A system for non-destructively imaging surfaces through a coating, in accordance with the present invention, includes a near-infrared (NIR) light source for illuminating a coated surface. A detector is positioned in an operative relationship with the NIR light source to receive light backscattered from the coated surface and from the coating. A gating device is positioned in an operative relationship with the detector to selectively permit light to pass to the detector to measure optical characteristics of the backscattered light such that determinations of a state of a surface below the coating is determined based on the optical characteristics of the backscattered light. Methods for performing the non-destructive imaging of the present invention are also disclosed.