Core Drilling Contractors in Melbourne: How to Choose

A good core drilling contractor scans the concrete before any bit touches it, works to a site-specific safety plan, and can explain in plain terms how each hole will be drilled, cooled, cleaned up and signed off. If a contractor can do those three things, the hole itself is the easy part. This guide covers what to ask, what to expect on site, how slab edges are handled and what drives the quote, so you can hire with confidence whether you manage a commercial fit-out or a home renovation.

TL;DR

• Hire for process, not just the drill: scanning for reinforcement and services, a written safety plan, wet cutting or dust extraction, and clear sign-off.
• In Victoria, an SWMS must be prepared before high-risk construction work, and many head contractors add their own permit and hold-point rules.
• Holes near slab edges need the position, diameter and reinforcement checked before drilling, and often an engineer’s input.
• Cost depends on hole size, depth, access, number of holes and scanning, so a site-specific quote beats any per-hole figure.
• Tell your contractor the purpose of every hole up front. It shapes the bit, the method and the paperwork.

Table of Contents

• What core drilling contractors actually do
• How to choose a core drilling contractor
• How a core hole is planned and drilled
• Core drilling near slab edges
• Safety rules that apply in Victoria
• What affects cost and timing
• How the job differs by project type
• Our perspective on hiring a core drilling contractor
• Get a quote from Vic Sawing & Drilling
• FAQ
• Sources

What core drilling contractors actually do

Core drilling cuts clean, round holes through concrete using a diamond-tipped hollow bit, which leaves a solid cylinder (the core) that is removed. Contractors use it wherever something has to pass through a slab or wall: plumbing and drainage penetrations, electrical and data risers, HVAC and exhaust openings, hold-down and anchor holes, and inspection or sampling points.

The same crews often handle the work around the hole. On many projects core drilling sits next to concrete scanning, wall sawing, wire sawing and concrete removal, because a service opening, a doorway and a slab cut-out are often part of the same package. A contractor who offers several methods can match the method to the job instead of forcing every job through a core bit.

Common uses we see across Melbourne and Victoria:

• Services penetrations: pipes, conduits and cable trays through floors and walls in new and existing buildings.
• Risers and chases: vertical and horizontal runs that connect floors.
• Ventilation and exhaust: large-diameter holes for fans, ducts and kitchen extraction.
• Anchor and fixing holes: for handrails, machinery, clotheslines, signage posts and similar items.
• Structural and testing work: cores taken for assessment, where an engineer specifies the location and size.

If you want the full detail of our own service, see our core drilling page. For jobs that involve larger or deeper holes in ground or heavy structures, our rock drilling and industrial drilling service covers that scope.

How to choose a core drilling contractor

Price matters, but the checks below separate a smooth job from one that stalls on site or damages a structure. Ask each contractor the same questions and compare the answers.

1. Do they scan before they drill?

Slabs and walls hide reinforcement, conduits, pipes and, in many buildings, post-tensioned cables. Hitting a post-tensioned cable is a serious structural and safety event, so scanning is not an optional extra. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is the common method for mapping what sits inside the concrete. Our article on the importance of GPR concrete scanning explains what the scan shows, and seven checks before drilling walks through what a careful crew confirms first.

Ask: who scans, what is scanned (the full footprint of each hole plus a margin, not just a centerpoint), and how locations are marked on the surface.

2. Will they provide a site-specific SWMS?

WorkSafe Victoria’s industry standard on safe concrete cutting and drilling states that a Safe Work Method Statement must be prepared before high-risk construction work, including work on or near electrical installations or services. A generic, copy-and-paste document is a warning sign. The SWMS should name your site, the hazards that apply to it and the controls the crew will use. We cover what to look for in six questions to ask about SWMS for concrete cutting.

3. How do they control dust and slurry?

Cutting and drilling concrete releases respirable crystalline silica unless it is controlled. SafeWork NSW’s code of practice on cutting, drilling and grinding concrete says contractors should use water suppression or dust extraction, required PPE and respiratory protection, and exclusion zones. WorkSafe Victoria’s standard adds that wet methods should supply enough water, that extraction can remove dust at the source, and that slurry should be removed before it dries.

This matters for your site too. Slurry in a carpeted office, a basement carpark or a finished home is a cleaning and drainage problem. Ask how water is contained and collected, and how the area is left.

4. Are the operators trained and the equipment maintained?

The same SafeWork NSW code expects suitable, maintained equipment run by trained and competent workers. Ask about operator training, the rigs they use (a rig that anchors firmly or vacuum-mounts correctly, with the right bit for the aggregate and reinforcement), and what insurance cover they carry. Ask to see the documents rather than relying on a verbal answer.

5. Can they work to your head contractor’s rules?

Commercial sites often add their own requirements on top of legislation. One national property group’s minimum requirements, for example, set a compulsory hold point where services and post-tensioned or prestressed cables must be located, verified and physically marked before penetration. Permits are required for work within 3 m of a known electrical, gas, water or telecommunications service, or where penetration depth exceeds 40 mm. A builder’s safety standard classifies coring and cutting as high-risk and requires a permit for penetrations of 50 mm or more into existing slabs, with the contractor’s SWMS submitted 7 days before work starts.

The thresholds differ from site to site, so ask the principal contractor or building manager for their rules before you book. A contractor used to these processes will not be surprised by them.

How a core hole is planned and drilled

A well-run job follows a repeatable sequence. Knowing it helps you judge whether a quote and a schedule are realistic.

1. Gather information. Structural drawings, the purpose of each hole, the diameter and the depth. If the building has post-tensioned slabs, say so at the start.
2. Define each hole. Set the position, size and whether it passes through a slab, a wall or a beam. Penetrations through beams, columns and other structural elements usually need engineering approval.
3. Scan. Map the area around each position and mark reinforcement, conduits, pipes and voids on the surface. Move a hole if the scan shows a conflict.
4. Permit and SWMS. Complete the safety plan and any site permits. Check the area below and behind the hole as well, so nothing is hit on the other side.
5. Set up and protect. Establish exclusion zones, secure the rig, and set up water control or extraction. Cover or protect finishes.
6. Drill. Drill with water to cool the bit and suppress dust, at the speed the bit and reinforcement call for.
7. Remove the core and clean up. Collect slurry, clean the area and check the hole for size and condition.
8. Close out. Confirm the holes against the plan and pass them to the next trade, with any sleeving, sealing or fire-stopping done by the responsible trade.

Our article on concrete drilling in tight spaces covers how this changes in plant rooms, ceilings and other restricted areas.

Core drilling near slab edges

Drilling close to a slab edge is one of the most common questions we hear, and it is a good example of why a blanket rule does not work. An edge can spall or crack when a hole is placed too close, and edges often carry concentrated reinforcement, edge beams, balcony ties or cast-in services. The right clearance depends on the hole diameter, the slab thickness, the reinforcement layout and what the slab supports.

What a careful contractor checks before drilling near an edge:

• Hole diameter against distance. Larger holes need more clearance. Ask how the proposed edge distance compares with the hole size, and whether the position can move inward.
• Reinforcement and cables. Scan the full footprint and the edge zone. Edges and slab ends are where post-tensioning anchorages and heavy reinforcement tend to concentrate.
• Slab type and load path. Balconies, cantilevers, transfer slabs and edge beams carry load differently from an internal slab. A penetration through them is a structural decision.
• Drill access and support. Rigs need a stable mounting. Near an edge, the crew may need a different anchoring method or support to keep the bit true.
• What is below. Check the space under the slab edge for people, services and facade elements, and exclude the area.

There is no single distance we would quote that is safe for every slab. If the hole is near a balcony, a basement wall, a transfer structure or any element you are unsure about, get written confirmation from the structural engineer before drilling. Send the drawings and the proposed locations to your contractor early so they can flag conflicts while moving a hole is still easy.

Safety rules that apply in Victoria

Concrete core drilling in Australia falls under the Work Health and Safety framework. SafeWork NSW’s code of practice explains that construction hazards, including silica dust and structural risks, must be managed, and typically a site-specific SWMS is needed for high-risk construction work. In Victoria, WorkSafe Victoria’s industry standard is the practical reference for cutting and drilling, and it covers SWMS, dust control, slurry and work near services.

In plain terms, you should expect a contractor to:

• Provide an SWMS that fits your site before work starts.
• Locate and verify services and structural elements before penetrating.
• Use water or extraction to control silica dust, and manage slurry.
• Set exclusion zones and use the right PPE and respiratory protection.
• Work within any permit system your site operates.

If your job involves manholes, pits or confined entries, there are further rules. Read our guide to manhole core drilling and why no entry is allowed without a permit before booking that kind of work.

What affects cost and timing

Core drilling quotes vary because the work varies. We price jobs to the site rather than publishing a per-hole rate, and these are the factors that move a quote:

• Number of holes. Setup, protection and clean-up are fixed effort, so one hole costs more per hole than twenty in the same area.
• Diameter and depth. Larger and deeper holes take longer, wear more bit and need more water and handling for the core.
• Concrete and reinforcement. Dense reinforcement or hard aggregate slows drilling.
• Access. Upper floors, basements, plant rooms, ceilings and tight spaces add setup time and may need specialist rigs.
• Scanning. A scan before drilling adds a task but removes the risk of striking a hidden service. Bundle it with the job.
• Permits and paperwork. Sites that require permits, inductions or SWMS lodgement days ahead need lead time built into the schedule.
• Out-of-hours work. Occupied buildings often require night or weekend work to limit noise and disruption.
• Cleanup and making good. Containing slurry and protecting finishes takes time, particularly indoors.

On timing, a small residential job can often be done in a single visit, while commercial work may need to follow your head contractor’s permit and program. Give your contractor the drawings, access details and hole schedule early so you can get a realistic quote and a firm date. For a quote on your project, you can request one from us directly.

How the job differs by project type

Residential clients tend to need clear communication about mess, noise and timing. Commercial clients need documentation and coordination with other trades. Industrial clients need capacity: larger rigs, deeper holes and short shutdown windows. If your job combines drilling with openings or removal, ask for a single scope that includes wall sawing or concrete removal so one crew can sequence the work.

Our perspective on hiring a core drilling contractor

We have worked on small domestic jobs and large commercial construction projects across Melbourne and Victoria, and the pattern is consistent: the jobs that go well are the ones planned before the rig arrives.

Our approach is built on licensed and qualified operators, advanced equipment and strict adherence to OH&S standards. We scan first, agree each hole’s purpose, diameter and position with you, and work to a safety plan that fits your site. That is how we aim to give you a safe, clean outcome without surprises.

Because we also offer scanning, wall sawing, wire sawing, rock drilling and concrete removal, we can recommend the right method for the job rather than adapting the job to one tool. If a hole is near a slab edge or a structural element, we will tell you what we need from your engineer before we start.

Send us your drawings and hole schedule, and we will tell you what the job involves and how we would run it.

MYBMC

Get a quote from Vic Sawing & Drilling

We provide core drilling, concrete scanning and related cutting services for commercial, industrial and residential projects across Melbourne and Victoria. Tell us the number of holes, the diameter, the slab type and the access, and we will plan the scan, safety documents and drilling around your site.

See our core drilling service or contact us through our main site for a free quote.

FAQ

Do I need a scan before core drilling?

Yes, for almost any hole in structural concrete. A scan maps reinforcement, conduits, pipes and post-tensioned cables so the hole can be positioned away from them. Many commercial sites make verified and marked locations a condition of work before penetration.

Is a SWMS required for core drilling in Victoria?

WorkSafe Victoria’s industry standard says an SWMS must be prepared before high-risk construction work, including work on or near electrical installations or services. Your contractor should supply one specific to your site, and your head contractor may want it submitted days before work starts.

How close to a slab edge can you core drill?

It depends on the hole diameter, slab thickness, reinforcement and what the slab supports, so there is no single safe distance. Scan the edge zone and have a structural engineer confirm positions near balconies, cantilevers, edge beams and basement walls before drilling.

What should a core drilling quote include?

A useful quote lists the number, diameter and depth of holes, scanning, access assumptions, working hours, slurry and dust control, and the safety documents provided. Sending drawings and photos with your enquiry makes the quote more accurate.

Can the same contractor do the cutting and removal around the holes?

Often yes. A contractor that offers wall sawing, wire sawing and concrete removal as well as core drilling can plan these tasks as one scope, which reduces handovers and site visits.

Sources

• SafeWork NSW: Working safely when cutting, drilling and grinding concrete
• WorkSafe Victoria: Safe concrete cutting and drilling industry standard
• Mirvac: Coring, boring and concrete cutting minimum requirements
• Baseline Projects: Penetration, coring and concrete cutting standard

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• Core Drilling – Concrete Core Drilling Melbourne
• Concrete Drilling Melbourne: Top Rated Concrete Drilling Company
• Clean Concrete Cuts with Precision Core Drilling
• Core Drilling Basics: A Beginner’s Guide