Slitting walls for wiring: how to slit concrete and brick correctly

Recommendation points

• Learning to use technology
• Basic rules and restrictions
• Preparatory stage
• Tools and main methods of chipping
• Features of chasing different types of surfaces

We bring to your attention a small overview of all the available methods of chipping brick and concrete walls for wiring. We will tell you how and with what tool you can do the job, if not without noise and dust, then efficiently and professionally.

So that the room does not lose its aesthetic appearance when laying new or replacing worn out engineering communications, they are laid in man-made furrows, or grooves. In accordance with generally accepted terminology, chipping is the process of arranging vertical and horizontal technological channels in enclosing structures and partitions, in which the communication elements of water supply systems are placed, as well as electrical wiring.

In order to qualitatively implement this task, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the implementation technology, technical standards and the list of tools necessary for work. It also depends on the devices used how time-consuming this process will be. Strobing actions are carried out either at the initial stage of preparation for finishing work, or after removing all elements of the old finishing of the room.

Before starting work, it is advisable to draw up a project of the necessary work, and after their completion it will not be superfluous to photograph the communications laid in the grooves. This will help you with subsequent repairs or during the operation of the premises..

Learning to use technology

Before you start shaving, you need to study the technology in order to save yourself from unnecessary costs and labor costs. For example, unknowingly, you can make the furrows too deep, which entails costs for the material for filling them. It is also important not to forget about safety when using the tool. During the slitting process, a lot of dust and small particles are generated, which can enter the respiratory tract or eyes. Therefore, it is better not to get down to business without protective glasses, a respirator and gloves..

Basic rules and restrictions

Communications are laid in the grooves, which do not require systematic maintenance, and do not exceed 30% of the wall thickness in size.

Important! According to generally accepted building codes, the slitting of load-bearing walls and floor slabs in panel houses is prohibited, as this can worsen the load-bearing properties of the entire structure and damage the layer that protects the internal reinforcement from corrosion. In monolithic houses, the channel depth cannot reach the depth of the reinforcement.

1. It is forbidden to groove diagonally, wiring is carried out either horizontally or vertically. Tilting is allowed only in case of laying parallel to the inclined walls.
2. Horizontal slitting is performed at a distance of 15 cm from the floor slabs.
3. The distance of the vertical groove laying from the existing door and window openings and corners is at least 10 cm, and from the gas pipes – 40 cm.
4. The depth and width of the channel should be 2.5 cm, and the maximum length should be no more than three meters..
5. Only one angle of rotation of the groove is allowed from the box to the end point.
6. It is forbidden to make channels and cavities in the walls associated with the staircase-elevator node.
7. In load-bearing partitions, the strobe is laid in the shortest possible ways.

Preparatory stage

Before you take up the tool, you need to draw a wiring plan and meticulously think over the location of all the necessary wiring outlets, switches, sockets and lighting points. The scheme is needed so that later, when carrying out in-line repairs, not to damage already hidden communications. It is drawn with a special pencil directly on the plane, and then photographed or transferred to paper, and saved until the next repair. Parallel ducts are usually cut above the floor or under the ceiling, while perpendicular ducts run directly to the planned connection points and wire outlets. In this case, it is necessary to arrange the grooves so that the new wiring does not intersect with the old one. The depth of the channel is determined by the thickness of the cable, but it cannot be less than 3-4 cm. To protect the room from dust, hang the doors with old sheets, and tighten things with foil.

Important! Before starting work, the old wiring must be de-energized, and the water supply pipes must be closed. Use a special detector to find hidden wiring.

Tools and main methods of chipping

To perform the task more efficiently, the correct choice of tool is important, based on the available wall material.

Wall chaser.It is usually used by professionals, since it is suitable for almost all existing types of walls, but for one-time work, it is impractical to purchase rather expensive equipment. Alternatively, you can rent it. It looks like a grinder with two discs. The distance between them is adjustable, as is the depth of the groove itself. Pros – the strip cut with a wall chaser will be perfectly flat and the same in depth. Cons – high cost of buying or renting.

Specificity of use:

1. We carry out the markup.
2. We set the depth and cut.
3. We remove excess material with a perforator or a good chisel and hammer.

Rotary hammer with various attachments (strober, paddle and drill) or impact drill.Suitable for working with brick, plain or reinforced concrete wall. Disadvantages of the method – increased noise, uneven edges of the channels and the need to constantly moisturize the drilling site.

Process description:

1. We mark the place of future gutters.
2. Insert a drill of the right size and make many holes.
3. Change the drill to a blade and connect all holes to each other in impact mode.

Grinder with diamond and universal discs.The tool is suitable for any partitions. From additional devices you will need a chisel, hammer and puncher. Pros – high speed and accuracy of chasing, cons – a huge amount of dust, the cost of diamond discs. If the interior is reinforced, the use of a universal disc is recommended. If it hits the fittings, it is guaranteed not to fail.

Description of actions:

1. We make markings for future stripes.
2. Cutting two parallel lines.
3. Next, using a punch or chisel, knock out the inside of the channel.

Chisel and hammer.If the choice fell on a chisel, then it is recommended to use a structure with a pyramidal or blade point made of chrome-vanadium or chrome-molybdenum steel. But even with the best tools, the method will be very time consuming, and the process will be long. The exception is foam blocks or gypsum partitions..

Method description:

1. We make indentations one or two face widths.
2. We install the chisel across the groove and drive it into the wall by 7 mm with a hammer.
3. We pass along the furrow again, increasing it to the same depth.

After finishing the work, the finished furrows must be cleaned of dust and primed. Then the wires should be placed in the recess, fix them with alabaster or a dowel-clamp and carefully putty.

Features of chasing different types of surfaces

For a concrete floor, an impact drill or angle grinder is fine. It makes no sense to use a wall chaser, since you still have to clean up flaws behind it with a drill with a nozzle.

A panel wall is best done with a grinder, since reinforcement is often found in it. Flaws are cleaned up with a puncher. Diagonal grooving is inadmissible. The holes for the rosettes are drilled with 65 and 80 mm diamond core bits.

A hammer drill or grinder is perfect for a brick surface. If you have a wall chaser available, great. But before using it, even small residues of wallpaper, screws or nails must be removed from the surface so as not to clog the dust hole and damage the discs..

Video on how to properly groove walls

It should be understood that performing such work requires a certain skill and experience, but even a beginner will be able to put into practice the techniques described in the article and improve them..