut saws are a safer option to prevent damage and reduce health risks.

Dry-Cut Saws

Dry-cut saws are the third option to consider, but they are the worst choice because they don't really have any advantages over the other two types of saws. Like wet-cut saws, you have to wait about 4 to 12 hours, but they don't spray water to reduce friction. If you do choose a dry-cut saw, however, take multiple shallow cuts to reduce friction manually. Also, make sure you use the appropriate protective gear and keep dust out of the air to prevent inhaling silica, which can lead to serious lung complications.

All three of these saws will get the job done, but early-entry saws and wet-cut saws have some advantages over dry-cut saws. If you are ready to get started on your concrete project, contact a reputable concrete company in your local area today.