When you hire a general contractor to take on a construction project at your home or business, you probably have a lot of concerns, such as:
- Will your project be completed on time?
- Will it turn out how you envisioned it?
- Will your contractor keep the project within your budget?
One thing you might not be concerned about (but probably should be) is whether or not your general contractor will take the necessary steps to ensure your project is completed safely and responsibly.
Many construction and renovation projects require excavating and cutting into existing concrete. Has your general contractor included a line item in the contract to thoroughly scan the areas that will be disturbed? If the contractor will be excavating, trenching, or even just digging up a small area, they should, at the very least, call 8-1-1 to have the area scanned for public utility lines. This is a free service that is available to anyone, and will let you know where public utility lines such as power lines, water lines, and telecommunications cables are located underground so they can be avoided.
In addition to calling in the 8-1-1 service, a contractor should also ensure that there are no private utility lines or other underground hazards that they should be aware of. This could include things like irrigation lines, propane lines, and sewer lines that go to septic systems. To locate these items (and others), a private utility locating service will need to be brought in.
To find someone to locate buried private utilities, you should look for a company or individual offering GPR scanning services. GPR stands for ground penetrating radar, which is a non-destructive locating method that involves using high-frequency radio waves to produce subsurface images. GPR is great for locating both metallic and non-metallic objects, and works well in most types of soils, except for extremely rocky or wet ground.
Another use for GPR in the construction industry is for scanning concrete slabs or block walls prior to cutting into them. Whether you need to cut into a block wall to create a new opening or cut a trench in the concrete slab to run new water and sewer lines, you should have the area scanned prior to cutting. Doing so will ensure that you don’t hit any rebar or embedded utility lines, which could cause expensive damage and compromise the integrity of the concrete.
Most GPR scanning services will be able to scan for hazards buried underground as well as those embedded in concrete. Skilled technicians are able to provide their customers with prompt results, allowing them to proceed safely with their projects in a timely manner.