How to choose a concrete test instrument
By Grant, Inspection Tool Specialists. Reviewed November 2026.
Three things decide which concrete test instrument you need: what you must find out (surface hardness, cracks, moisture, thickness or internal condition), whether the structure is new or in service, and the standard or specification your project works to. Answer those first. A simple instrument gives a comparison, not a full structural assessment.
Which test?
| Need | Instrument | Typical in our range |
|---|---|---|
| Surface hardness as a comparison | Rebound hammer | TEM912 digital rebound hammer; PCE-HT-225A rebound hammer |
| Crack width | Crack width gauge or crack camera | CK-102 crack width gauge; TEM-A10 crack measuring camera |
| Moisture in concrete | Concrete moisture meter | PCE-PMI 2 concrete moisture meter |
| Slab or wall thickness | Concrete thickness gauge | TMLC-A thickness gauge; ZD-410 thickness gauge |
| Internal quality by ultrasonic pulse velocity | Pulse velocity tester | CJ-10 ultrasonic pulse velocity tester |
| Surface texture | Surface roughness tester | AR-132CT concrete surface texture tester |
| Cracks in surfaces | Surface crack detector | TC-200 surface crack detector |
| Checking a rebound hammer | Calibration anvil | TEM-60 calibration anvil |
Limits to understand
A rebound hammer reads the surface, which depends on the concrete's age, moisture and carbonation, so compare results on the same structure rather than reading strength from a single figure. Pulse velocity and surface methods give indications that need interpretation by a qualified engineer. Follow the standard your project uses for the test and the number of readings.
Price guide
As a guide to our current range, including VAT: rebound hammers from about R11,700; moisture meters from about R5,900; thickness gauges from about R26,600 to R32,500; crack gauges and cameras from about R28,300 to R34,700; pulse velocity testers from about R83,100. Prices change, so check the product pages and confirm the calibration each quote includes.
Questions we will ask you
Tell us what you need to find out, the age and type of the structure, the test standard or specification, the number of readings, whether readings must be recorded, and whether a qualified engineer will interpret the results. With that we can recommend an instrument and provide pricing.