Cutting into a concrete slab can come without a lot of risks—at least it is if you don’t know what you’re getting into. Concrete slabs can be embedded with all sorts of things, including conduit and pipes, or structural support elements like reinforcing bars (rebar), or post-tensioned cables. Hitting any of these embedded items can come with consequences that range from annoying to deadly. For example, hitting a pipe could cause project delays and added costs as the pipe is repaired. However, severing a post-tensioned cable could cause the cable to violently whip through the slab. If the cable hits someone nearby, it could actually kill them or cause severe injury.
Knowing what is embedded in the slab and precisely where each item is located is key to safely disturbing a concrete slab. In recent years, the best way to find this out is to work with a company that provides concrete scanning services using ground penetrating radar (GPR). GPR concrete scanning is safe and relatively affordable—especially when compared to having a concrete X-ray performed. But how accurate are the results of typical concrete scanning services? The answer is: it depends.
The key to getting accurate results from a company or individual who provides concrete scanning services is to work with one that uses professional equipment and has highly trained technicians to operate it. A good technician will be able to interpret the results of a GPR concrete scan with a high degree of accuracy. And while a trained technician might make this look easy, it is definitely one of those things that is easier said than done. To the average person, the output from GPR scanning equipment looks like nothing more than a series of nonsensical waves. It takes a trained technician to interpret the data and turn it into useful information. Unfortunately, not everyone with ground penetrating radar equipment is a trained technician.
Look for concrete scanning companies with a good track record for providing accurate results. In addition, it can be helpful to work with a company that has access to other non-destructive scanning tools, in case the results of the GPR scan are inconclusive. In most cases, GPR will be adequate to provide the information necessary for a project, but in certain cases, the technician may want to confirm finding with another type of technology, such as X-ray.
If you are located in Southern California, a reputable concrete scanning company is Enhanced Scanning. Their team travels throughout the region, including San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Bernardino County providing top-rated concrete scanning services for both commercial and residential customers. Enhanced Scanning is even called out for specialty projects in other parts of the country. They are considered experts in the field of non-destructive scanning.
