• Shane GPR Scanning 01
  • Shane GPR Scanning 02
  • GPR Scanning Tight Location
  • Mala GPR Scanner Equipment
  • Andy GPR Scanning Capital Roof
  • GPR Screen Capture

Concrete GPR Scanning

GPR scanning your concrete projects prior to drilling, sawing or chipping can save you time and money. Click below to discover the many benefits of using GPR.

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Preparing for your scans

  • Check with the building engineers or other representatives to find out the type of reinforcement used within the floor slab. It would be helpful to know if the floor was constructed using rebar, tension cables, wire mesh etc.. Also if the building is newer determine if the concrete mix used consists of recycled concrete which interfere with the scan radar.
  • If you are drilling into a floor slab with another floor below (suspended slab) be sure to check under your desired location for obstructions under where the hole will be drilled. Items like duct work, pipes, cables, VAV units, wall framing or other items may be in the way of your hole.
  • Remove any objects such as materials or furniture from the scan location and assure that they are far enough away to provide adequate room to perform the scan. More room allows the scanner technician to scan a wider area so he/she can get a better pattern of items making it easier to identify.
  • Sweep the scan location and remove any debris from floor. We will do a final sweep of the location before scanning.
  • Remove any nails from surface.
  • Be sure there is no glues or adhesives on the floor that would keep the scanner antenna from rolling.
  • Make sure the surface is smooth and does not have imperfections that would keep the antenna from rolling. If you need to scan a location that has chipped up concrete or other imperfections you can put down masonite, cardboard or something similar to cover the area. The radar will go through these materials with no problem. Just be sure to tape it down so it doesn’t shift which will move your marks and make the scan incorrect.
  • Make sure the surface is not wet. Water interferes with the radio signal and makes it difficult to pick up objects.
  • If your project is outside be sure it is not going to rain or has had rain in the past 24 hours. Water interferes with radars capability to penetrate concrete. Damp or wet concrete will slow down the signal limiting the scan results.
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Helpful diagrams

GPR Diagram 01

GPR Diagram 02

GPR Diagram 03

GPR Diagram 04


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Things to know

  • There is a 3-1/2” to 4” border around the scan area when scanning against a wall or other obstructions such as pipes or other items that can not be taken out of the way. This is a limitation of all GPR devices due to the way the antenna is designed.
  • When scanning floors or walls they may not be level causing the scanner to pick up objects that are not squared with the surface. This will cause the objects to be marked off of their actual location. In this case objects will not be off by much but something to keep in mind. It is recommended by the scanner manufacturer and we typically mark all items a minimum of 2” wide to accommodate a safe buffer.
  • GPR is able to scan up to an average of 24” deep. There are many factors that could cause this be less. Such as the surface being wet, heavily congested with rebar or other obstructions, a bad pour where there is a lot of air pockets or slabs containing recycled concrete which contains an abundance of metal shavings in the mix that interferes with the results.
  • GPR is not able to scan floors that consist of recycled concrete. This type of concrete is made of construction debris from a building that has been demolished. There is a lot of metal mixed in with the pulverized stone and remains when being re-mixed. The radar will scatter the results rendering the scan useless.

Hands down, the best results possible! Your premier concrete GPR scanning construction contractor.

GPR Screen Capture

Nobody wants to add costly repairs to their project. Not to mention possible down time and delays. GPR is a non-destructive method of inspecting floor slabs or walls for items such as rebar, post tension cables, conduits or other obstructions that may be within the floor or wall being cut. It is an alternative to X-Ray and does not use radiation of any kind. There are many benifits to using GPR.

At QUICKBIT we use the most advanced High Definition Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). The systems we use coupled with highly experienced operators result in very accurate location, depth and identification of items in most concrete structures. We provide real time scanning results for our customers so that we can identify any potential problems immediately and work with them to select suitable cutting or coring locations on the spot.

Our GPR scanning systems also include EM(electro magnetic) sensors that detect the presence of power. This technology allows us to see if any of the objects we find are “hot” or “electrified”, meaning they have power running to them. This would include electrical conduits, insulated wires, junction boxes or any other electrical items within the slab or wall. It will also detect electrical items beneath the slab even if they are not in the slab itself. In these cases we would verify the item by visually looking below the slab and informing the client of its presence.

As well, we have special mini antennas that attach to our systems to get into tight spaces and ceilings under the scan location to get a better view if necessary.

We only use GPR scanning equipment that is safe to use around people and have no safety constraints or set up requirements. In most cases we are able to perform our scans without getting in the way or interfering with our customers business. Most jobs are at construction sites but we are able to scan in occupied areas with sensitive electronics and computer equipment without affecting these systems. This, coupled with our high mobility, quick set up time and instant results allows us to provide results quickly even during normal business hours.

Please visit our FAQ and Downloads section for lots of good information pertaining to GPR and how it works, what it can and can’t do, things that affect your results, how to get the best possible results and much more.

When comparing GPR to xRay there are many things to consider. Such as xRay requires access to the both sides of the surface being scanned. GPR only needs one side of the surface. xRay is highly radioactive and extremely dangerous to use so the surrounding areas have to be evacuated while location is being exposed. GPR uses radio waves and is save to use around people and does not require clearing the area. Please visit out FAQ section to see more examples of why xRay may be better for you.

In addition to GPR we offer several other concrete and masonry services so be sure to check out our Concrete Core Drilling and Sawing page for a list of our additional services!

"Providing residential and commercial concrete GPR Scanning services throughout Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia"