Published 7 October 2026 · 2 min read
Demolition and alteration work in concrete uses a handful of methods. Choosing the wrong one costs time, creates avoidable noise and vibration, and can fail a consultant's review. This guide explains what each method does and what decides the choice on a project site.
Concrete breaking
Hydraulic breakers, fitted to excavators (or hand-held for small areas), remove concrete by percussion. They are usually the quickest way to take out large volumes of slab, wall or foundation, but they create noise and vibration, so they are not always permitted.
Core drilling
A diamond core bit cuts clean round holes through concrete, for services, anchors or inspection openings. It is precise and low in vibration, and it uses cooling water that leaves slurry to be managed.
Wall, floor and slab sawing
Diamond saws, which also use cooling water, cut straight, controlled lines for openings, joints and sections that must be removed. They suit work where the remaining edges must stay clean and neighbouring structure must not be disturbed.
Wire sawing and hydraulic splitters
Where percussive breaking is restricted, for example near sensitive structures, thick sections can be cut with a wire saw or split with hydraulic splitters. Both are slower than breaking, but they produce far less vibration.
What decides the method
- Noise and vibration limits set by the consultant or the authority.
- How close the work is to live roads, occupied buildings and sensitive structures.
- The thickness and reinforcement of the element, and whether it is load-bearing, which needs the engineer's review and temporary support before cutting.
- Scanning for reinforcement and embedded services before coring or sawing.
- Access: whether a machine can reach it.
- Whether part of the structure stays in use.
- How dust, water and waste will be handled.
- The programme.
What the method statement should show
Our guide to what a demolition method statement covers goes through the rest of the document.
- The method chosen for each element, and why.
- The plant to be used.
- The exclusion zone and the dust, noise and vibration controls, with monitoring where the consultant requires it.
- How debris is lowered, sorted and removed.
Working with Bariq Arabia
Bariq Arabia carries out concrete breaking, coring and sawing as part of demolition scopes on project sites in Riyadh. Send the location, the structure type and the thickness of the elements involved to Info@bariqsa.com or through the contact page and we respond within 24 hours.