A Measured Building Survey is a comprehensive representation of a building, capturing intricate details like floor plans, cross-sections, elevations, and the specific features of the structure. We capture precise dimensions, layouts, and other vital details. It normally serves as the foundational document for various purposes such as property development, renovations, and architectural planning.

No, we have a lot of experience measuring all kinds of buildings and places! Typically, a Measured Building Survey covers both the internal and external elements of a building. Internal surveys capture details of rooms, hallways, and other areas within a building. External surveys, often known as elevations, detail the outer features. We often measure building sites, industrial spaces, factories, stadia and offices.

A Measured Building Survey is a technical document, but we ensure the data is suitable for all audiences. The results always include a detailed but clear .pdf plan - the foundation of any measured survey.  We can also include architectural sections and elevations, 3D CAD Plans, or even intricate 3D Revit Models. Should you find any aspect perplexing we are happy to help explain or express anything in a more helpful manner.

About 15 years ago laser technology became both accurate and user-friendly enough to be used on a professional scale in the property market. Prior to that we would use hand held lasers or tape measures to capture each individual measurement. This was a technique called ‘running dimensions’. Now we use LiDar technology, which is a 360 scan that rapidly collects hundreds of thousands of coordinated three-dimensional points from the surface of features, creating a 'point cloud' image. We also still use handheld digital tape measures, alongside drones and specialised software to ensure a commitment to total accuracy.

The duration of a Measured Building Survey varies based on several factors such as the size of the property, the level of detail required, and the specific areas you need to be surveyed. For a standard residential property we normally set aside a couple of hours. This is a process that used to take a whole day (at least) for a ‘typical’ family home - so we are embracing an exciting enhancement in efficiency. And it is a more accurate process than ever before! Technology is incredible.

There are loads of reasons why a measured survey might be needed. You might be looking to refurbish, convert, or extend a building. You might find yourself exploring obtaining planning permission. You might need to provide plans for an architect, an engineer, a lawyer or a contractor. A laser survey provides you with a detailed and accurate record of the existing structure, thus offering clarity and insight. This survey is indispensable for designing with precision; it helps property developers understand potential, and building managers in efficient space management. It’s also crucial for  preservation, ensuring the original essence of heritage structures is captured and maintained.

Yes! Some reflective and transparent material needs careful attention when scanning, but nothing makes it impossible. Our team is adept at capturing scans of all types of surfaces.

We will need the number of rooms and the type of property. We will also need the site address. That’s about it. It’s helpful if you can let us know if there is anything we need to know ahead of time (like curious feature, access issues, any safety considerations etc).

Not at all. It is not invasive and nothing is drilled into or affected or moved in any way. The scanner will normally sit on a cushioned tripod. We are trained to operate in very sensitive surroundings, so we make minimal impact. We don’t even need to move furniture around (or if we do - we ask permission first).

Normally we can manipulate the data capture into any output you need, so if you decide you need .dwgs further down the line, for example, we can handle that without any extra visits. Very occasionally we will return if we need to recapture some information - often if work has begun to a property, for example - but if we cannot capture information on our initial visit we will let you know.