Measured Building Survey
What Happens During Our Measured Building Survey?
Once you decide to proceed with LCCL Construction, the first step is a measured building survey of your property. Our surveyor attends your home and takes detailed measurements of every room, wall, window, door, ceiling height, floor level and external elevation. We also photograph the property inside and out to support the design process.
The survey typically takes 2 to 4 hours depending on the size of your property. During the visit, we also discuss your project in more detail, talk through your requirements on site and assess any specific conditions that may affect the design or construction.
These measurements form the foundation of all architectural drawings, structural calculations and planning applications for your project. Accurate survey data is essential for producing designs that work in practice, not just on paper.
Why Is a Measured Building Survey Required?
A measured building survey provides the accurate dimensional data needed to produce architectural drawings of your property. Without precise measurements, it is not possible to design an extension, loft conversion or renovation that fits your home correctly and meets building regulations.
The survey data is used to produce existing floor plans, existing elevations and section drawings. These form the basis for all proposed designs, planning permission drawings, building regulation submissions and structural engineer calculations. The local planning authority, building control, structural engineers and construction teams all rely on accurate survey drawings throughout the project.
The Measured Building Survey Process
Once we schedule the appointment date and time, we than attend your property and start the measurement of the property. Below are the stages of the measured building survey process:
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Step 01 — On-Site Measurement: Our surveyor attends your property and measures every room, corridor, staircase and external elevation. We record all wall thicknesses, window and door positions, ceiling heights, floor levels and any existing features that affect the design. External measurements include the front, rear and side elevations, roof heights, boundary positions and neighbouring properties where relevant. We take photographs throughout to support the design team.
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Step 02 — Drawing Production: Back in the office, we import all measurements into our Autodesk CAD software and produce a complete set of existing drawings unique to your property. This includes existing floor plans for every level, existing elevations for all sides of the property, and section drawings showing internal heights and levels. These drawings are produced to scale and form the accurate base for all proposed design work.
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Step 03 — Design Phase Begins: With the existing drawings complete, we move on to producing proposed designs for your project. This starts with schematic design options showing how the extension, loft conversion or renovation could work, followed by detailed planning permission drawings for submission to your local authority.
Find out more about next step of the process: Planning permission drawings >
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What Our Measured Building Survey Includes
Every LCCL measured building survey includes internal measurements of all rooms, walls, windows, doors, ceiling heights and floor levels. External measurements covering all elevations, roof heights, eaves levels, ridge lines and boundary positions. Photographic records of the property inside and out. Production of existing floor plans, existing elevations and section drawings in Autodesk CAD. All drawings produced to scale and formatted for use in planning applications, building regulation submissions and structural engineer calculations.
For loft conversions, we also measure the existing roof structure, rafters, purlins, ridge height and available headroom. For extensions, we measure distances to boundaries, neighbouring properties and any outbuildings that may affect the design or planning.
LCCL Construction has carried out hundreds of measured building surveys across London and Hertfordshire over the past 20 years. With more than 200 verified reviews rated 4.7 out of 5 and LABC Awards Regional Winners 2024, our survey and design team has the experience to handle properties of all sizes and types, from Victorian terraced houses to large detached homes and new build sites.
Book Your Measured Building Survey
Ready to get started? Book a free consultation call to discuss your project and arrange a measured building survey at a time that suits you. Call 020 8037 7332, email info@lcclconstruction.co.uk or book online.
Testimonials
From planning to completion, Alex and his team were professional, reliable and delivered an outstanding loft conversion. The whole process was stress-free and the results exceeded our expectations." — KashImaging, Trustpilot
LCCL Construction managed the entire process seamlessly. The team kept us informed at every stage and the quality of work was exceptional." — Ludovic, Reviews.io
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How long does a measured building survey take?
A typical measured building survey takes between 2 and 4 hours on site, depending on the size and complexity of the property. A standard 3-bedroom terraced house usually takes around 2 hours, while larger detached properties or multi-storey homes may take longer. You do not need to be present for the entire survey, but we ask that someone is available to provide access to all rooms and the loft space.
Q2: Do I need to prepare anything before the survey?
We ask that all rooms, the loft hatch and any external areas are accessible on the day of the survey. If there is furniture blocking access to walls or the loft, please move what you can in advance. It is also helpful to have any existing drawings or deeds available, though this is not essential. Our surveyor will take care of everything else.
Q3: What drawings will I receive from the measured building survey?
You will receive a complete set of existing drawings produced in Autodesk CAD, including existing floor plans for every level of your property, existing elevations for all sides, and section drawings showing internal heights and levels. These drawings are produced to scale and form the base for all proposed design work, planning applications and structural calculations.
Q4: Is the measured building survey included in the design and build price?
The measured building survey is included as part of our architecture and design service. If you are using LCCL Construction for the full design and build, the survey cost is incorporated into the overall project fee. If you require a standalone survey without proceeding to the design phase, we can provide this as a separate service. Costs are discussed during the initial consultation call.