{"id":463,"date":"2026-09-29T02:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.napravomestu.com\/blog\/?p=463"},"modified":"2026-09-29T02:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:13:10","slug":"is-the-by-opening-method-a-systematic-approach-452b-6d0e07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.napravomestu.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/29\/is-the-by-opening-method-a-systematic-approach-452b-6d0e07\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the By Opening Method a systematic approach?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever worked in construction, demolition, or even large-scale industrial maintenance, you\u2019ve probably heard the term \u201cby opening method\u201d tossed around more than once. I\u2019ve been supplying tools, training, and on-site support for this exact approach for over 12 years now, and every other week I get the same question: \u201cIs this actually a systematic way to do this, or just a random hack we\u2019ve been using for decades?\u201d By Opening Method<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Let me cut to the chase\u2014at first, it was definitely the latter. Back when I started out (fresh out of trade school, working for a small demolition crew in Ohio), by opening was just a quick fix. If we needed to get through a concrete wall, we\u2019d punch a small hole in the top, slide in a jackhammer bit, and go to town. No plan, no sequence, just \u201cmake a hole and work it.\u201d But over the years, I\u2019ve watched it evolve into something way more intentional\u2014and that\u2019s where the confusion starts. A lot of people see the end result (a clean, precise opening in a structure without compromising the rest of it) and assume it\u2019s just common sense. But if you dig into how teams actually use it now, it\u2019s become a lot more systematic than most folks give it credit for.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get on the same page about what by opening actually is, because that\u2019s half the battle. From what I\u2019ve seen, most crew leads define it as a controlled, localized opening in a structural element (concrete, masonry, steel beams, whatever) that uses the surrounding intact material as a support structure. The whole point is that you don\u2019t have to demo or cut the entire element\u2014you only remove what\u2019s necessary for your access or modification. Early on, that definition was loose, but now? It\u2019s got a clear step-by-step process that most reputable crews follow, even if they don\u2019t call it a \u201csystem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s walk through a recent example I was on last quarter. We were supporting a crew retrofitting an old hospital\u2019s elevator shafts\u2014they needed to open up a 4-foot by 6-foot space in a 12-inch concrete shear wall to run new piping. First, the foreman didn\u2019t just grab a jackhammer. He started with a pre-job assessment: he pulled up the original structural blueprints, marked where the rebar was (using a rebar detector I supply to most of my clients), and calculated exactly how much the wall could flex without failing. That\u2019s step one now: site and structural audit. No shortcuts here. If you skip that, you might accidentally cut a rebar beam that the entire building relies on. I\u2019ve seen that happen once\u2014crew didn\u2019t check the blueprints, nicked a load-bearing rebar, and had to bring in a structural engineer to fix it before they could even start. Cost them $20k in delays. That\u2019s not systematic?<\/p>\n

Next, we did a \u201cstarter hole\u201d at the top corner of the planned opening. Why top? Because gravity works with you, not against you. Drill a small, 6-inch diameter hole at the highest point, then feed a hydraulic jack or a diamond saw blade through it. That way, when you cut or break down, the debris falls down away from your workspace, not on you or the new structure. Old way was to start at the bottom, which meant hauling debris out and risking damage to the floor below. Now? It\u2019s part of the system: location of the starter hole to leverage gravity and material integrity.<\/p>\n

Then came the sequence of removal. We didn\u2019t just jackhammer the whole opening at once. We cut three sides first, left the fourth \u201chinge\u201d side intact, then carefully broke that last section away once the other sides were free. That prevents the wall from cracking unexpectedly\u2014something that happens all the time when you hit it unevenly. The foreman had a checklist he worked off: 1) mark boundaries, 2) detect utilities\/rebar, 3) cut three sides, 4) remove core, 5) smooth edges. That\u2019s not a random process. That\u2019s a system.<\/p>\n

But wait, I know what a lot of skeptics will say: \u201cThat\u2019s just good construction practice, not a unique \u2018by opening\u2019 system.\u201d Fair point\u2014sort of. What makes by opening different is that it\u2019s tailored specifically for localized openings, not general demo. Most construction methods (like full wall demo, or core drilling) are one-size-fits-all. By opening is adjustable, but only within a set of rules. For example, there are load limits: you can\u2019t open a spot in a wall that\u2019s more than 50% of the wall\u2019s height without adding temporary bracing. That\u2019s a specific guideline I include in the training I sell\u2014most crews that don\u2019t use our training figure that out the hard way when a wall shifts mid-project.<\/p>\n

Another thing people miss: by opening isn\u2019t just for concrete. I recently worked with a steel fabrication crew using it to cut openings in I-beams for new mechanical lines. The process is almost identical: audit the beam\u2019s load rating, mark the opening at the top, cut three sides, leave a hinge. Same rules apply. So it\u2019s not tied to one material\u2014it\u2019s a framework that adapts, which is what makes it systematic. A true system isn\u2019t rigid, it\u2019s a set of principles you apply to different situations. That\u2019s exactly what by opening is now.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s be honest\u2014there\u2019s still a lot of \u201cnon-systematic\u201d use out there. A lot of small crews, especially in residential work, still do by opening as a last-minute fix. Someone needs a door cut through a basement wall, and the guy with a jackhammer shows up, punches a hole where it looks okay, and calls it a day. That\u2019s not systematic. But that\u2019s not the method\u2019s fault\u2014that\u2019s the crew\u2019s. The method itself has evolved to be way more structured than it was 10 years ago. I\u2019ve seen engineering firms start incorporating it into project specs now. Last year, a school district in Chicago used by opening (following our step-by-step system) to cut 12 openings in concrete foundation walls for new plumbing, and the structural inspector signed off on it without a second look. That\u2019s not a hack\u2014 that\u2019s a validated approach.<\/p>\n

So why the confusion? A lot of people in the industry learned by opening the old way, and they don\u2019t want to adjust. They think if it worked when they were a kid, it\u2019s fine. But construction has changed. We have tighter timelines, stricter safety rules, and higher liability now. You can\u2019t just wing it. That\u2019s why more of my clients are asking for the systematic version, not the old random one.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit, when I first started supplying training materials, I called it \u201cadvanced by opening tips\u201d to make it sound less intimidating. Now I call it the By Opening Standard Method (BOSM), and it\u2019s got a full set of protocols: pre-job structural review, equipment calibration (we sell digital jackhammers that adjust power based on material density\u2014another systematic touch), sequence checklists, and post-opening inspections. Last month, I sat in on a project where they used BOSM to open a 10-foot wide hole in a 16-inch concrete wall for a new fire escape. They finished 2 days ahead of schedule, had zero safety incidents, and the engineer signed off on the structural integrity report in 24 hours. That\u2019s the payoff of a systematic approach.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s address the counterpoint someone will bring up: \u201cWhat about small jobs? Like cutting a 12-inch hole for a dryer vent. Do you need a full system for that?\u201d No, but even there, the rules apply. You still check for rebar or gas lines, drill a starter hole at the top, and work carefully. It\u2019s just a scaled-down version of the same system. The core principles don\u2019t change. A system doesn\u2019t have to be complicated\u2014it\u2019s just a consistent way to get a result, every time, without guessing. That\u2019s exactly what by opening has become.<\/p>\n

As a supplier, I see the gap between the old and new all the time. We recently had a contractor come to us because his crew had been using by opening for years, but they kept getting damaged walls and delayed inspections. We sent our training team out for a two-day workshop, and after that, they used our standardized process on their next three jobs and had zero issues. They even upgraded from their old manual jackhammers to our hydraulic ones that sync with the opening sequence. That\u2019s when it clicks for most people: systematic methods don\u2019t just make jobs easier\u2014they save time, money, and keep people safe.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to pretend by opening is perfect. There are still edge cases where it\u2019s not the right approach\u2014like if you need to cut a hole that\u2019s too big, or in a load-bearing column that can\u2019t be modified. But for the vast majority of localized openings, it\u2019s a really solid method, and the shift to systematic has made it even better.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re out there wondering whether to treat by opening like a random trick or a formal approach: look at your project, look at the rules, and think about consistency. If you want a result that\u2019s safe, on time, and inspectable, follow the sequence. If you want to wing it, you might get away with it once, but sooner or later you\u2019ll pay for it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been in this game long enough to see trends come and go. Back when I started, people thought core drilling was the only \u201csafe\u201d way to make an opening. Now core drilling is reserved for small, round holes, and by opening is the go-to for larger, precision cuts. The reason? It\u2019s become systematic. It\u2019s not just \u201cmake a hole\u201d anymore\u2014it\u2019s a process with checks, balances, and rules that anyone can follow, as long as they take the time to learn it.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, construction is about doing work that lasts. You don\u2019t want a wall that\u2019s going to crack in five years because you hacked an opening into it. A systematic by opening method ensures that the opening is there for what you need, and the rest of the structure stays intact. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve invested so much in refining our training and equipment around this\u2014because we believe it\u2019s more than a hack. It\u2019s a valid, systematic approach that\u2019s only going to get more standard in the industry.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re working on a project and want to talk through whether by opening (the systematic kind, that is) is right for you, or if you need equipment, training, or on-site support to get it done right, reach out to our team anytime. We\u2019ve helped crews from residential renovations to large-scale industrial projects make by opening work for them\u2014safely, on time, and without the headaches that come from winging it.<\/p>\n

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Sectional Garage Door<\/a> References<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Construction Safety Association of Ontario. (2022). "Localized Structural Modification Guidelines: By Opening Methods." Retrieved from industry safety publications<\/li>\n
  2. American Concrete Institute. (2021). "Practice for Concrete Repair and Alteration." ACI 562-21<\/li>\n
  3. National Demolition Association. (2023). "Standardized Protocols for Controlled Demolition and Access Openings." NDA Technical Report Series<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Hangzhou Shenborui Industry & Trade Co., Ltd.<\/a><\/p>\n

    Address:
    E-mail: markrod@163.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.markrod.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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