Concrete slab scanning helps a project team investigate an existing slab before planned drilling, coring, or cutting. For contractors, the value of concrete slab scanning depends on a clear work area, a defined opening or penetration, and a practical handoff between the scan and the next trade. This guide explains how to plan that process and what information to gather before work begins.
What should concrete slab scanning answer before work starts?
Start with the field decision, not simply the request to scan a slab. Is the crew planning a core hole for a pipe, a rectangular opening for a duct, a sawcut for a trench, or several penetrations in a defined area? The intended work affects the scan boundary, the locations that need to be evaluated, and the way findings should reach the people doing the work.
Concrete can contain embedded items that are not visible at the surface. Depending on the site and scanning method, a scan may help locate or map features such as reinforcing steel, embedded conduits, or other potential obstructions. The results inform planning; they do not make every hidden condition certain or guarantee that a proposed location is clear. Keep that distinction in view when assigning the next step.
Before requesting scanning, state the practical question in one sentence: âWe need to evaluate this marked area for a proposed 4-inch core opening,â or âWe need scan information along this proposed sawcut path.â Those examples clarify intent without assuming a particular scan result. If the location or dimensions are still being developed, say so. Early coordination can help the team determine what area needs attention.
Concrete cutting and core drilling are related to scanning but are separate work scopes. A scan supports planning around a proposed penetration or cut; it is not itself the drilling or cutting work. All Pro Demolition provides core drilling and GPR scanning, as well as concrete drilling services. Confirm which service or combination is needed for your project rather than assuming every quote includes each step.
How should you define the slab area and proposed opening?
A useful scan request identifies both the work point and the surrounding area that matters. A dot on a plan may show the center of a planned penetration, but the actual opening has a diameter or footprint. Sawcuts have a path and width. Nearby openings, edges, beams, walls, and restrictions may also affect how the crew approaches the task. Provide a marked plan or field sketch when available, and label the intended cut or hole clearly.
Share dimensions in a consistent unit and identify the reference points. For example, describe a proposed location by its distance from two fixed walls or grid lines, not only by a loose verbal direction such as ânear the east end.â If the site uses gridlines or room numbers, include them. Field marks can also help, provided they are visible and correspond to the plan.
Mark the intended work: Show the center and size of a core hole, or the route and limits of a cut.
Identify a wider review area: Note adjacent penetrations, likely alternate locations, or nearby work that may affect the decision.
Give reliable references: Include room, level, grid, wall, or other fixed reference information.
Flag constraints: Note access limits, occupied spaces, finished surfaces, restricted hours, or areas that cannot be disturbed.
Identify the people making the decision: Clarify who can confirm locations and review findings in the field.
Do not treat a proposed location as final if design or trade coordination is still changing it. If the opening moves, the relevant scan area may change too. Tell the scanning and cutting or drilling teams about revisions before relying on previous marks or notes. A clear revision process can prevent a crew from acting on an outdated drawing. Before the visit, confirm how the area will be made ready for access. Where the site permits, move stored materials that block the slab and identify equipment or finished surfaces that need protection. Tell the team if the area is occupied, if another trade will be working nearby, or if access is limited to a particular time. These details do not predict what the scan will find, but they can affect coordination and the work plan. Also confirm where the team can access the work area and whether the scan needs to cover one level or several locations. If access from the underside may matter, explain whether that area is available; do not assume it will be. Let the project contact know about site check-in procedures and restrictions on moving equipment. For a multi-phase job, state which phase is ready and which locations remain tentative. A concise scope helps distinguish the areas the team wants evaluated from the areas that are actually available during the visit.
What project information helps prepare for a scan?
Existing plans, renovation drawings, and records from earlier work can give useful context, but they are not a substitute for checking actual field conditions. Send the most current available documents and identify their date or revision. If a plan is preliminary, mark it as preliminary. If you know that a drawing does not reflect a later alteration, explain what changed.
Useful context can include the slab location, approximate thickness if documented, access to the top and underside, and the intended drilling or cutting method. Share whether the area is part of an occupied facility, whether equipment or stored materials need to be moved, and whether the work area is accessible during the proposed visit. Do not guess at slab composition or embedded systems when that information is unknown; identify it as unknown.
For a multi-opening project, use a numbered list or marked plan so each location can be discussed separately. A simple location schedule can record the opening ID, floor or room, proposed dimensions, purpose, and current status. If the design team has approved some locations but not others, show that distinction. This helps the team avoid treating a conceptual option as an approved field location.
All Pro Demolition's Georgia core drilling field guide provides related planning context for contractors. For projects that involve several trades, assign one person to collect updates and communicate changes. That contact can help keep the scan request, current plan, and field marks aligned.
What can a scan tell you, and what can it not confirm?
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a scanning method used to investigate conditions within concrete. In suitable conditions, scanning can help identify and map indications of embedded features in the evaluated area. The findings can support a decision about whether to keep, adjust, or further review a proposed location. The appropriate interpretation depends on the scan, the site conditions, and the information available to the people responsible for the work.
A scan should not be represented as a complete view of every object in a slab. Materials, depth, surface conditions, access, congestion, and other site factors can affect what is detectable and how clearly results can be interpreted. A lack of a visible indication is not proof that no embedded item is present. Nor should a scan result replace design review, project specifications, or any required verification from the responsible professional.
Ask how the scan area and findings will be communicated. A marked-up plan, field marks, or a verbal explanation may each be useful in different settings, but the team needs a shared understanding of the evaluated locations and their limits. Clarify what the markings represent, who will review them, and how the drilling or cutting crew should respond if field conditions differ from the plan.
When the project question involves a particular feature or depth, explain that question before the visit. Do not assume a scanning method can confirm an exact depth, identify every material, or resolve a structural question. If the result is uncertain or outside the agreed scope, pause and consult the appropriate project professional. For an overview of how scanning relates to concrete work, see this guide to concrete core drilling.
How should scanning connect to drilling or cutting?
The sequence should be clear to everyone involved. First, the project team defines the intended opening or cut and makes the area accessible. Next, the scan is completed in the agreed area and the findings are communicated. The responsible team reviews those findings against the design, site needs, and work plan. Only after the location and next action are confirmed should the crew proceed under the projectâs applicable requirements.
That sequence is especially important when the first proposed location needs to be reconsidered. The project team may select an alternate point, revise the opening, request further review, or change the work plan. A change should be recorded and shared with the people performing the work. Do not assume an alternate location has been scanned merely because it is nearby; confirm the evaluated limits.
For several penetrations, establish whether the scan will address each one individually or a broader area. Coordinate the order with other trades so that new work does not cover marks or obstruct access before the drilling crew has reviewed them. If a crew will return later, agree on how the findings will be preserved and how the team will identify the matching locations.
Concrete cutting can involve a line or opening that differs from a single round core. Share the full proposed path, not just a point on the line. For more on choosing and planning that scope, review All Pro Demolitionâs concrete cutting planning guide for Georgia projects and its information about working with a concrete cutting company. These planning topics are related, but the correct work method and scope depend on the project.
How can you make the field handoff clear?
A good handoff connects the scan findings to the actual work location. Identify who marks or explains the findings, who reviews them, and who has authority to approve a change. Use consistent labels on plans and in field notes. If the crew uses photos, include a location reference so a photo can be tied to the correct room, level, or opening number.
Before work proceeds, the drilling or cutting crew should be able to answer basic questions: Which opening is this? What area was evaluated? Are the marks current? Has the proposed location been accepted by the responsible project contact? What should happen if the marks are unclear or the observed conditions do not match expectations? If these answers are missing, resolve the uncertainty rather than relying on memory or an unmarked screenshot.
Keep a record of changes. A short note that identifies the original location, the revised location, who made the decision, and when it was communicated can reduce confusion later. For a project with multiple holes or cuts, record each location separately. This is useful even when the work is small because verbal updates can be lost between a site meeting and a later crew shift.
Construction work must also follow applicable site and safety requirements. OSHA provides construction safety resources; use the requirements that apply to the specific work and site, and coordinate with the project safety lead where needed. A scanning discussion is not a substitute for the siteâs safety plan or professional direction.
What should you include when requesting a Georgia project quote?
A focused request makes it easier to understand the planned work. Send the project location, a brief description of the task, and the number and type of proposed openings or cuts. Include marked plans or photos if available, access details, timing expectations, and a project contact who can answer field questions. State whether you are requesting scanning, core drilling, concrete cutting, or more than one service.
If the project is within a larger renovation or demolition scope, identify the relevant phase and any other work that affects access. The service area for this task is a 150-mile radius centered on Atlanta, Georgia; share the project location so coverage can be discussed. Do not send confidential or unnecessary documents. A current, clearly marked plan is more useful than a large file set with no explanation.
Project city or site address and preferred timing.
Floor, room, grid, or other location references.
Marked dimensions and purpose for each proposed penetration or cut.
Current plans, revisions, and known field changes.
Access restrictions and the site contact for coordination.
The specific service requested: scanning, core drilling, concrete cutting, or a combination.
For service details, see the pages for core drilling and GPR scanning, core drilling coordination for Georgia MEP projects, and concrete scanning GPR guide. If you are still shaping the scope, explain what decision the scan needs to support. Our team can discuss the project details and the service requested.
Frequently asked questions about concrete slab scanning
Should scanning happen before every core hole?
Whether scanning is appropriate depends on the project scope, site conditions, plans, and applicable requirements. Discuss the proposed work with the responsible project professionals and the scanning contractor. Do not assume that old records or an earlier scan cover a new or moved location.
Can scanning guarantee that a proposed drilling location is clear?
No scan should be treated as a guarantee that a location contains no embedded items. Detection and interpretation can be affected by site conditions and the agreed scan scope. Use the findings as project information, follow the responsible professionalâs direction, and clarify uncertainties before drilling or cutting.
What should I send if the slab plans are incomplete?
Send what you have, label the documents as incomplete or preliminary, and describe what is not known. Add clear field references, photos, proposed dimensions, access information, and a contact who can confirm locations. Avoid presenting an assumption as a verified condition.
Can one request include scanning and core drilling?
You can ask about both services in one project inquiry, but identify each requested scope and the intended opening. The team can then discuss how the services relate and what information is needed. Confirm the agreed scope before scheduling or relying on a particular sequence.
Clear limits, current location information, and a deliberate handoff help make scanning useful to the work that follows. Share the project question and proposed work area early so the team can discuss an appropriate scope.
