Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is amazing technology! It can help you see through walls without any of the harmful side effects associated with X-ray technology. You might be thinking, “Why would I ever need to see through a wall?” Well, you might not care about what’s inside your concrete slab or CMU wall, but if you ever need to cut into it for a renovation project, your contractor certainly will!
Cutting into a concrete wall or slab is risky business if you don’t know what’s located beyond its surface. There will likely be rebar or post-tensioned cables providing support, as well as various utility lines, such as electrical, gas, plumbing, or telecommunications lines. Cutting into, or even nicking, any of these things can cause expensive damage, and can even put your contractor in substantial danger. To avoid this, the smart move is to bring a GPR scanning service to locate all embedded items prior to disturbing the concrete.
GPR scanning services can be found in most areas of the country. In fact, there might be multiple companies offering this service near you. If you live in Southern California, Enhanced Scanning is one of the leading providers of GPR scanning services for concrete. They offer fast turnaround times and accurate results so their clients’ projects can move forward in a timely (and safe) manner.
While ground penetrating radar isn’t the only technology used for scanning concrete, it is the technology that is used most often. Here’s what Enhanced Scanning owner Forrest Sim had to say, “In 99% of cases, GPR is the technology we use for concrete scanning because it is quick, effective, and safe to use around humans. However, when we need to ‘thread the needle’ in a highly congested concrete slab, we may employ the use of X-ray. X-ray offers slightly higher resolution than GPR, but it’s also slower, more expensive, and people have to be cleared out of the area because of the radiation that is emitted.”
If your concrete wall or slab is one of those rare cases that demands a concrete X-ray, rather than GPR scanning, it is helpful to work with a company that offers both. Companies offering concrete X-ray can be a bit harder to find, since the process of completing a concrete X-ray is a lot more involved, and requires different equipment and expertise.
What if you don’t want to spend the money on GPR scanning services prior to cutting into your concrete slab or CMU wall? That is definitely your choice (although some contractors require a GPR scan to be completed before they will begin work), but understand that you are taking a huge risk. If you hit any of the supporting elements, it can compromise the structural integrity of the concrete. Hitting any utility lines can cause expensive damage and will also delay your project as the damage is repaired. Is that really worth the risk?
