About our Measured Building Surveys
A measured building survey (MBS) is a highly detailed visual record of a building, usually comprising of floor plans and external elevations, but also cross sections and internal elevations as required.
What's involved?
Floor Plans
Floor plans can be produced for any building ranging from residential properties to larger, more complex commercial and industrial premises. The level of information presented can be as basic as room outlines and openings, through to including all fixtures and fittings as necessary
Elevations
Building elevations can be provided as a standalone service or as part of a full MBS. Elevation drawings typically show the external facade of a building, showing the finished appearance including structural and architectural detail
Cross Sections
Cross sections can be produced through any part of the measured building survey, showing all visible structural detail along the cut line. Full elevation detail can also be shown in the background of the cross section
Internal Elevations
Internal elevations are often produced for interior design purposes and give an accurate positional record of the fixed internal detail and visible structural elements of a room
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Contact the team to discuss what surveying services we can provide you with
Contact usMeasured Building Survey FAQs
What is a measured building survey?
A measured building survey provides a full and detailed record of a building by combining internal floor plans, external elevations, cross sections, and occasionally internal elevations. This is often accompanied by a topographic survey in order to place the building within its surroundings.
When is a measured building survey necessary?
Measured building surveys are essential whenever alterations, extensions or refurbishments are being planned.
Architects, engineers and designers rely on accurate drawings to design confidently and avoid costly mistakes on site. Knowing the exact layout, dimensions, levels and position of structural elements allows extensions to fit seamlessly, structural loads to be assessed correctly, and spaces to be planned efficiently.
They are also commonly used for lease plans, fire plans, space planning, facilities management and creating an accurate record of an existing property.
What will I receive once the survey is completed?
Deliverables depend on your requirements and can include floor plans, elevations, sections or a full drawing package. Detail levels can range from basic layouts to full architectural information, including services and fixtures.
We supply drawings in AutoCAD DWG and PDF formats, along with site photographs. Our laser scan point cloud data (LAS or E57) can also be provided if required. Plans are typically issued at 1:50, with elevations and sections at 1:100.
How much does a measured building survey cost?
Each job is priced individually, and the cost is based on the time we estimate to be required. This will vary depending on the size of the building and number of rooms, as well as building condition and access, and the survey specification requested. We will provide you with a quotation so that you are aware of all costs before any work is instructed
How long will the survey take?
Survey time is completely dependent on the size of the building and the access arrangements. Whilst we will work around any limitations, ideally we would have full access to the whole building at the time of survey so that the survey can be carried out in an efficient and methodical manner. We can let you know when quoting how long we expect to need on-site
What equipment will be used?
All our measured building surveys are carried out using laser scanners. These capture millions of points each second, building up a 3D ‘point cloud’ of data. We maintain a fleet of scanners, each with their own particular strengths. The survey will involve a series of tripod setups throughout the building with several scans being carried out in each room to collect all the data.
Who carries out the survey?
We have a team of surveyors, all with recognised qualifications. We are also full members of The Survey Association and are regulated by the RICS
What is not included in a standard measured building survey?
Standard surveys focus on the agreed areas and level of detail. Spaces such as lofts, roof voids or crawl spaces are not usually included unless access is required for planned works.
Detailed internal services (sockets, lighting, pipework), internal elevations, specialist sections or highly detailed architectural features are also typically excluded unless specified.
The good news is that all surveys are fully flexible. Because we capture comprehensive laser scan data, we can add extra drawings or detail later if your project evolves — helping you control costs while keeping options open.
