A coring crew cuts what it meets and cannot tell concrete from a conduit. That is why concrete scanning services belong at the start of every coring job. OSHA's silica standard for construction (2016) sets an exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter over eight hours, and each re-cut after a bad hit adds more dust.
What Are Concrete Scanning Services?
They use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to find rebar, conduits, cables, and voids inside a slab. A technician paints the hazards on the surface before cutting starts.
Why Scan Before You Core?
A cut cannot be undone, and a hit cable or conduit can mean costly repairs and idle trades. A common scenario: the scan finds a conduit the drawings missed, and the crew moves the hole a few inches. In my opinion, that justifies every scan.
What Does GPR Concrete Scanning Cost?
GPR concrete scanning cost depends on slab size, access, and scanned area. Small jobs are often a flat fee, and larger floors are often priced per square foot. Get it quoted before bids lock in.
Where Does a Windsor Probe Fit?
A Windsor probe test estimates concrete strength by firing a probe into the surface (ASTM C803). It checks concrete quality, not hidden hazards, so it complements the scan and does not replace it.
Scanning and Testing Compared
| Method | What It Checks | When It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| GPR scan | Rebar, cables, conduits, voids | Before coring |
| Windsor probe test | Concrete strength | Before or after coring |
| No scan | Nothing | Not recommended |
FAQ
Q1: What are concrete scanning services? They use GPR to locate rebar, cables, conduits, and voids before drilling.
Q2: Why scan before coring? Coring cannot sense hidden steel, so scanning prevents damage.
Q3: What does a Windsor probe test check? It estimates concrete strength through probe penetration.
Q4: Does GPR concrete scanning cost vary? Yes, by slab size, site access, and area scanned.
Conclusion
Scanning first keeps trades on schedule and cuts re-cuts and dust. Pair it with strength testing where the spec requires it. If coring is on your next project, put concrete scanning services in the written scope.