I need to install a window in my basement foundation.. poured foundation 10 inches thick not 8.. iv got a concrete saw.. any tips or tricks to make this less painful.. Besides paying someone lol.. I’m sure I can figure it out but would like any tips... never done this before and don’t want to mess it up and make more work for me thanks

Proximity to the ground or your sill will likely dictate how troublesome the job will be. Right up just under the sill?

Yes, I’ll have to dig it out, put a window well in with a drain. That’s no big deal.. it’s the cutting of the concrete I’m worried about.. getting it square... and making the cutting part easy.. or at least less painful

Rent one of these. Your job will be much easier.

You buy the blade $300, and you rent the saw
But watch out for rebar blades can get dull quick when you hit it.
And it will make a wet mess. Have fun

That's just what I was thinking. Getting your marks the same on both sides of the wall will be the toughest part of the job. What kind of saw are you using? I've done it with gas powered and electric saws. You can do it.

Cut bigger than you think you need, you can always add additional framing, and plan on lots of dust or water depending on saw

Been a while since I’ve done it, but it’s messy and physically tough sometimes


Unless new blades/tools have made it easier

Sthil concrete saw and there re bar in it

And be CAREFUL of the slab when you get it out, it’s A LOT OF WEIGHT

Circular dry diamond blade?

That’s was my next problem, it would probably fall in to the basement.. at that point I’d probably just leave it in the basement

Drill thru the foundation as true as you can at the corners, then connect the dots on both sides of the wall. Oversize of course so you can frame/shim your opening down for the window.

Osky

I had 2 done this week on a home, up here it runs 1700.00 all in window and window well included per opening.

Osky

I don’t know what kind of blade is the best... I’m not a concrete man... I do have a saw though...

Score it and break it up into several small parts. You'll likely wind up doing that anyway. Osky had a good idea and whoever said it was going to be wet or dusty depending on the type of saw you're using was right. There's no getting away from it.

I stopped by my neighbors today he had one put in last year, window, well, drainage, they charged him 8 grand.. window was large... like 4 foot tall.. he had a bed room in the basement.. so it had to be bigger Incase of a fire

A buddy of mine had a big Bosch electric saw that took a fairly large diameter dry diamond blade. It was a mankiller. The gyro effect took several seconds to stabilize before you could even get the saw near the mark on whatever it was you were cutting.


You could do it with a much smaller saw, it will just require more cuts.

Joe..we have to have the bottom of the opening I believe no more than 44 inches from the basement floor. If the outside window well is then more than 44 inches from inside bottom up to surface level you have to have a ladder in the whindow well.

I did not have drainage put in, didn't need it. Finished and done today I paid 3450.00 all in for both. 8" wall had to be cut.

Osky

Are you using a wall mounted saw or free-handing it?

I have the same type of saw Posco tho I didn't use it. Mine is a 14 inch and when you hit that trigger it tries to climb and weave in all directions.
that big diamond blade will cut some serious concrete .

Osky

I subbed these windows out, I didn't do any of the work. I haven't used my big electric saw in years. Years ago I owned a commercial construction company that specialized in commercial food processing. No gas driven equipment in existing buildings, so I had some of the craziest equipment made to run on electric. I kept a few tools when I sold out.

Osky

This is my why I’m doing this, my wood stove is in the front of my house in the basement... now I have to either walk the wood down the bilco doors in the basement or throw it down and walk it to where I stack my wood. The bilco doors are in back of house.. it’s prob a 40 foot walk or I load it on a hand cart.. I want to put a window in closer to where i stack it... I did this at my sisters house but it’s a block foundation.. i than have a metal 12 foot slide.. I put the slide on saw horses and slide the wood down..it works well at my sisters.