Concrete Cutting for Multi-Family Housing & Apartments

Multi-family housing construction and renovation in Massachusetts involves extensive concrete cutting due to the reinforced concrete and masonry construction methods common in apartment buildings, condominiums, and mixed-use residential properties. Concrete floor slabs, block walls, poured concrete shear walls, and concrete stairwells all require cutting when plumbing systems are upgraded, HVAC distribution is modified, fire suppression systems are installed, or individual units are renovated. REDCORE provides the concrete cutting services that multi-family housing projects demand, with occupied building methods that control noise, vibration, and dust for residents who remain in the building during construction.

Plumbing system work drives much of the concrete cutting in multi-family buildings. Vertical plumbing stacks serving multiple floors require core-drilled penetrations through each concrete floor slab they pass through. Horizontal drain lines and water supply piping within individual units require slab cutting for access and routing. When aging cast iron stacks are replaced, the existing penetrations often need enlargement, and new penetrations are required where the replacement piping follows a different path. Bathroom and kitchen renovations in individual units regularly require slab cutting for drain line relocation and fixture repositioning. REDCORE coordinates with plumbing contractors to ensure every penetration is correctly sized and positioned for the pipe diameter and connection type specified.

HVAC system upgrades in multi-family buildings present similar concrete cutting challenges. Converting a building from individual window units or baseboard heat to a central or mini-split system requires penetrations through exterior walls, floor slabs, and chase walls for refrigerant lines, ductwork, and condensate drainage. Fire suppression system installations in buildings being brought up to current code require core drilling through every floor slab and many walls to route sprinkler system piping throughout the structure.

Working in occupied multi-family buildings requires a level of consideration that vacant-building construction does not. REDCORE uses electric-powered saws and drills with HEPA dust collection to minimize noise, eliminate exhaust fumes, and control dust. We communicate with property managers about scheduling, coordinate access through common areas, and protect hallways, lobbies, and finished surfaces throughout the work area.