Renovation & Extension Survey in Cornubia
A contour and detail survey on a 4,500 m² sloping block with a pool, shed and plenty of retaining walls, delivered in 9 days so the designer could plan the extension.
- Site4,500 m²
- Turnaround9 days
- Cost$3,400
The Brief
The owners were planning renovations and extensions to their existing home. The existing house is staying, so the new work has to tie in perfectly with what's already there.
That makes the survey even more important. Before the designer could start, they needed to know:
- Existing floor levels, so the new rooms line up with the old ones without awkward steps
- Ridge, eave and gutter heights, so the new roof can join onto the existing one
- How the ground falls around the house, which affects footings, retaining and drainage for the extension
- Where the pool, shed, retaining walls and trees sit, so the extension works around them
- The driveway levels, for access to the new parts of the home
On a renovation or extension, small differences in level make a big difference. Getting accurate floor and roof levels up front saves your builder from surprises when the new work meets the old.
The Site
This was a big one. The block is around 4,500 m², roughly 38 m wide and 120 m long, with almost 7 m of fall across the site.
On top of the size and slope, there was a lot to pick up: a large house, a pool, plenty of retaining walls, a long driveway, a big shed and a lot of established trees, each of which had to be located and measured.
What We Surveyed
A contour and detail survey picks up everything your designer needs to know about the site. On a block this size, that's a lot of detail. Here's what was captured.
- ✓Digital terrain model (DTM): ground levels, slopes and changes of grade across the full 7 m of fall, used to create the contours.
- ✓Roads: position and levels from the property to the kerb, plus the full length of the driveway.
- ✓Structures: the pool, retaining walls, concrete areas, stairs and the shed.
- ✓Buildings: the existing house, floor levels, ridge lines, eaves, gutter heights and downpipes.
- ✓Fences: fences, walls and gates.
- ✓Vegetation: significant trees with their trunk size and canopy spread, plus garden beds and hedges.
- ✓Street furniture: power poles, light poles, signs and similar.
- ✓Above ground services: pit lids, meters, valves, pool equipment and other visible service points.
- ✓Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) plans overlaid onto the survey, showing the approximate location of underground services. These are indicative only, and can be confirmed with underground service locating if needed.
- ✓Boundaries compiled from existing plans and overlaid onto the survey. This isn't a boundary survey and doesn't re-peg the boundaries, but it's essential for design, giving the designer what they need to work out setbacks before construction.
Photos From the Job
What the Client Received
Everything was delivered digitally, ready to pass straight to the designer.
Why It Cost $3,400
This job came in at $3,400. It was a standard contour and detail survey, but on a big, busy site with a lot to capture:
- A large block: around 4,500 m², which is a lot of ground to cover.
- Almost 7 m of fall: a sloping site needs far more levels to model accurately than a flat one.
- A larger house: more floor levels, rooflines, eaves and downpipes to pick up.
- Plenty of structures: a pool, a big shed and lots of retaining walls.
- A long driveway: picked up along its full length.
- Lots of trees: each one located, with trunk size and canopy spread.
Even with all that, the site work was still completed in a single day. Every site is different, so the best way to know what yours will cost is to get a quote.
Turnaround: 9 Days
From accepting the quote to the final files landing in the client's inbox took 9 days.
The survey itself is done on site in a day. What really decides your turnaround is how soon a surveyor can get to you. It's common to wait 6 to 8 weeks just to get a surveyor out to site. We don't overload our books, so we can usually get there within days and have your files back fast.
- 1Quote AcceptedJob booked in
- 2Site SurveyCompleted in one day
- 3ProcessingData drawn up and checked
- 4DeliveredFiles sent, day 9
Renovation & Extension Survey FAQs
Do I need a survey for a renovation or extension?
In most cases, yes. Your designer needs accurate levels for the existing house, including floor, eave and ridge heights, so the new work ties in with the old. A contour and detail survey also shows the slope, structures and trees around the house, which all affect where and how you can extend.
Why does a survey cost more on a large or sloping block?
Bigger blocks take longer to cover, and sloping sites need far more levels to model accurately. Pools, retaining walls, sheds, long driveways and lots of trees all add more to pick up and draw. This 4,500 m² block with almost 7 m of fall came in at $3,400.
How long does a survey take?
The site work for most residential surveys is done in a day, even on larger blocks like this one. The total turnaround mostly comes down to how soon the surveyor can get to site. This job was delivered 9 days after the quote was accepted.
Planning a renovation or extension?
Send us the address and we'll get you a quote for your contour and detail survey. Get a Quote