You don’t have to be an expert on the economy to know that just about everything has gotten more expensive in the past few years. Every time you check prices or get a quote on something, it can feel like a kick in the gut. For most people, there are ways to cut expenses by forgoing conveniences, settling for a less-than-ideal product, shopping around for the best deal, or just opting not to purchase a non-necessary item.
If a home improvement project is on your agenda this year, there are certainly ways to cut costs, but there are some things you shouldn’t cut corners on—even if will save you some money. One of those things is concrete scanning, if you plan on disturbing your concrete slab. While concrete scanning is not always required prior to the start of a renovation project, it’s still important in many instances.
Having a concrete scan completed by a company that provides concrete scanning services can be money well spent. It can save you from damaging the rebar in your concrete or hitting a utility line—both of which can be expensive and time consuming to repair.
The good news is that a concrete scan that uses ground penetrating radar (GPR) is not even that expensive. Even professional concrete scanning services are relatively affordable.
A GPR technician can be in and out of your space fairly quickly and provide you with the information you need while he or she is still on site. You technician can tell you where embedded items are located and where it would be safe to disturb the concrete (and which areas to avoid).
You may have heard that you can call 8-1-1 to have someone come out and scan for utility lines for free. Unfortunately, the 8-1-1 service will only locate utility lines outside of your home. Any utility lines inside your home are your responsibility to find. They are also your responsibility to repair if they are damaged during your renovation project. In other words, don’t expect the water company to come out and fix your damaged pipe if it’s hit while cutting a trench in your concrete slab.
It’s impossible to give an exact cost for concrete scanning services in an article like this. Every concrete scanning company has different rates and different levels of service. Some will charge by the hour, while others will have a minimum service charge. However, it’s important to keep in mind the cost of NOT having your concrete scanned prior to disturbing it. The damage you could do would almost certainly cost more to repair than a concrete scan. The prudent approach is to know what you’re getting into before you start cutting or coring your concrete slab (or allowing a contractor to do so).
