How Long Does Core Cutting Take? Realistic Timelines

A single core hole for a plumbing or AC pipe typically takes 20 to 45 minutes of actual cutting time once the machine is set up, but the total job, including mobilisation, setup and cleanup, is usually a half-day minimum for a site visit. Larger jobs scale very differently: a full wall opening for a door might take half a day, a slab opening for a staircase can take one to three days including propping, and a multi-floor lift shaft can run two to four weeks. The honest answer to 'how long will this take' is always 'it depends on what's being cut and what's around it', but this article gives you real ranges to plan against.

Most delays we see on real jobs come from factors outside the cutting itself: waiting on structural approvals, discovering embedded rebar or services that need rerouting, restricted working hours in RWA societies, or simply access logistics in high-rise buildings. Understanding these upfront helps you build a realistic project schedule instead of assuming cutting is a same-day task for everything.

Below we break down typical durations by job type, based on work across Gurugram sites from Sector 56 apartments to Sohna Road commercial buildings, and the factors that push a job from the fast end of the range to the slow end.

Timeline by job type

What happens before cutting even starts

The cutting day itself is rarely the first day of the job. For anything beyond a simple hole, expect this sequence to run beforehand:

1. 1Site visit and measurement, usually same week as enquiry
2. 2Structural assessment if the opening affects a load-bearing element, adding 3-7 days depending on engineer availability; see our structural approval guide
3. 3Utility/rebar scanning, usually done on the mobilisation day itself for straightforward jobs
4. 4Building or RWA permit approval for commercial towers or gated societies, adding 2-5 days
5. 5Equipment and crew scheduling, typically 2-4 days lead time depending on our current workload

If your timeline is tight, telling us upfront lets us prioritise scheduling, but structural approval steps genuinely cannot be rushed without risking safety, and we won't cut load-bearing elements without sign-off regardless of deadline pressure.

Factors that extend a job beyond the typical range

• Unexpected heavy rebar density requiring more blade changes and slower cutting speed
• Discovering an embedded service (electrical conduit, old plumbing) that needs rerouting before cutting can continue
• Restricted working hours, common in residential societies (often 9am-1pm and 3pm-6pm windows) or after-hours-only commercial permits
• Poor access requiring equipment to be carried up stairs when lifts are unavailable or too small
• Weather, particularly monsoon conditions affecting wet-cutting runoff management; see our monsoon waterproofing guide for related timing considerations
• Debris removal logistics in high-rise buildings with limited service lift slots

Can core cutting be done same-day?

For simple, non-structural jobs like a single core hole through a non-load-bearing wall for a pipe or cable, yes, we can often do a site visit and cutting on the same day if our schedule allows and there's no need for structural review. This is common for routine plumbing or split-AC installation work. Anything involving a load-bearing wall, slab or beam should never be treated as a same-day job regardless of how simple it looks, since skipping the assessment step is exactly how cracks and structural problems happen.

People often ask us to 'just cut it today.' For a single non-structural hole, sometimes we can. For anything touching a slab or load-bearing wall, rushing the assessment is the one shortcut we won't take.

How to plan your project timeline around cutting

If core cutting is one step in a larger renovation or fit-out programme, build in buffer time specifically for the approval and scanning steps rather than assuming the cutting duration alone. A useful rule of thumb: for any structural opening, add 5-10 working days ahead of your target cutting date for assessment, permits and scheduling, on top of the actual cutting duration shown in the table above.

A simple planning checklist

• Confirm whether the element being cut is load-bearing (if unsure, ask us or an engineer before assuming)
• Get structural sign-off in parallel with other renovation planning, not after everything else is finalised
• Confirm RWA or building permit requirements early, especially for weekend/after-hours work
• Schedule debris removal logistics (lift slots, disposal) alongside the cutting date
• Build a few days of buffer for weather or unexpected site conditions

Get a realistic timeline for your job

Every site is different, and the fastest way to get an accurate schedule is a site visit rather than guessing from a floor plan. Contact us with your job details and we'll give you a realistic start-to-finish timeline, or check our services page for the full scope of work we handle.