If you are doing any kind of renovation, repairs or reconstruction to your home that involves concrete, concrete scanning can ensure that there are no hazards hidden underneath. While there is an out-of-pocket cost for this procedure, it can save you thousands of dollars by avoiding expensive repairs later on.
When you cut, core or drill into concrete, there is a high risk of encountering voids, rebar, electrical wires or conduits and post tension cables.
Scanning Applications
Finding Voids
Trained technicians, using ground penetrating radar, can detect voids, such as air pockets, hidden beneath concrete or asphalt. Voids are created either from erosion, overuse of the area or impact, but are rarely noticeable from ground level.
Locating Embedded Electrical Conduits
Ground penetrating radar is able to locate any electrical wires or conduits embedded underneath the concrete. This is especially important in commercial and industrial areas. Knowing exactly where electrical services are below ground level is essential for avoiding extremely expensive repairs, power outages and a potentially dangerous situation when cutting or drilling through the concrete.
Detecting Reinforced Steel
Ground penetrating radar is able to detect reinforced steel, such as post tension cables and rebar embedded in the concrete. Knowing where these are will ensure that the integrity of the concrete remains intact. Once the reinforced elements are discovered, a grid will be mapped out showing the workers where they can cut, drill or core the concrete safely.
Is Concrete Scanning Expensive?
There are several factors that go into determining the price for such a service. While there is an expense, the money saved by avoiding costly repairs is well worth the price.
– The location of the project
– Concrete scanning objective
– How many sites need to be scanned
– Accessibility to scan area
– Whether or not the concrete scanner crew needs to provide equipment, such as scaffolding or lifts to perform the scan
– The type of concrete subsurface being scanned
– The size of the area being scanned
– The type of suspected material under the concrete (voids, electrical or steel components)
– How quickly the job needs to be done
Common Anomalies Found with Scanning
Many people are surprised at how many things can be hidden within or beneath concrete, here are just a few of them:
– Conduits
– Rebar
– Post tension cable
– Water lines
– Sewer lines
– Gas lines
– Electric lines
– Subsurface air pockets
– Subsurface voids
– Storage tanks
Having concrete scanning performed ensures you will not face costly repairs down the road as well as the safety of workers performing the renovations or repairs.
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