How do I book a concrete scanning survey?

Booking a concrete scanning survey is straightforward when you have the right information to hand. Here is what to do.

What to provide

When you contact a scanning company, supply:

• The site address including postcode and any access notes.
• The element to be scanned — slab, wall, column, beam, or multiple.
• Approximate dimensions.
• Structural type if known — RC slab, post-tension floor, masonry, or “we don’t know”.
• The history — age, any major works, any known defects.
• The brief — what question is the scan answering? Pre-drill, structural assessment, defect investigation, etc.
• Drawings if you have them, even if old or incomplete.
• Site induction and PPE requirements.
• Programme constraints — when do you need it done by?
• Any unusual conditions — height work, confined space, secure environment, possession windows.

A reputable company comes back the same working day with a quote that explicitly states scope, method, and deliverable.

What you receive

A defensible quote includes:

• The scope of work — what will be scanned and what method will be used.
• The day rate or fixed fee.
• Travel and any other charges.
• The deliverable — on-slab markup, PDF report, CAD plan.
• The reporting timescale.
• The terms and conditions.

If anything is ambiguous, ask before you sign.

Booking and confirmation

Once you accept the quote:

• The surveyor confirms the booking with a date and time.
• The method statement and risk assessment are issued for review.
• Site induction is arranged — pre-induction wherever practical.
• Any specific PPE or competencies are confirmed.

Preparation

Before the surveyor arrives:

• Clean and prepare the scanning surfaces.
• Mark up the brief on the slab or drawings.
• Confirm access (lifts, MEWPs, scaffolding).
• Arrange a point of contact who can answer questions on the day.

A site that is ready when the surveyor arrives is a site where the survey runs cleanly. Surface preparation is usually a contractor’s job, not the surveyor’s.

On the day

The surveyor:

• Arrives, inducts (if not pre-inducted), sets up.
• Calibrates the equipment for the session.
• Scans the brief, marking findings on the slab as they go.
• Photographs the markings.
• Walks you through the findings before leaving.

The walk-through at the end is the most valuable conversation in the engagement. Use it.

After the day

You receive:

• The written report (typically next morning).
• The CAD plan in DXF or DWG.
• Photographs of the markings.
• The calibration record.
• The surveyor’s sign-off.

Read it critically. If it answers your original question and the deliverables are present, sign it off and act on it. If anything is unclear, query before downstream work depends on it.

Practical advice

For first-time commissioning:

1. Send the brief in writing — email is fine.
2. Use a reputable, credentialled company (EuroGPR Certified Surveyors, insured, PQQ-scheme members).
3. Read the quote carefully before signing.
4. Prepare the site before attendance.
5. Use the on-site debrief.
6. Review the report against the original brief.

For more detail, see How to commission a concrete scanning survey.

To start a Corvus quote now, use our get a quote form or contact us directly.