“How much does concrete scanning cost?” is usually one of the first questions we hear. Fair enough. If you are pricing a renovation, coordinating concrete coring or simply trying to keep a job moving, you need a realistic number—not a vague answer.
The honest answer is that concrete scanning does not have one dependable flat rate. The price depends on the number and size of the areas being scanned, where those areas are located, site conditions, scheduling and the type of results you need afterward.
That may sound a little noncommittal. Still, the cost drivers themselves are fairly predictable. Once a scanning company understands the scope, an accurate quote is usually much easier to prepare.
The Short Answer
Most concrete scanning work is quoted by the site visit and project scope rather than by one universal price per square foot.
A straightforward scan for several proposed core locations is quite different from mapping reinforcement across a large slab, scanning several floors or preparing detailed documentation for an engineer. Even two areas of the same size can require different amounts of work.
For an accurate estimate, Titan Scanning will generally need to know:
- The project address
- The number and approximate size of the scan areas
- Whether the work involves a floor, wall or ceiling
- What you plan to drill, cut, core or anchor
- The required penetration size and depth
- Whether the concrete is accessible
- When the scan is needed
- What markings, photos or reporting the project requires
A few photos and a marked-up drawing can often answer most of these questions.
What Affects Concrete Scanning Cost?
1. The Number and Size of the Scan Areas
The most obvious factor is how much concrete needs to be investigated.
Scanning around two proposed core holes is a smaller scope than examining dozens of penetrations spread across several rooms. Likewise, mapping a larger section of slab takes more time than clearing a few defined work areas.
The number of locations matters, but so does the distance between them. Ten scan areas in one open room are generally easier to address than ten areas distributed across several floors or buildings.
If your locations are still being finalized, it helps to identify every likely option before requesting a quote. Adding locations after the technician arrives may affect both the schedule and cost.
2. What the Scan Is Being Used For
Not every concrete scan has the same purpose.
A contractor may need clearance before:
- Core drilling for plumbing, electrical or mechanical services
- Saw cutting a floor opening
- Installing anchors
- Drilling into a concrete wall
- Completing a tenant improvement
- Adding equipment or structural supports
- Investigating slab thickness or reinforcement patterns
A clearly defined penetration is usually easier to scope than a general request to “scan the whole floor.” The second request may be completely valid, but the technician needs to understand what question the scan is expected to answer.
This is worth slowing down for. A concrete scan can provide useful information, but it should be designed around the work that will follow.
3. Floors, Walls, Ceilings and Restricted Areas
The location of the concrete can change the amount of time and effort involved.
An open, accessible floor normally gives the technician room to move the equipment across the surface. Walls, ceilings, corners and areas close to fixed equipment can be more demanding. Scaffolding, lifts, ladders or fall-protection requirements may also need to be considered.
Access can be limited by:
- Mechanical equipment
- Cabinets or millwork
- Stored materials
- Finished flooring
- Curbs and changes in elevation
- Low overhead clearance
- Active work areas
- Security or escort requirements
This does not necessarily prevent the scan. It simply needs to be discussed before the visit so the right approach can be planned.
4. Concrete Conditions and Reinforcement Congestion
Ground penetrating radar works by transmitting electromagnetic energy into the concrete and recording reflections from materials with different properties. Rebar, post-tension cables, conduits and other embedded features can produce recognizable responses.
Real slabs are rarely perfect, however.
Dense reinforcing steel, wire mesh, metal fibres, moisture, certain surface finishes and closely spaced embedded objects can make the data more difficult to interpret. A heavily reinforced structural slab may therefore require more investigation than a relatively simple slab with clear, regularly spaced targets.
Experience matters here. The equipment collects data, but a trained technician still has to interpret what that data may—or may not—show.
For more information about these limitations, read How Accurate Is GPR Concrete Scanning?
5. The Deliverables You Need
Some projects only require results to be marked directly on the concrete so the cutting or coring crew can proceed. Others need photographs, scan records, annotated plans or more formal reporting.
The required deliverable should be confirmed when requesting a quote, particularly when an engineer, consultant, property manager or general contractor will be reviewing the results.
Possible deliverables may include:
- On-surface markings
- Photographs of scanned areas
- Notes identifying observed targets
- Scan data or images
- A written field report
- Marked-up drawings
- Additional documentation for project records
Do not assume every level of documentation is automatically included. It is better to confirm what the project team expects before the scan takes place.
Also, concrete scanning does not replace structural approval. If the proposed work could affect reinforcement or another structural element, an engineer may still need to review and approve the penetration.
6. Travel, Parking and Site Requirements
Mobilization is part of the work, even when the scan area itself is small.
The project location, travel time, parking arrangements and access procedures may all affect the quote. This is especially relevant for downtown projects, secured facilities, hospitals, occupied buildings and sites where technicians must complete an orientation before beginning work.
If parking is restricted or an escort is required, mention it in advance. Small details like these can make a surprising difference to the day.
Titan Scanning provides concrete scanning services in Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga and throughout the GTA. The exact address helps the team account for travel and arrive prepared.
7. Timing and Urgency
Construction schedules change. Sometimes rather abruptly.
A planned weekday appointment is easier to coordinate than a same-day call, overnight shift or weekend request. Urgent service may still be available, but scheduling requirements can affect the quote.
Providing a little notice also gives the technician time to review drawings, photographs and the proposed scope. That preparation is often overlooked, but it can make the site visit much more efficient.
Is Concrete Scanning Priced Per Square Foot?
Sometimes larger mapping projects may be estimated partly by area. For routine cutting, coring and anchoring work, however, a per-square-foot number does not always reflect the real scope.
A small but congested ceiling area may require more effort than a larger open floor. Several separate rooms may take longer than one continuous area of the same total size. Reporting, access and travel also remain part of the project.
This is why a scope-based quote is normally more meaningful than multiplying the floor area by a generic online rate.
How to Get a More Accurate Quote
You do not need a perfect drawing package. A few clear details are usually enough to get the process moving.
When contacting Titan Scanning, try to provide:
- The full site address.
- A brief description of the work.
- The number of proposed penetrations or scan areas.
- Approximate dimensions for each area.
- The diameter and depth of any planned holes or anchors.
- Whether the scan surface is a floor, wall or ceiling.
- Current photographs of the areas.
- A drawing with the locations marked, if available.
- Any access, parking, orientation or security requirements.
- Your preferred service date and working hours.
- The reporting requirements.
One useful detail is the actual size of the proposed penetration—not just the centre point. The technician needs enough surrounding area to evaluate possible drilling or cutting locations.
If several alternate locations are acceptable, show those too. An obstruction at the preferred point does not necessarily stop the work; it may simply mean the penetration needs to be shifted.
Can You Reduce the Cost of a Concrete Scan?
Usually, yes, at least to some extent. The goal is to reduce wasted site time without reducing the quality of the scan.
Before the technician arrives:
- Finalize as many scan locations as possible.
- Group nearby locations into one visit.
- Clear furniture, materials and equipment from the scan surface.
- Remove standing water where practical.
- Mark proposed holes or openings clearly.
- Confirm that the technician can access every area.
- Share drawings and photos in advance.
- Coordinate with the cutting or coring contractor.
- Confirm who is authorized to approve alternate locations.
What should not be reduced is the scan area simply to save a few minutes. Scanning only the exact centre of a proposed hole may not provide enough information to identify a suitable path or alternate location.
Is Concrete Scanning Worth the Cost?
The cost of the scan is only one side of the comparison.
Striking an electrical conduit, water line, post-tension cable or structural reinforcement can lead to repairs, shutdowns, schedule delays and serious safety concerns. Not every incident becomes a disaster, of course, but even a relatively contained problem can cost far more than the original investigation.
Concrete scanning helps the project team make a better-informed decision before the surface is penetrated. It is non-destructive, can be completed from one accessible side in many situations and provides results that can be marked on site.
Learn more about the broader project benefits in Why Concrete Scanning Is Essential for Your Next Project.
Concrete Scanning Cost: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a GPR survey cost?
A GPR survey must be priced according to its purpose and scope. Concrete scanning for several core locations is different from an underground utility investigation or a large structural survey. The site address, scan area, access conditions and required deliverables are needed before a meaningful price can be provided.
How long does concrete scanning take?
The duration depends on the number of scan areas, their size, accessibility and the complexity of the concrete. Providing marked drawings and photographs in advance can help the scanning company estimate the required time.
Does a small hole still need to be scanned?
The diameter of the hole does not tell you whether the location is clear. A small drill bit can still encounter reinforcement, a conduit or another embedded object. If concrete will be penetrated, the risk should be assessed before work begins.
Can GPR identify every object inside concrete?
GPR detects reflections and patterns that an experienced technician interprets. Conditions such as dense reinforcement, moisture, metal fibres and target depth can affect the results. It is better to think of GPR as a professional investigation rather than a guaranteed photograph of everything inside the slab.
Is scanning included with concrete cutting or coring?
That depends on the contractor and project agreement. Do not assume scanning is included. Confirm who is responsible for arranging it, what areas will be scanned and what documentation will be provided.
Does a concrete scan approve the hole for drilling?
Not automatically. Scanning provides information about observed embedded targets. Structural approval, permits or engineering review may still be required depending on the slab and the proposed work.
Request a Concrete Scanning Quote
The quickest way to obtain a useful quote is to send Titan Scanning the project address, proposed scan locations, photographs and preferred service date.
Titan provides GPR concrete scanning for construction, renovation, cutting, coring and anchoring projects across Ottawa and the GTA.
Contact Titan Scanning or call:
Ottawa: (613) 250-8158
GTA: (437) 419-6669
A little information up front goes a long way. It helps the team price the right scope, arrive prepared and keep the next stage of your project moving.