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Ground penetrating radar, commonly known as GPR, is the best non-destructive way to determine the thickness of a concrete slab before drilling, cutting, coring or trenching. This evaluation technique uses radar waves to calculate an accurate estimate of the thicknessof the slab.
In the past, core extraction was the most common way to measure the thickness of a concrete slab. There are several issues with this method, though. It creates holes in the slab, for one. It also does not account for variances in the thickness across the slab. It is also time-consuming and labor-intensive. This means it can be costly for home or business owners who need to know how thick their slab is before trenching for drains, plumbing, electrical or other utility installations.
Ground penetrating radar is a quick, easy method of accurately estimating the slab thickness for before trenching. For some applications, a minimum thickness is needed. You can also use this information to estimate costs for trenching and removal.
How Does GPR Work To Measure The Thickness Of Concrete?
GPR uses radar waves to penetrate the concrete and determine its thickness. A technician scans the slab with the scanner, which collects a profile. This works because the radar waves penetrate concrete, soil, metal and other materials at different rates. The technician receives an immediate reading on the scanner’s screen, and can even save images to share. The variations in the thickness are then marked directly on the concrete with a permanent pen, chalk or on paper taped to the slab.
While the depth results are not 100% exact, GPR offers an accurate estimate which is effective for most purposes. GPR scans for thickness can also help make the process easier because they locate supports and other structures within the concrete. These can then be marked and avoided during drilling, trenching, cutting or coring.