I have a slab that is square but the sides are not stright. When I lay down my bottom plate, I have concrete that sticks out. So when I put my siding on it won’t go pass my bottom plate. My question is, is it alright to cut or trim this concrete. It is not much. Thanks Tim
Skim-coating with joint compound covers texture, renews old drywall and plaster, and leaves smooth surfaces ready to paint.
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Replies
I would remove it. You want your siding to extend below the sill to keep water from finding a way in.
Have fun,
Jeff
hang your plate over the edge and make the building a bit larger. It's far less work.
If you do want to saw it, I've had pretty good luck using a "Plank Cutter" diamond blade for occasional cutting of masonry blocks and for the situation you describe. They're 7 1/4 inch, fit a skill saw, cost about $19 and hold up surprisingly well. They're intended use is for cutting FC board.
I doubt if they're designed for that use, but I've used one in a pinch to miter or notch concrete block, trim foundations, etc. Otherwise, use a diamond masonry blade....about $39 and handy to have around anyway.
Some people would bitch even if they were hung with a new rope.
Cut off the worst of it like Notchman says, and overhang the rest of it like Cal says.
-- J.S.
Question: I have used one of those cheap black masonry blades in the past and was very happy with the results from a $3 blade. I even put it on a cheap tablesaw and cut slate tiles.
Is a diamond blade worth the $40?
My experience with the black cheap blades has not been good. Whether to invest $19 for a plank cutter or $ 40 for a diamond blade is up to you. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been pleasantly surprized by the life I got out of the Plank Cutter. Some people would bitch even if they were hung with a new rope.
Harb. Frt. has $4 diamond blades occasionally, have worked good for me. One of their 7-1/4" $12 diamond blades cut 2.63" deep thru old concrete slab 4 ft long in 5 minutes. They are cheap 'cause there's only a diamond chip every 1/8-1/4", but they do cut well.
If it's going to be covered with siding, just chip it away, a cheap bit in an air impact hammer will make short work of it with a rough surface that you're going to cover anyway.
The $40 diamond blade will last longer and cut more than $40 worth of the $3 blades. But that's a whole lot of cutting. If you're doing a lot, go for the diamond blade. If you really only need to do a $3 blade's worth of cutting, then that's the way to go.
-- J.S.