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Crucial surveys for civil engineers & groundworkers
Identifying the best starting position for each site is key for civil engineers and groundworkers. Understanding how the site’s existing levels relate to the proposed ones, and where the new development will go, is vital.
To achieve this, you’ll need a survey of the existing site if one wasn’t carried out at the design stage. A topographical survey will give you a detailed map of the land’s features and elevations. This will help you to analyse the site and finalise the construction plans.
A land surveyor can also assist you with modelling the project’s proposed site layout against the existing one. This will enable your quantity surveyor to accurately calculate the costs for moving material on and off site.
Why choose Cheshire Surveys
We provide a range of surveys and related services across the North West, Cheshire, North Staffordshire and North Wales.
Passion & technical expertise
25+ years experience
Quality services tailored to your project
Meet our team on site
What surveys could you need?
As-Built Surveys
A fully up-to-date record of what has just been constructed, ensuring it matches the proposed plans. Useful for producing further plans that require an accurate site layout.
Floor Level Surveys
Quality survey check for various floor construction stages, from existing floors to newly constructed slabs.
Setting Out
Geocordinated setting out services for building groundworks and steelworks for new housing, commercial and industrial sites.
Topographical Surveys
Accurate, scaled plan of a site’s terrain, and a record of the position and levels of both manmade and natural features.
Volumetric Surveys & Terrain Models
Measuring the total amount of stockpiled, extracted or collected materials and aggregates. Suitable for construction, calculating and auditing.
Why might you need a survey?
Before a new project begins, you’ll have a health and safety risk assessment. A topographical survey can inform this by providing accurate data on the existing levels and features of a site. When used alongside utility surveys, ecological surveys and geotechnical surveys, it can help you to understand potential risks. Together, these can give you an accurate baseline for putting your health and safety plan in place.
If a topographical survey has been carried out on the development, we can create a detailed 3D terrain model. This will show the proposed site in relation to existing levels. This allows you to calculate the costs of moving material on and off site in the most efficient way.
The 3D model can also be used in GPS-guided excavators to level the site and prepare the foundations. This improves efficiency, accuracy, and is more cost-effective in your groundwork operations.
Our setting out services are crucial for projects that are large scale, complex or subject to space restrictions or constraints. Professional setting out ensures accurate construction, mitigating mistakes to prevent delays and unexpected costs.
We can mark out new building foundations, brickwork and levels. For roads, we set out kerb lines, road centrelines, pavements, verges and roundabouts. We assist with drainage by setting out locations for manholes, gullies, pipe runs, soakaways and service trenches.
Any project that requires accurate positioning to meet design specifications will benefit from setting out services. These include residential or commercial developments, house extensions, roads and drainage projects. We can also assist with large garden and landscaping schemes.
We support new drainage installations with both setting out and as-built surveys. Our setting out engineers can help ensure your new drainage is installed accurately and meets the proposed plans. Our as-built surveys then enable you to check that your newly installed drainage meets the required standards.
Civil, drainage and groundworks projects
Project examples and costs
Setting out for large residential extension
This private project consisted of a side and rear extension on a property. We carried out setting out for the strip foundation and the nails in concrete. It required just two site visits.
Estimated cost: £750.00 + VAT
Residential groundworks for a self-build
This large property project included significant work for the detached house and the pool house in the garden. Our team supported the project over two years, with visits as and when required on a call-off basis. We performed setting out for all the groundworks, including basements, house foundations, pool excavation and building.
Estimated cost: £5000.00 + VAT
Setting out for new housing development
This new housing development consisted of 6 houses and an apartment block. We carried out the setting out for the foundations and brickwork for each plot and the apartments. We also set out the estate’s internal road and parking areas. Once the groundworks were completed, we returned to the site to perform as built survey checks.
Estimated cost: £6000.00 +VAT
Residential drainage installation with as-built survey
As-built survey of drainage pop up locations within a new apartment building for social housing and external drainage manhole locations to demonstrate built in accordance with approved plans
Estimated cost: £1000.00 + VAT
Speak to our experts
Get free advice or a quote from our experienced team.
We’re known for our reliable, quality service and attention to detail.
The benefits of surveys for groundworkers & civil engineers
With our civil engineering and groundworks surveys, you can make better decisions about materials and construction techniques. Our land surveyor services can help you identify potential site challenges like uneven terrain and flood risk areas. This can help you to plan resources and time on site for the greatest efficiency.
Accurate site measurements enable designs that exactly fit the land’s specifications. With quality, detailed surveys, you can avoid costly, time-consuming errors.
When it’s time to start work on the ground, you’ll be able to refer back to our maps with confidence. You can ensure structures are built within the boundaries and according to the approved plans with accurate setting out.
How we work
Step 01
Request a quote
We’ll need your project’s address and a site plan. We’ll then get in touch for a consultation to confirm site details and understand exactly what your project needs.
Step 02
Quote accepted
Once your project is confirmed with us, we’ll arrange a convenient date for your survey.
Step 03
We complete your survey
We’ll visit your project site to carry out the survey. We can meet you on site if needed. We will then process the survey data and create a survey drawing.
Step 04
Receive your survey
We’ll share the survey data with you, usually within a few days. We use industry standard file types and can issue all the drawings in multiple formats.
