Self Survey Guide
01 - SKETCH OUT THE FLOOR PLANS
Depending on the size of your property you can usually draw one floor plan per page e.g. ground floor on one page, first floor on the next page. However, you can break the floor plans up into sections or rooms if you prefer. Label each sheet of paper with either the floor level, section or room name as you go.
02 - INTERNAL MEASUREMENTS
Start measuring in one corner of the room and work your way around in one direction. Take your measurements at a height where you can pick up features such as doors and windows. Take running dimensions across the full lengths of your walls where possible. Make a note of the thicknesses of walls, which will vary internally and externally.
In some locations it will be possible for you to get an overall dimension between two rooms, take the measurement from the wall in one room through the door to the wall in the adjoining room.
03 - KEY MEASUREMENTS
Don't forget to measure ceiling heights and pick up the floor thickness, this will usually be possible at the stair landing. Note any level changes in the ceiling, i.e. where beams downstand, and note the height from floor to the underside.
Measure door widths and heights from inside the frame, noting the general frame thickness. Doors are likely to be the same size throughout your property but there can be variations. For windows, measure the structural opening rather than the frame. Measure floor to cill height and cill to window head height.
Stairs should be considered both horizontally and vertically. Horizontally you can measure the stair width, tread depth, and lengths of any landings. Vertically you can measure the height of each riser. Make a note of the number of treads and the number of risers. If possible take a measurement of the overall height of the stair from the top landing to the lower floor.
04Â - LOFT MEASUREMENTS
We can provide detailed specification lists of all the finishes, fixtures and furnishings, along with supplier information and prices, for either your builder or yourself to procure. Having all this information in one handy schedule is extremely beneficial and can be used to control budgets.
05Â -Â EXTERNAL ELEVATIONS AND MEASUREMENTS
We will be able to draw up your elevations from the information provided on the floor plans, however, now is a good time to pick up any external features, such as, steps, ramps, external canopies and anything that won't have been picked up on the internal survey.
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Try to take a measurement from the external ground to the underside of the roof eaves at each corner of your property. Check whether the external ground level varies around your property and find a constant you can measure from. We typically use the DPC. Provide a measurement from the ground to the DPC then from the DPC to the roof eaves at each corner. If your property has a gable try to take a DPC to underside of ridge measurement too.
06Â - Photos
After measuring each room/area take a photo of the entire room focusing on any complicated parts. Take photos of the outside of your property from various angles and from across the street to show the surrounding context. External photos allow us to take measurements by counting brick or stone courses and it would be useful to provide us with the height of one brick, usually 75mm or 65mm, or one stone course if they are regular.
