What Affects The Cost Of A Concrete Scan? 8 Factors Explained

The cost of a concrete scan is mostly set by one thing: how long the technician spends on site. Two jobs that both say “scan before coring” can take very different amounts of time, depending on the size of the area, what’s in the slab and how ready the site is.

Here are the eight factors that change the price, with real examples, and what you can do to keep your scan on budget. For our current rates, see How Much Does Concrete Scanning Cost in Metro Vancouver?

1. Number of locations

Each core, anchor or cut location needs its own scan. Three cores on one slab can be done in a short visit. Forty anchor points for new equipment take much longer.

Tip: book all the locations on your project in one visit instead of several small ones.

2. Size and shape of the scan area

A single core needs a small grid around it. A saw cut or trench line needs the whole path scanned, and an opening for a new stair or elevator needs a large area mapped.

3. What’s inside the slab

A slab with one layer of rebar is quick to read. A post-tension slab, or one with conduits, in-floor heating and two layers of steel crossing each other, takes more passes and more careful marking. This extra care is exactly where scanning prevents the costliest strikes.

4. Slab type and thickness

Suspended slabs, slabs on grade, walls, beams and footings each need a different approach. Thicker or older concrete can take more time to interpret.

5. Site access and preparation

Time spent waiting is time on the bill. Common delays:

Locations not marked when the technician arrives
Materials, tools or racking blocking the area
Waiting for keys, elevators or a site contact
Parking or loading restrictions downtown

A site that’s marked and cleared before we arrive is the single biggest saving you control.

6. Surface conditions

Tile, epoxy, carpet, standing water or very rough concrete can slow the scan or need extra steps. Tell us what’s on the surface when you book. If it’s raining outside, see Scanning in the Rain: Can GPR Work in Wet Conditions?

7. Timing

Same-day rush, evenings and weekends usually cost more than a scan booked a few days ahead during normal hours. Occupied offices, hospitals and retail spaces sometimes require after-hours work.

8. Location and travel

Every job includes a travel fee, inside and outside Metro Vancouver. The fee depends on the distance from our base in Coquitlam: lower for nearby cities, higher for the Fraser Valley, the Interior or Northern BC. It is always shown in your quote.

Two jobs, two very different scans

	Job A: condo renovation	Job B: parkade EV chargers
Locations	3 cores for new plumbing	25 cores and anchors across 2 levels
Slab	Conventional, one rebar layer	Post-tensioned, with conduits
Site	Marked and cleared	Cars parked over some locations
Timing	Booked a week ahead	Weekend, to avoid residents
Time on site	Short visit	Most of a day

Both are “concrete scans”, but Job B takes many times longer because of the number of locations, the PT slab, access and timing.

How to keep your scan on budget

Mark every location before we arrive.
Clear the area of materials, vehicles and equipment.
Book all locations in one visit.
Book a few days ahead to avoid rush charges.
Share drawings and tell us if the slab may be post-tensioned.
Have someone on site who can confirm locations right away.

Our free Safety Checklist covers the main prep steps.

The cost that matters most

A scan is a small, predictable cost. Hitting a post-tension cable or a live conduit is not: it can stop the job, bring in engineers and lead to expensive repairs. Read Concrete Scanning in BC: Why Every Core Needs a Scan.