Surveying My Front Garden

[phykell]

Hi,

 

I'm having an garage/outbuilding constructed at the front of my house (principal elevation is to the rear) and while I've employed two architects over the last few years, neither of them have produced an accurate survey of the plot, preferring instead to use existing documents showing the plot in a reasonable level of detail. However, it's not necessarily accurate at all - my front garden is a really odd shape and I suspect the boundary between myself and my neighbour has been somewhat "flexible" - he had the original fence rebuilt and it may have ended up running over some of my land.

 

I'm not really bothered about the boundary being overrun but my outbuilding has to be 2m away from it and I now want to have an accurate survey done of my plot. Any suggestions how to tackle this and is it possible to do it myself?  

[DevilDamo]

Instruct a surveyor to carry out a topographical/land survey.

[Mr Punter]

35 minutes ago, DevilDamo said:

Instruct a surveyor to carry out a topographical/land survey.

 

+1 Less than £1,000 and very accurate.  They will record all the features, heights etc.  Architect will like it too.

[saveasteading]

For diy, it really depends on your skills. If you can do it you don't realise that others can't, and vice versa.

 

The secret is a base line. It might be an existing wall or you make your own. Then with measurements along it, you measure off at right angles to each and every feature. Then you draw it up to scale.

 

Triangulation gives a double check.

Buy 2 long tapes. 30 of 50m. Stanley of equivalent. Some pegs. Scale rule.

 

Slopes is another matter.

 

What accuracy do you need? Within mm or +/- 100mm?

 

Now that is only on paper. A specialist land surveyor will have it all in 3d on cad, to hand over to the subsequent designers.  

With very fancy (and very expensive) kit a specialist will do it very quickly.

[kandgmitchell]

We had our plot surveyed - about 1/3rd acre. It has a stream as one boundary, lots of trees and an odd shape being ex. agricultural. We had them plot the boundaries that been agreed with the land owner, provide levels on a 5m grid and put the contours on as the plot slopes. mark all trees etc and locate and give us the ridge and eaves height of the adjacent house for planning purposes. It cost us £340 plus vat last year. 

 

You would get it a bit cheaper for a simple boundary and building location survey (given they have to cover site attendance and kit procurement across all jobs).

[phykell]

Thanks all - my original idea to use white reflective plastic flags worked up to a point but I realised that the levels varied quite a lot plus the flags were difficult to use with a laser measure even with no wind/breeze. I ended up paying for a topographical survey which worked out really well - I could now see all of the potential drainage issues and the surveyor seemed to go to great lengths to include absolutely everything in terms of outbuildings, hedges, fences, etc. even going out onto the road to measure the extent of the hedges and the utility points, phone/power poles and so on.

 

So, good value for money and a really comprehensive and useful end product - had it printed A1 size which is ideal for planning the garden as well as everything else.  

[Conor]

4 minutes ago, phykell said:

Thanks all - my original idea to use white reflective plastic flags worked up to a point but I realised that the levels varied quite a lot plus the flags were difficult to use with a laser measure even with no wind/breeze. I ended up paying for a topographical survey which worked out really well - I could now see all of the potential drainage issues and the surveyor seemed to go to great lengths to include absolutely everything in terms of outbuildings, hedges, fences, etc. even going out onto the road to measure the extent of the hedges and the utility points, phone/power poles and so on.

 

So, good value for money and a really comprehensive and useful end product - had it printed A1 size which is ideal for planning the garden as well as everything else.  

 

yes, really worth it. Don't suppose if you know if they left a benchmark anywhere? Should be noted on the drawing. Usually a nail in a hard surface or a peg in soft. Handy for future setting out and a handy reference point. 

[saveasteading]

56 minutes ago, phykell said:

ended up paying for a topographical survey which worked out really well 

Do you mind telling us the cost?

 

I hope you have it on a computer file of some sort. Preferably an interactive one that any future professional can work with.