GPR Scanning & Concrete Imaging in Salt Lake City, UT

Ground-penetrating radar to locate rebar, post-tension tendons and conduits before any cut is made.

GPR Scanning & Concrete Imaging for Salt Lake City Projects

Ground penetrating radar sends radio waves into concrete and records reflections from rebar, conduit, tendons, voids and other embedded items. The operator interprets the results and marks them on the surface. In Salt Lake City, GPR is typically used before wall sawing, slab sawing and coring in existing buildings.

The value is risk reduction. Striking a post-tension tendon, an electrical conduit bank or a dense rebar mat can cause injury, outages and delays. Scanning helps decide where it is safe to cut, and it can shorten the project by avoiding rework. Scans can also support investigations, such as locating slab thickness variation or checking reinforcement against drawings. In renovation projects the data often changes the design, so scanning early in the schedule is better than scanning on the day of the cut.

GPR has limits. Dense reinforcement, wet concrete and deep targets can reduce clarity, and results should be treated as evidence, not a guarantee. We combine scan results with drawings, engineer input and, where needed, small exploratory cores or other methods. The engineer decides what may be cut.

Salt Lake City-Specific Considerations

Salt Lake City concrete is often heavily reinforced because of seismic detailing, which can make scans busier to read. Podium and garage decks may contain post-tensioned tendons. Wet or saturated slabs, as in below-grade areas with shallow groundwater, can reduce penetration. Older industrial slabs may lack records. Scanning should be paired with Blue Stakes locating for any outdoor excavation.

Our GPR Scanning & Concrete Imaging Process

1. Plan the scan
Review drawings, define the scan area and select the antenna for the depth needed.
2. Scan the surface
Run the GPR in a grid, recording data across the slab or wall.
3. Interpret and mark
Identify rebar, conduit, tendons and voids and mark them on the surface.
4. Review with the team
Share findings with the engineer and GC and adjust cut or core locations.
5. Document
Provide marked photos or a short report of what was found.

Reference Specifications

Typical equipment: Hydraulic wall saws, track-mounted flat saws, wet core rigs and wire saws sized to the member being cut
Cut accuracy: Dead-straight overcut-free openings and cores sized to the sleeve, duct or door frame being installed
Pre-cut scanning: GPR and rebar scanning before every wall, slab or core penetration; results marked on the slab

Industrial Corridors We Serve

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GPR Scanning & Concrete Imaging FAQ — Salt Lake City

How accurate is GPR in concrete?

It is generally good at locating shallow rebar, tendons and conduit, but accuracy depends on concrete thickness, moisture and reinforcement density. Treat results as strong guidance, not a guarantee, and confirm critical locations with other methods when needed. Moisture, reinforcement density and slab thickness all influence what the antenna can see.

Does GPR replace Blue Stakes?

No. Blue Stakes of Utah marks public underground utilities before excavation, while GPR finds items in concrete and sometimes shallow subsurface features. Private lines inside a slab are not covered by a locate ticket, which is why scanning remains necessary. Use both where applicable. Combining them reduces risk on projects that cross from the building into the soil.

Can GPR find tendons in a post-tensioned slab?

Often yes, because tendons produce distinct reflections, but results vary with depth, spacing and congestion from other steel. The engineer should review the findings before any cutting, and exploratory methods may be needed if the scan is unclear. In some cases the engineer may require pothole verification or other nondestructive methods.