Any architectural project involving an existing building will require a measured building survey before plans can commence. But what does this type of survey involve and how can clients need to consider before commissioning a measured building survey?
To get the best results, surveyors need to understand what the client is looking for from the results, and clients need to know what type of questions will be asked and how the process works to be fully prepared. In this guide, we’ll take a look at how best to prepare for a measured building survey and some of the common questions.
Before a measured survey
Familiarity with the site
Before visiting the site, surveyors need to find out as much about the building as possible. This might involve checking Google Maps to get a sense of the shape and orientation of the building via street view, so they can create a brief sketch of the building beforehand. It’s a good idea to arrive to carry out the survey with some idea of the structure and a sense of familiarity.
Another way to achieve this is with the planning portal which gives you access to planning applications, current and historic, which may include floor plans and site elevations. Any information like this is helpful prior to the measured building survey, so it’s worth doing some research to find them if they’re available.
The purpose of the survey
From the client’s side, surveyors need to know what the purpose of the measured survey is. Are they producing detailed plans with elevations and sections; is the survey for internal renovations or external works; is the purpose for planning permission? All of these questions and more will influence the type of survey and how detailed it needs to be.
An early consultation with the surveyor will provide clear communication and foundations for which the survey is built, so they can capture all of the right information. They’ll be able to talk the client through what’s needed from their side and the client can ask any questions, such as the measured survey cost.
Accessibility
Surveyors also need to know whether the building is accessible before attending to complete the survey. Sometimes, areas of a building are missed because it’s simply not possible to access it and appropriate access hasn’t been arranged ahead of the surveyor arriving. This might include roofs and lightwells, but also locked cupboards and basements which need to be viewed.
Using laser scanners and UAVs for measured building surveys can alleviate this problem to an extent, helping surveyors access hard to reach areas via technology, whether inside a building or aerial shots of the exterior, so they can complete a more in-depth survey.
Health and safety requirements
Lastly, before attending the property, it’s important to ensure that any health and safety or risk assessments have been carried out if required. Smaller projects may not need this, but a large-scale construction site may do.
Similarly, how many surveyors are attending? Will the site be unoccupied and do surveyors need to report to the office that they’ve arrived and left? These factors all need to be ascertained well in advance of the survey being completed in case any documents and forms need to be submitted.
Documenting the property
Measured building surveys can be labour-intensive, and they require a lot of planning and mental work as well as being physically demanding. Surveyors need to stay focused throughout the day in order to deliver a detailed report and ensure that what they write down or sketch out is accurate.
But as with many tasks, the better the equipment you have to do the job, the better the results will be. Today, technology is enhancing the measured survey process, making it easier to deliver detailed, thorough reports in less time and for lower costs. Laser scanners and UAV footage can be used to produce internal and external scans of the building to create point cloud models of the structure for REVIT and BIM applications.
Photography, 4K videos and laser scans can be combined to produced accurate and detailed plans outlining every detail of the property, from doors, windows and nooks to chimney breasts, elevations and exterior shots.
What’s included in a measured survey
A measured survey essential maps a building, inside and out, so all of the architectural elements and features are detailed in a digitised drawing of the building. This survey can be as detailed or as basic as the client needs, from external and internal elevations to sections, roofing and ceilings. The depth of detail required should be outlined prior to the survey taking place so that all parties are on the same page.
How long does a measured building survey take?
The more work required for the survey, and the larger the size of the property being surveyed, the longer the survey will take. A small one-bedroom flat, for example, may be able to be surveyed in as little as a few hours, followed by a day generating the CAD drawings to be supplied to the client. A large property, on the other hand, or an expansive site, will be much longer, both to survey and then generate the report afterwards. Measured surveys were previously carried out by hand using tape measures, pens and paper, but technology has resulted in a much faster and more efficient surveying process.
Final thoughts
A measured survey needs to be accurate and detailed. If not, the consequences can be significant, both in the cost and the amount of time wasted. Rushing through a survey only results un unreliable data and drawings, so it’s important to prepare fully and take your time to ensure that every detail is accounted for, both as a client and as a surveyor.
When undertaking a measured survey, instructing professionals who have ample experience is critical for the best results. Professional companies are insured and have direct experience which will ensure they know how to competently use the relevant equipment for the task at hand.