Joe, an architectural designer, approached us for a complete measured survey and existing drawings of a domestic property in Beckenham. He needed a base set that would let him move straight into concept and planning work without any redrawing:
- Site plan
- All floor plans – ground, first and second floors, including the side garage
- A front-to-back section through the house
- All elevations
- Level information across the site
- Existing trees plotted in relation to the house
He also asked, very sensibly, that we confirm whether our fee was inclusive of VAT and what our earliest availability would be, as he was working to a tight programme and needed realistic dates to tell his client and plan officer.
Once we clarified that our quoted fee was the total payable (no VAT added) and that we had survey capacity the following week, Joe confirmed he wanted to proceed and asked us to set out “next steps and availability”.
Structuring the scope – measured survey + topo working together
Because the brief combined building detail and site levels/trees, we split the scope into two clear work streams:
- Measured building survey
- All internal floor plans (GF/FF/SF) including the attached garage
- Front, rear and side elevations
- One longitudinal section front-to-back
- Topographical survey
- Site boundary and key features
- Levels across the site to capture changes in ground level
- Position of trees on the site, plotted in relation to the property
We then:
- Issued a formal quotation reflecting the combined scope
- Set expectations for survey duration and drawing turnaround
- Flagged that we could work at short notice, subject to payment and access
When Joe confirmed he would like to proceed, we sent over the initial invoice with a note that payment would secure and activate the survey slot.
Coordinating the surveys – two specialists, one deliverable
Joe’s only constraint was the school run – he couldn’t be on site before 9:30 am. We shaped our plan around that and quickly moved through the logistics:
1. Initial payment and booking
Once Joe settled the invoice, we:
- Confirmed receipt of funds
- Locked in survey dates for both measured and topographical work
- Shared full surveyor details so Joe knew who to expect on site
Measured survey
- Surveyor: Ali Uddin
- Initial arrival slot: afternoon, between roughly 4:00–4:30 pm (with a note we’d try to be earlier if possible)
Topographical survey
- Surveyor: Mihai (specialist topo partner)
- Arrival: Thursday morning, between 9:00–10:00 am
We also checked back later in the project when Ali returned for a follow-up measured visit; for that revisit we agreed a 1:30–2:00 pm window and ensured Joe could be on site from 1:30 pm.
2. On-site workflow
Across the two visits, our team captured:
- Internal geometry
- Room footprints, wall thicknesses, stair positions
- Changes in level inside the house
- Key elements for the section (ridge line, floor levels, significant openings)
- External envelope
- All required elevations – principal facades and sides
- Relationship between internal and external dimensions for good elevation accuracy
- Topographical data
- Spot levels and level grids to show the fall of the site
- Trees on the plot, plotted with enough accuracy to inform design and planning
- Positions of the building footprint and key hard-landscaping features
Throughout, we used our usual combination of laser distance measurement, photo documentation and topo instrumentation (via our partner) so the CAD work could be built on reliable data rather than estimates or mapping alone.
Turning survey data into drawings
Once both surveys were complete, we moved into production:
- Data upload and organisation
- All field notes, laser measurements and topo outputs checked and filed
- Photo sets labelled so the CAD technician could confirm ambiguous features
- CAD drafting
- Existing plans, elevations and the long section built in CAD layer structures suited for architects and planning consultants
- Site plan created with levels and tree positions integrated from the topo survey
- Internal QA
- Cross-checks of dimension loops and level relationships
- Consistency checks between plans, elevations and the section (windows, doors, ridges, etc.)
Once the internal QA was complete, we sent Joe a draft PDF pack containing:
- All floor plans (including the garage)
- Elevations and section
- Site plan with level indications and trees
We then issued the final invoice, noting that the DWG file and photographs would be released once payment was settled.
Finalisation – releasing DWG so design could start
Joe paid the final invoice promptly and emailed to say:
“I have made the final payment. I look forward to receiving final drawings soon.”
We confirmed payment and issued the final deliverables:
- DWG file(s) of the full existing set (site, plans, elevations, section)
- Final PDFs, suitable for submitting to the local authority or sharing with the client
- Photo set, to help his team with design details and any later questions about existing conditions
Outcome – a complete “existing” picture for a complex brief
By the end of the project, Joe had a single, coherent CAD base that covered everything he’d originally requested:
- Site plan with levels and trees plotted
- All existing floor plans, including the side garage
- A front-to-back section through the house
- All relevant elevations
From our side, the Beckenham project was a good example of how we like to work when the brief has a lot of moving parts:
- Combine measured and topo surveys under one coordinated scope
- Align site timings with real life (school runs, client availability) instead of forcing inconvenient slots
- Be explicit about deliverables – PDFs plus DWGs – so designers can get straight to work
The result is that Joe can now develop his design with confidence, knowing that levels, trees and building geometry all sit on the same accurate “existing” model, ready for planning and technical design.
Project Details
| Service Type | Measured building survey, topographical survey & full existing drawings (plans, elevations, section, levels, trees) |
| Time Taken | 1-2 weeks |
| Budget | £1,200–£1,500 |
| Location | Beckenham, south-east Londonn |
