Cutting Control Joints

What happens here

After the concrete has set and achieved sufficient strength (typically within 12-24 hours after pouring, but depending on conditions), specialized saws are used to cut 'control joints' (also known as contraction joints) into the surface of the slab. The narrator shows a 'Husqvarna' brand concrete saw, which precisely cuts lines into the concrete. These lines are intentionally placed to create weakened planes in the concrete, encouraging any shrinkage cracks that may occur during the curing process to follow these lines rather than cracking randomly across the slab, thus maintaining a more uniform appearance.

Goal: Prevent random cracking in the concrete slab by guiding shrinkage cracks