What Survey Do I Need for My Building Project?
If you are planning an extension, renovation, new-build, conversion or small development, one of the first questions you may come across is:
What type of survey do I actually need?
There are several different types of land and building surveys, and it is not always obvious which one applies to your project.
A topographical survey, measured building survey, boundary survey and construction survey all provide different information. In some cases, a project may require more than one type of survey.
Getting the right information at the beginning can help your architect, designer, engineer or contractor work from an accurate understanding of the existing site.
This guide explains the main types of survey and when they may be relevant.
Not sure what survey you need? Contact us to discuss your project.
Do I need a survey before starting my building project?
There is no single survey that is suitable for every building or development project.
The information required will depend on factors such as:
The size and shape of the site
Whether there are existing buildings
The proposed development
Changes in ground levels
Existing boundaries and site features
The requirements of your architect or designer
Engineering requirements
Planning or other project-specific requirements
Your architect, engineer or planning consultant may therefore recommend particular survey information before design work begins.
If you are unsure, a conversation with a land surveyor at an early stage can help establish what information can be captured from the existing site.
Topographical surveys
A topographical survey records the physical features and levels of a site.
Depending on the project, this can include features such as:
Ground levels
Buildings
Walls and fences
Hedges
Roads and kerbs
Manholes and other visible services
Retaining walls
Site access
Trees and other relevant features
Changes in ground level
The survey information can then be supplied as a CAD drawing and other agreed deliverables.
When might I need a topographical survey?
A topographical survey can be particularly useful for:
New-build developments
Residential developments
Extensions where external levels are important
Site planning and design
Land development
Civil engineering projects
Access and drainage design
Understanding how a proposed development sits within the existing site
For a development site, accurate information about the existing ground and surrounding features can give the design team a reliable starting point.
Measured building surveys
A measured building survey records an existing building and provides accurate dimensions and geometry for use in design or other project work.
Depending on the building and the required specification, this can include:
Floor plans
Internal room dimensions
Wall positions
Doors and windows
Building levels
Elevations
Roof information
Structural or architectural features
Sections
Measured building surveys can be particularly useful when existing drawings are missing, out of date or not sufficiently detailed for the proposed work.
When might I need a measured building survey?
You may need one when:
Extending an existing property
Converting or renovating a building
Altering the internal layout
Preparing architectural drawings
Surveying an older building
Creating accurate existing floor plans
Working on a commercial or larger building
For example, if an architect is designing an extension, accurate information about the existing building can provide the basis for the proposed design.
Do I need both a topographical survey and a measured building survey?
Sometimes, yes.
The two surveys provide different information.
A measured building survey concentrates primarily on the building itself, while a topographical survey concentrates on the site and its physical features and levels.
A project involving an existing house and a substantial area of surrounding land may therefore benefit from both.
For example, a development might require:
Measured building survey
→ Existing building geometry, floor plans and elevations
Topographical survey
→ Ground levels, boundaries, access, surrounding features and site information
Combining the two can provide the design team with a more complete picture of the existing site.
However, the exact survey requirements should be determined by the needs of the individual project.
What about a boundary survey?
A boundary survey is different again.
A boundary survey records the physical position of features on the ground, such as fences, walls, hedges and other boundary-related features, and can show their positions on a measured survey drawing.
This can be useful where the physical position of a boundary needs to be documented or considered as part of a project.
However, it is important to understand the distinction between a physical survey and determining legal ownership.
A surveyor can measure and show what is physically present on the ground. A survey does not, by itself, determine legal ownership of land.
If the question is about legal ownership, title interpretation or a legal boundary dispute, appropriate legal advice should be obtained.
When can drone surveying be useful?
Drone surveying can be particularly useful where a site is large, difficult to access or contains areas that would otherwise take considerable time to survey from the ground.
An RTK-equipped drone can capture aerial imagery and survey data over suitable sites, which can then be used alongside conventional surveying equipment where appropriate.
Drone surveying may be useful for:
Large development sites
Open land
Construction sites
Large areas of ground
Areas with difficult access
Supplementing ground-based survey information
A drone does not necessarily replace conventional surveying equipment.
For many projects, the most useful approach is to combine different technologies according to the site and the information required.
What if I already have drawings?
Existing drawings can be useful, but you should establish whether they are:
Accurate
Current
At a suitable scale
In the correct coordinate system
Detailed enough for the proposed work
Representative of the site as it exists today
Buildings and sites change over time.
Extensions may have been added, boundaries altered, ground levels changed or external features moved.
If an architect or engineer needs accurate information about the current site, an up-to-date measured survey may be appropriate even if older drawings are available.
What survey do I need for a house extension?
There is no universal answer because every property and proposed extension is different.
Depending on the project, the design team may need information about:
The existing building
Internal floor layouts
External elevations
Ground levels
Site boundaries
Garden or surrounding land
Existing walls, fences and other features
Drainage or visible service features
Access
A relatively simple extension may require less information than a complex project involving significant changes in levels or a large surrounding site.
Your architect or designer should be able to explain what information they need for the design.
What survey do I need for a new development?
For a new development, understanding the existing site is usually an important part of the design process.
A topographical survey may provide information about:
Existing ground levels
Site boundaries and physical features
Roads and access
Buildings
Vegetation
Retaining structures
Drainage features
Other relevant site details
If existing buildings are also involved, a measured building survey may be required.
For larger or more complicated developments, additional surveying services may be needed as the project progresses, including setting out or as-built surveys.
What happens if the survey is carried out before the design is finalised?
This is often the point at which a survey becomes particularly useful.
Rather than designing from assumptions about the existing site, your architect or designer can work from measured information.
The survey can establish the existing conditions before the proposed design is developed.
This can help identify things such as:
Changes in ground level
Existing building dimensions
Boundary positions
Site constraints
Access arrangements
Existing structures
It can also help the design team understand how a proposed development relates to the existing site.
What information should I give the surveyor?
When requesting a quotation, it is useful to provide as much information as you can.
This might include:
The site address or location
What you are planning to do
The approximate size of the site
Whether there are existing buildings
Whether an architect is involved
Any existing drawings
Planning information, if available
The areas that need to be surveyed
Any particular features your designer needs recorded
If you already have an architect or engineer involved, it can also be useful to ask them what survey information they require.
The more clearly the scope is defined, the easier it is to determine what needs to be surveyed.
So, which survey do I need?
As a general guide:
Project | Survey that may be relevant |
House extension | Measured building survey and/or topographical survey |
New-build house | Topographical survey |
Residential development | Topographical survey, potentially with additional surveys |
Building conversion | Measured building survey |
Renovation of an existing building | Measured building survey |
Development involving an existing building and surrounding land | Topographical + measured building survey |
Boundary-related issue | Boundary survey |
Large or difficult-to-access site | Topographical survey, potentially incorporating drone surveying |
Construction project | Setting out and/or construction surveying |
Checking completed construction | As-built survey |
This table is intended as a guide rather than a definitive specification. The survey information required will depend on the individual project.
Planning a project and still unsure what survey information you need?
The best time to arrange a survey
In many cases, it makes sense to consider the survey before detailed design work begins.
That gives the design team accurate information about the existing site to work from.
If you are already working with an architect, engineer or planning consultant, ask them what information they require.
If you have not yet appointed a designer and are unsure what type of survey would be appropriate, a surveyor can discuss the proposed project with you and establish what information may be useful.
Need help deciding what survey you need?
If you are planning a building project, development or land-related project and are unsure what survey information you need, Landtech Surveys can discuss the requirements with you.
The aim should be to survey the information that is actually useful to your project rather than paying for unnecessary work.
Request a quote or get in touch to discuss your project.
Landtech Surveys provides topographical, measured building, boundary, drone and construction surveying services throughout Derbyshire and the wider East Midlands.
Comments