Google and other online search engines are a powerful tools for finding local service providers that can help you out with all types of issues. Need a plumber that works on weekends for a water leak that just happened? You can find one by Googling “emergency plumber near me.” What about a carpet cleaning company that can get all of the stains out of your carpet prior to putting your house on the market? Google “carpet cleaning [city name].” Google is especially helpful for providing recommendations for more niche services—ones that your friends or neighbors may not have experience with.
One example of this is concrete scanning services. A concrete scanning service is one that will come to your property and provide you with information about what is embedded in your existing concrete slab or block concrete wall. This information is important to have if you plan on drilling, cutting, or coring into the concrete. A thorough scan will allow you to avoid cutting into anything other than concrete, such as pipe, wires, or rebar.
A concrete scan is typically conducted using ground penetrating radar, often referred to as GPR. A GPR scan is completely safe, and it provides very accurate results when completed by a trained professional. It can be done fairly quickly, and doesn’t cost as much as you might think.
Google can produce a list of “concrete scanning services near me” if you type in that search query, but you should then do a little extra research to make sure the companies listed in the results will provide you with the results you need. While many companies provide GPR scanning services, that might not actually be the service you need. For example, if it turns out your concrete is highly congested, or you need to drill in a very specific location, you may actually need a concrete X-ray. For that reason, you may want to look for a local concrete scanning company that has multiple non-destructive scanning tools at their disposal, such as Enhanced Scanning in Southern California. Companies like this have invested heavily in concrete scanning technology and training their employees in its use.
For many people in need of a concrete scan, GPR technology is perfectly sufficient, but for those projects that need more specialized equipment, it’s important to work with a company that has the right equipment and training to provide the most accurate results.
According to Enhanced Scanning, “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. Prior to the start of any concrete scanning project, a team member from Enhanced Scanning can go over all the options to determine the best approach to get the needed results.”
