Property Surveys for Architects

A measured building survey captures the geometry of the existing building: dimensions, levels, wall thicknesses, room layouts, elevations and sections. It produces the drawings you need as the basis for design. A building survey assesses the condition of the building: the structure, the fabric, the services, any defects and the likely causes of those defects. It tells you what is sound, what needs repair and what constraints the existing building places on your design. Most projects involving existing buildings benefit from both, and we can combine them into a single commission to save you time and coordination effort.

Yes. We deliver measured survey drawings in industry-standard formats including DWG, DXF and PDF, and we can work with other formats if your practice uses a specific system. We agree the output format as part of the initial specification, so there are no surprises when the files arrive. We also provide layered drawings organised in a logical way, so you can isolate the information you need without wading through irrelevant detail.

We work to RICS professional standards for measured surveys, which define the expected accuracy based on the purpose of the survey. For most architectural design work, we survey to a tolerance of plus or minus 10mm for principal dimensions and plus or minus 5mm for floor-to-floor heights. We use a combination of laser scanning and traditional measurement techniques, selecting the right tool for each situation. If your project requires a higher level of accuracy, for example for cladding systems or joinery interfaces, we can agree a tighter specification at the quoting stage.

The site work for a typical three-bedroom house takes one to two days depending on the complexity, size and number of levels. The office work to produce the drawings typically takes a further three to five working days. Larger or more complex buildings take proportionally longer. We will give you a clear timeline when we quote, and we stick to it. If your project is particularly time-sensitive, please let us know at the outset and we will do our best to accommodate your programme.

Yes, and we have extensive experience with both. Listed buildings and conservation area properties require particular care, both in the physical inspection, where we take great care not to cause any damage or disturbance, and in the survey output, where we are alert to features of historic or architectural significance that may affect your design approach. We understand listed building consent requirements and can flag features that may be protected or that the conservation officer is likely to focus on.

Yes, and this is often the ideal time to do it. A pre-purchase building survey combined with a measured survey gives you and your client a complete picture of the property before the transaction completes. This means you can start designing with confidence immediately after completion, rather than waiting weeks for survey information that could have been gathered earlier. We just need the vendor's permission to access, which your client would arrange through the estate agent in the usual way.