serving London and the South East of England — professional, dust-controlled joint cutting by an experienced, accredited specialist contractor.
in a hurry? Call us now: 📞 020 3286 3428 / 01424 720259
Or visit us at diamonddrillinguk.com
When a data centre in Slough needed precision fixing holes drilled for the base of its standby back-up generators, they called in Diamond Drilling UK Ltd. Our team drilled 16 holes at 35mm diameter to a depth of 350mm through reinforced concrete — clean, accurate and to tolerance, on an active construction site. Here's how we did it, and why bringing in a specialist diamond drilling contractor is the right call for critical work like this.
Need a diamond drilling contractor in Slough or the South of England?
The job at a glance
Location Data centre, Slough, Berkshire
Service Diamond core drilling
Holes drilled 16 no. holes
Diameter 35mm
Depth 350mm
Substrate Reinforced concrete (R/C)
Purpose Fixing holes for the base/plinth supporting the standby back-up generators
Environment Active construction site — controlled dust and slurry
Why data centres in Slough rely on precision drilling
Slough is one of the largest data centre hubs in Europe, with the Slough Trading Estate home to a dense cluster of facilities. These sites run 24/7, and their standby generators are mission-critical — they keep servers online during any interruption to mains power. That makes the concrete base those generators sit on a serious piece of engineering.
The generator base has to be fixed down accurately and securely. If the anchor holes are out of position, off-depth, or damaged, the base won't seat correctly and the holding-down fixings won't achieve their rated strength. On plant that vibrates and runs under load, that's not something you get wrong. This is exactly the kind of work where diamond drilling earns its place.
How we approached the works
Clean cutting through reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete means rebar. Percussion or hammer drilling struggles the moment it meets steel — bits snap, holes wander, and the surrounding concrete gets damaged. Diamond core drilling cuts straight through both concrete and rebar cleanly, leaving a precise, smooth-walled hole ready to take a resin or mechanical anchor.
Accuracy across all 16 holes
Fixing holes for a generator base have to match the template — position and depth. We set out carefully and held a consistent 350mm depth across all 16 holes so every fixing seats properly and the base is fully supported. Consistency matters as much as any single hole.
Controlled dust and slurry on a busy site
This work was carried out while the data centre was still under construction, so we were on site alongside other trades and working to the build programme. We control slurry and dust at source, keep the work area clean and tidy for the follow-on trades, and coordinate around everyone else on site. Diamond drilling is also near vibration-free, which protects the newly built structure and keeps disruption to other contractors to a minimum.
Why you should get a professional diamond drilling contractor in
● Precision and tolerance — accurate hole position, diameter and depth so fixings perform as designed.
● Cuts cleanly through rebar — no shattered concrete, no wandering holes, no structural damage.
● Near vibration-free — safe to use around live plant, sensitive equipment and occupied buildings.
● Dust and slurry control — essential in data centres, hospitals, and other clean or occupied environments.
● Structural awareness — trained operators who understand what they're drilling into and how to protect the slab.
● Health, safety and compliance — full RAMS, safe systems of work, trained operatives and proper insurance.
Trying to tackle this with general power tools risks damaged concrete, inaccurate fixings, wasted time and — on a project like a data centre build — delays to the programme. A specialist gets it right first time, safely and cleanly.
Frequently asked questions
What is diamond core drilling?
Diamond core drilling uses a hollow drill bit tipped with industrial diamond segments to cut precise, round holes through concrete, reinforced concrete, brick, stone and masonry. It removes a clean core rather than smashing through the material, so it's accurate and low-impact.
Can you drill through reinforced concrete?
Yes. Diamond bits cut through the rebar within reinforced concrete without damaging the surrounding structure — one of the main reasons diamond drilling is the professional choice for anchor and fixing holes.
How deep and wide can you drill?
We drill a huge range of diameters and depths to suit the job — from small fixing holes like the 35mm x 350mm holes on this Slough project, up to large-diameter cores for services, drainage and structural openings. Tell us what you need and we'll advise.
Do you work on construction sites and in occupied buildings?
We do — from active construction sites like this data centre build through to live data centres, hospitals, commercial premises and occupied buildings. We plan the works around your programme, control dust and slurry, and work to full RAMS.
Which areas do you cover?
We're based in the South East with a London office and cover most of the South of England — see the areas below.
Areas we cover
Diamond Drilling UK Ltd operates right across the South of England, including:
● Berkshire — Slough, Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Windsor, Newbury
● Greater London — Central London, Hatton Garden, and all London boroughs
● Buckinghamshire — Milton Keynes, High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Amersham
● Surrey — Guildford, Woking, Kingston, Epsom, Staines
● Kent — Maidstone, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Dartford, Canterbury
● East Sussex — Hastings, St Leonards-on-Sea, Eastbourne, Brighton, Bexhill
● West Sussex — Crawley, Horsham, Worthing, Chichester
● Hampshire — Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Winchester
● Oxfordshire — Oxford, Banbury, Bicester
● Hertfordshire — Watford, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans
● Dorset — Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth
● Essex — Chelmsford, Basildon, Colchester
About Diamond Drilling UK Ltd
Diamond Drilling UK Ltd is a specialist diamond drilling, concrete cutting and Brokk robotic demolition contractor. We deliver precise, controlled cutting and drilling for construction, data centres, commercial and industrial clients across London and the South East. From single fixing holes to major structural cutting, our trained operators bring the right equipment, method and experience to every job — and we work to full method statements and risk assessments as standard.
The Slough data-centre generator base is one of many precision drilling projects we deliver on construction sites and in sensitive environments across the South East. When accuracy, cleanliness and reliability matter, that experience is what you're paying for.
Get a Quote from Diamond Drilling UK Ltd
Specialist diamond drilling, concrete cutting & Brokk robotic demolition across the South of England.
Diamond Drilling UK Ltd 📞 020 3286 3428 / 01424 720259
📧 info@diamonddrillinguk.com
🌐 www.diamonddrillinguk.com
East Sussex Office: 215 Harley Shute Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 9JJ London Office: Unit 34, 67–68 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8JY
For diamond drilling across the South East — there is only one call to make.
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