Cutting a hole in concrete wall

upinsmoke

Hi, starting a basement project (isn't everyone) and need to cut a hole - preferably round - in the poured walls for a gas heating stove vent to the outside. The walls are 9 feet, the house is 25 x 40 and 1 1/2 stories and it's in western North Carolina. I have several questions:

My walls are close to perfect - dry and mostly, crack free - am I likely to cause myself misery by cutting into the concrete?

If no - how do you go about doing it? Is there a saw that bores concrete and rebar?

Is rebar located the same place in all walls - like by code or general practice?

How close to the top of the wall can I safely go?

Thanks,
Rick

GardenConcepts

You'll probably want to hire a contractor to do this with a core bit drill. It is like a hole saw, but diamond-tipped. There are contractors who specialize in just cutting- asphalt and concrete.

If you diy, you'll need to find a rental yard that specializes in industrial equipment and they will charge you for the wear on the core drill bit. For one hole, you'll probably be better off hiring someone.

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Chris

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Just Bill

What he said, or consider going thru the rim joist. That requires some fire shielding, but is a lot easier.

tpolk

lottsa rebar in the wall. can you elbow line like suggested?

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The older I get the better I was

upinsmoke

Thanks for the comments. Nice to know when to call in a pro. The house is in a very small town so my choices of professionals may be limited. I also have one stud width of framed wall (where the slider is) that is a possibility. However, in talking with the stove people - the proximity of the vent to the edge of the glass may be too close for the manufacturer's recommended clearances. I'll check that before boring. Thanks again