Concrete Scanning Services: See Inside Before You Cut

The cost of hitting a hidden utility or a post-tension cable isn't measured in a few hours of downtime. It’s measured in emergency repair bills, structural engineering assessments, and weeks of project delays that throw your entire schedule off track. A single mistake can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars and damage your reputation. When viewed against that risk, the price of a professional scan becomes a smart, predictable investment in your project’s success. High-quality concrete scanning services are about proactive risk management, providing the certainty you need to protect your budget, your timeline, and your crew from the most preventable and expensive job site errors.

Book A Locate Today

Key Takeaways

· Protect Your Project from Costly Surprises: Treat concrete scanning as essential insurance. A proactive scan is the best way to prevent expensive utility strikes, structural damage, and project delays before the first cut is made.

· Know Exactly What’s Inside the Concrete: Modern scanning uses GPR and EM technology to create a precise map of hidden obstacles, allowing you to locate rebar, post-tension cables, live electrical conduits, and even structural voids with confidence.

· Partner with an Expert and Plan Ahead: The accuracy of your scan depends on the technician’s skill. Vet your partner’s experience and technology, and schedule the scan during the pre-construction phase to make informed decisions and avoid rework.

What is Concrete Scanning?

Before you cut, core, or drill into a concrete slab, you need to know what’s hidden inside. Concrete scanning is a non-destructive process that gives you a clear view of embedded objects without ever picking up a hammer. Think of it as an ultrasound for your structure. Using advanced technology, we can map out rebar, conduits, post-tension cables, and even voids within the concrete. This process is essential for preventing dangerous and costly strikes, ensuring your project stays safe, on time, and on budget. It’s the first and most critical step in any concrete renovation or demolition project.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

The primary tool we use for concrete scanning is Ground Penetrating Radar, or GPR. A GPR device sends harmless radio waves into the concrete, and when these waves hit an object, they bounce back to a receiver. Our field experts analyze this data in real-time to identify what the object is and its precise depth. GPR is incredibly versatile and can locate rebar, post-tension cables, electrical conduits, and both metal and plastic pipes. It also allows us to measure the thickness of the concrete slab itself. Best of all, the entire process is completely safe and emits no harmful radiation, meaning your crew can continue working nearby without interruption.

Electromagnetic (EM) Locating

While GPR is great at finding objects, Electromagnetic (EM) locating helps us identify them. This technique is specifically used to find live electrical conduits and other conductive utilities within the concrete. An EM locator detects the electromagnetic field generated by an active electrical current, allowing us to distinguish a live wire from a piece of rebar or a water pipe. For metallic pipes without a current, we can induce a signal to trace their path. Using EM locating alongside GPR provides an extra layer of certainty and is a critical step in our utility locating services to ensure job site safety.

3D Laser Scanning

Once we’ve located everything inside the concrete, how do we deliver that information to you in a useful way? That’s where 3D laser scanning comes in. This technology creates a precise digital map of the concrete surface and our findings. Instead of just marking the floor with paint, we can provide you with permanent, engineer-ready records of what we found. These deliverables can range from clear 2D drawings to detailed 3D models that integrate directly into your project plans. This level of subsurface utility mapping gives your entire team a clear and accurate picture to work from, minimizing guesswork and preventing future issues.

How Does Concrete Scanning Work?

Concrete scanning might sound complex, but the on-site process is straightforward and designed to give you clear answers without disrupting your project. It’s a non-destructive way to get a complete picture of what’s hidden within a concrete slab before you start cutting, coring, or drilling. By using a combination of advanced tools, a trained technician can map out embedded obstacles and give your crew the confidence to work safely.

The Step-by-Step Process

When our technician arrives at your site, the first step is to walk the area and understand your project goals. We’ll ask where you plan to cut or drill to focus the scan on the most critical zones. Using a rolling cart equipped with a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) antenna, we scan the concrete in a grid pattern. This allows us to collect data from multiple angles to accurately locate embedded targets. For identifying live electrical lines, we also use Electromagnetic (EM) locators. The entire process is safe, emits no radiation, and can be done without clearing the site, allowing other trades to continue their work nearby.

Collecting and Interpreting Data

The GPR unit works by sending high-frequency radio waves into the concrete. When these waves hit an object—like a piece of rebar, a conduit, or a post-tension cable—they bounce back to the receiver. The system’s screen displays this data in real-time as a series of arches or hyperbolas. This is where expertise makes all the difference. An experienced technician interprets these signals to determine the object’s location and depth with incredible precision. This immediate feedback allows us to mark findings directly on the surface as we scan, giving you an instant view of the subsurface landscape. Our utility locating services combine this technology with expert analysis to deliver results you can trust.

Getting Field-Ready Reports

Once the scan is complete, you’ll have clear markings on the concrete showing the layout of rebar, conduits, and other findings. For many projects, these on-site markings are all you need to proceed safely. But when a more permanent record is required, we deliver comprehensive reports. These can range from simple sketches to detailed 2D CAD drawings or even 3D models. This level of subsurface utility mapping provides a clear, engineer-ready record of what’s inside the slab. The goal is to give your team actionable data that is easy to understand, ensuring everyone on the project is on the same page before the first cut is made.

What Can You Find Inside Concrete?

Concrete slabs and walls might look solid, but they often hide a complex network of structural elements and utilities. Before you cut, core, or drill, a concrete scan gives you a clear picture of what’s inside, preventing dangerous and expensive mistakes. Using advanced GPR and EM technologies, we can map out everything from reinforcement to live electrical lines, giving your crew the confidence to work safely and efficiently. Here’s a closer look at what we can find.

Locate Rebar and Reinforcement

Nearly every concrete structure contains steel reinforcement, like rebar or post-tension cables, to give it strength. Hitting one of these during drilling or cutting can compromise the structural integrity of the entire slab or wall, leading to serious safety hazards and costly repairs. Our concrete scanning services use GPR to accurately map the location, depth, and spacing of these hidden elements. This allows you to adjust your plans and core or cut with precision, ensuring you miss the critical reinforcements and keep the structure sound. It’s the most reliable way to protect your project and your team.

Identify Cables and Conduits

Beyond structural steel, concrete can also conceal critical utilities. Electrical conduits, communication lines, and even water or drain pipes are often embedded directly within slabs and walls. Accidentally striking a live electrical line is a major safety risk, and damaging a water pipe can cause extensive flooding and project delays. We use a combination of GPR and EM locating to detect these hidden utilities before you start work. By mapping the underground, we provide a clear, actionable plan so your crew can avoid them entirely. This simple step is crucial for preventing accidents and keeping your project on track.

Spot Voids and Structural Issues

Sometimes, what’s not there is just as important as what is. Concrete scanning can identify voids, honeycombing, and areas of delamination within a structure. These empty spaces can be signs of poor construction, water damage, or other structural weaknesses that could pose a risk down the line. By detecting these anomalies, we can help you assess the overall health and integrity of the concrete before you put any additional stress on it. This is especially important for renovation projects or when you need to verify that new construction meets engineering specifications. It’s about ensuring the foundation you’re working on is solid and safe.

Why Scan Before You Cut or Core?

Cutting or coring into a concrete slab is a moment of truth. You’re either making a clean opening for new plumbing and electrical, or you’re about to hit something that brings your entire project to a screeching halt. The difference between the two is knowing what’s hidden inside the slab before the saw blade starts spinning. Think of concrete scanning not as an extra cost, but as essential project insurance. It’s the most reliable way to get a clear picture of the rebar, conduits, and post-tension cables embedded within the structure.

This isn't about guesswork or relying on outdated as-builts. It's about using proven technology like Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to create a precise map of subsurface obstacles. With this information, your team can work confidently, knowing exactly where it’s safe to cut and where to avoid. Taking this step protects your budget from unexpected repairs, keeps your crew out of harm’s way, and ensures your project timeline remains intact. It’s a simple, proactive measure that prevents some of the most expensive and dangerous mistakes in construction and renovation.

Prevent Costly Damage and Strikes

Drilling into concrete without knowing what's inside is a high-stakes gamble. Hitting a post-tension cable can compromise the building's structural integrity, while severing a conduit can knock out power or critical data lines. These aren't minor inconveniences; they lead to expensive emergency repairs, structural engineering assessments, and serious damage to your reputation. The biggest cost on a project often isn't the scan itself, but the fallout from hitting a utility line you didn't know was there.

A professional concrete scan gives you a clear, accurate map of all embedded materials. This allows you to adjust your core locations and cut lines to avoid conflict, saving thousands of dollars in potential repairs and preventing costly project shutdowns.

Keep Your Crew Safe

Nothing is more important than your team’s safety. When a saw or core drill hits a live electrical conduit, the risk of electrocution is immediate and severe. Similarly, cutting a post-tension cable can cause it to release with explosive force, endangering everyone in the vicinity. These hidden hazards turn a routine task into a life-threatening situation. Concrete imaging is a critical safety step that identifies these dangers before work begins.

By mapping out electrical lines and structural reinforcement, you give your crew the information they need to operate safely. It removes the dangerous guesswork and allows them to proceed with confidence. A safe job site is a productive one, and ensuring your team goes home unharmed is the most important metric of success.

Keep Your Project on Schedule

A single utility strike can derail your entire project timeline. The moment you hit a conduit or a post-tension cable, work stops. What follows is a cascade of delays: emergency repairs, safety stand-downs, structural inspections, and the logistical nightmare of rescheduling subcontractors. A problem that takes minutes to create can easily add weeks or even months to your schedule.

Concrete scanning helps you avoid these unplanned shutdowns entirely. By identifying potential conflicts during the planning phase, you can design your cuts and cores around them. This proactive approach is key to maintaining momentum on site. When you have a clear plan based on accurate subsurface data, you can execute your work efficiently and keep the project moving forward without costly surprises.

Just How Accurate is Concrete Scanning?

When you’re about to cut into a concrete slab, you need to know exactly what’s inside. The good news is that modern concrete scanning is incredibly accurate, but that precision depends heavily on the equipment used and the expertise of the technician running it. Think of it less like a simple snapshot and more like an expert interpretation of complex data. An experienced crew can distinguish between rebar, conduit, and post-tension cables, giving you a clear map of the subsurface. While the technology itself is powerful, the real value comes from a professional who knows how to analyze the readings and deliver clear, actionable results you can build on. Top-tier firms in the industry often achieve a 99.8%+ accuracy rate, which is the standard for any critical project.

Our Standard for Accuracy

At SiteTwin, our goal is to deliver data you can trust completely. We hold our work to the highest industry standards, ensuring our findings are precise enough for core drilling, saw cutting, and structural planning. We combine state-of-the-art GPR equipment with a rigorous methodology that our expert field crews follow on every single job. This commitment to precision is why general contractors and engineers rely on our utility locating services to prevent dangerous strikes and costly delays. We don’t just find targets; we provide clean, field-ready data that integrates directly into your plans, giving your team the confidence to move forward safely.

What Affects Scan Precision?

Several factors can influence the precision of a concrete scan. With the right conditions and equipment, a skilled technician can typically pinpoint the center of an embedded object, like rebar or conduit, with an accuracy of about +/- ¼ inch. The depth estimate is also quite reliable, usually falling within a +/- 10-15% range. However, things like the concrete’s thickness, moisture content, and the density of reinforcement can affect the clarity of the GPR signal. A slab packed with multiple layers of rebar and conduit is more complex to map than a simple one. This is where technician experience really matters—interpreting that dense data correctly is key to an accurate report.

Understanding the Limitations

Ground penetrating radar is a powerful tool, but it’s important to understand its limitations. GPR isn’t x-ray vision; it works by sending radio waves into the concrete and reading the signals that bounce back. Because of this, it cannot scan through solid metal surfaces like steel plates or embedded I-beams. The signal can also be scattered or absorbed by very wet or uncured concrete, which can make the data difficult to read. While GPR is excellent for locating objects, it’s less suited for measuring fine details like the exact thickness of a void or the specific level of corrosion on rebar. Knowing these limitations allows us to provide a more complete subsurface utility mapping by combining GPR with other methods when needed.

What Goes Into the Cost of a Scan?

When you’re putting a project budget together, the last thing you need is a surprise invoice. While there isn’t a single flat rate for concrete scanning, the cost is shaped by a few key, predictable factors. It’s not just about the hours our crew spends on your site; it’s about the full scope of the work, the conditions we’re navigating, and the exact type of data you need to move forward with confidence. Understanding these elements helps you get a precise quote, ensuring you’re investing in the right information for your job.

Think of a scan as a critical investment in your project’s success. The goal is to provide the clear, accurate data you need to prevent a dangerous utility strike, avoid hitting structural reinforcement, and keep your timeline intact. By seeing what’s inside the concrete before you cut or core, you’re sidestepping the kind of costly damage and delays that can derail a project. Our approach is to provide transparent pricing for our utility locating services so you know exactly what you’re getting—certainty, safety, and a clear path forward.

Project Size and Complexity

The price for GPR services changes based on how big and complex your project is. A quick scan for a single core drill location in an open slab will cost less than mapping out every conduit across an entire hospital floor. Complexity is a major factor, too. A standard slab-on-grade is fairly straightforward, but a post-tensioned deck requires a higher level of expertise to interpret the data correctly. The more targets we need to find and differentiate—like layers of rebar, electrical lines, and plumbing—the more detailed our investigation becomes, and the cost will reflect that focused effort.

Site Access and Location

How easily our crew can get to the scan area plays a big part in the final cost. An open, clear site allows us to work efficiently, while a cluttered mechanical room or an active data center may require more time and careful maneuvering. We’re used to working in sensitive environments and can schedule our work after hours to minimize disruption, but challenging access can influence the price. The site’s location also matters, as significant travel time to remote jobs can be a factor. Our priority is always to work with your schedule and on-site team to make the process as smooth as possible.

Your Timeline and Reporting Needs

The final cost is also tailored to your project’s specific deliverables. It’s important to be specific about what kind of report or data you need at the end of the scan. For many jobs, a simple field markup where we spray-paint findings directly onto the concrete is all that’s needed to keep your crew working. But for a major renovation or as-built verification, you might require a detailed subsurface utility mapping report delivered in a CAD or GIS format. The level of detail and the final format are customized to your needs, ensuring you get actionable data without paying for more than you require.

How to Choose the Right Scanning Partner

Picking the right concrete scanning partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll make before a project kicks off. The quality of their work directly impacts your budget, timeline, and, most importantly, the safety of your crew. While many companies offer scanning services, their expertise, equipment, and processes can vary dramatically. A cheap scan that misses a post-tension cable or a live conduit isn't a bargain—it's a liability waiting to happen.

To make sure you’re working with a true professional, you need to know what to look for. It’s not just about finding someone who can show up with a GPR machine. It’s about finding a team that understands the nuances of subsurface investigation, can interpret complex data accurately, and delivers clear, actionable results you can build on. Think of it as vetting a critical member of your project team. By asking the right questions about their experience, technology, and safety protocols, you can confidently choose a partner who will protect your project from costly surprises and keep everyone on site safe.

Check Their Experience and Credentials

When you’re evaluating a scanning company, look past the marketing claims and dig into their team’s actual experience. A seasoned technician does more than just operate equipment; they interpret the data to give you a clear picture of what’s inside the concrete. Ask about their training process. For example, some of the best firms require their project managers to complete hundreds of hours of field and classroom training, far exceeding basic certification standards. This level of preparation ensures they can handle complex site conditions and provide reliable results. True expertise is what turns raw GPR signals into a clear, field-ready map that your crew can trust.

Ask About Their Tech and Equipment

The technology a company uses is a direct reflection of its commitment to accuracy. Your partner should be using modern equipment, including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic (EM) locators, to get a complete view of subsurface conditions. GPR is the industry standard for a reason: it’s incredibly effective and safe. Unlike concrete X-raying, GPR emits no harmful radiation, so you don’t have to clear the site or deal with special permits. This means the utility locating services you hire can work efficiently alongside your other crews without causing unnecessary disruptions or safety concerns. A professional firm will always have the right tool for the job and be able to explain why it’s the best choice for your project.

Review Their Safety Record and References

A professional scanning partner’s primary job is to make your project safer. By accurately mapping embedded obstacles, they help you prevent injuries, avoid damaging critical infrastructure, and keep your project moving forward without delays. Don’t hesitate to ask for their safety record or client references. Beyond their on-site performance, consider the business protections they offer. A reputable GPR provider carries specialized insurance to protect their clients from liability in the unlikely event of an error. This transfers some of the risk from your company to theirs, giving you an essential layer of financial and legal protection. It’s a clear sign that you’re working with a serious partner who stands behind their work.

When is the Best Time to Schedule a Scan?

The short answer is: before you break ground, cut concrete, or finalize your designs. Think of concrete scanning as a proactive step that saves you from reactive, costly problems down the line. It’s about gathering intelligence on subsurface conditions so you can plan your work with confidence instead of guesswork. While every project is different, scheduling a scan typically falls into one of three key phases.

Integrating a scan early in the pre-construction phase allows you to design around known obstacles, preventing expensive change orders. For immediate tasks like drilling or coring, a scan is a non-negotiable safety check that protects both your crew and the structure itself. And when you’re renovating an existing building, scanning helps you understand the hidden conditions you’ve inherited. By identifying the right moment to bring in a scanning partner, you can keep your project safe, on budget, and on schedule.

During Pre-Construction and Planning

The ideal time to scan is during the design and planning phase, long before the first cut is ever made. This is your chance to get a complete picture of what’s inside a concrete slab or below the surface. Scanning at this stage helps you avoid hitting hidden obstructions like electrical conduits, rebar, and post-tension cables that could derail your plans. This early data is a core part of comprehensive subsurface utility mapping, giving your engineering and design teams the information they need to work around existing infrastructure. It’s the smartest way to prevent costly surprises and redesigns once construction is already underway.

Before You Drill, Cut, or Core

If you’re about to penetrate a concrete surface, the time to scan is right now. Drilling or cutting into concrete without knowing what’s inside is a serious gamble. It can lead to severe injuries, damage critical structural components, and trigger expensive repairs and project delays. A quick, targeted scan before you start work is an essential safety measure. It confirms a clear path for your core drill or saw, protecting your crew and the integrity of the building. This simple step transforms a high-risk activity into a controlled, predictable task, making it a fundamental part of any safe work plan involving utility locating services.

For Renovations and Structural Upgrades

When you’re working on an existing building, you’re often dealing with decades of undocumented changes. Scanning is crucial for renovations and structural upgrades because it helps you verify as-built conditions that may not appear on any blueprints. Beyond locating conduits and rebar, GPR scanning can help assess the general condition of the concrete by identifying potential voids or weak spots that could compromise structural integrity. This insight is invaluable for engineers and contractors who need to confirm that the structure can support new loads or modifications. It ensures your renovation project starts with a clear understanding of the existing conditions, preventing unexpected setbacks.

Book A Locate Today

Frequently Asked Questions

Is concrete scanning the same as concrete X-ray? While they serve a similar purpose, they are very different technologies. Concrete X-raying uses ionizing radiation, which requires clearing the job site for safety and often involves a lengthy permitting process. We use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), which uses harmless radio waves. This means our process is completely safe, requires no site evacuation, and allows your other crews to continue working without interruption.

How long will the scan take on my job site? The time required depends entirely on the size and complexity of the area you need scanned. A simple scan to clear a few core drilling locations might only take an hour or two. Mapping out an entire floor in a complex building with multiple layers of reinforcement and conduits could take a full day. We always work with you to understand your project scope and provide a realistic time estimate upfront.

I have the original building plans. Do I still need a scan? Yes, it’s always a good idea. Over the years, buildings undergo undocumented repairs, upgrades, and tenant improvements that are rarely reflected in the original blueprints. A scan verifies the as-built conditions, showing you exactly what’s inside the concrete right now. This protects you from hitting utilities or structural elements that were added long after the initial construction.

What kind of report will I get after the scan is done? The deliverable is tailored to your project's needs. For many jobs, we provide immediate results by marking the location and depth of our findings directly on the concrete surface with paint or chalk. If you need a permanent record, we can create detailed reports, including 2D CAD drawings or even 3D models that integrate with your design files, giving your entire team a clear and permanent map to work from.

Can you scan through any type of concrete surface? GPR is incredibly versatile, but a few factors can affect the scan's clarity. Very thick or freshly poured, wet concrete can sometimes weaken the signal. Additionally, GPR cannot see through solid metal, so if a steel plate is embedded in the slab, we won't be able to see what's beneath it. An experienced technician can identify these conditions and explain how they might influence the results.