cutting a passageway in cinderblock
I added an addition to my 1730’s house a few years ago. The old foundation is a combo of everything, including cinderblock along the wall where the new addition’s basement was added. Now I’m getting around to cutting a passageway between the old and new. Here’s my problem….
I’m guessing the cinderblock is hollow as it was installed about 50 years ago by excavating the crawlspace under the house to create the basement. I’m starting the passageway where a casement window on the old foundation is. The casement is butted up against the timber that suports the floor. If I remove the window and start plumb cuts from the resulting opening with a masonry blade in a circular saw I can get within about 6 inches from the floor.
What’s the best way to continue the cut to the floor? Is there a cinderblock cutting blade for sawzalls? Or do I have to chisel it out by hand?
Replies
if this is really cinder block and not concrete block, it is really very soft. The last few inches should be no problem for hammer and chisel.
A small angle grinder with a diamond blade will get to within an inch or two -- you could do the whole thing with the grinder in fact.
Either way. it's no problem to score & cut the last bit of concrete or cinder block with a hammer & chisel.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
thanks - I'll give it a tryArt
Hilti makes a sawzall blade for cinder block, never tried it but it looks pretty cool. No picture on the web site, but they have them at their stores.