For all projects that we design and build, a garden survey is an essential part of the process. It can seem like an extra expense when considering how and where your budget is going to be spent, but without the detail that an accurate survey provides, it becomes challenging – or even impossible – to produce a set of design drawings that both reflect your requirements and that can be accurately priced for the build stage.
Survey costs are dependent on garden size and complexity and can range from a few hundred pounds to several hundred or even more for a large site. In many cases we are able to conduct the survey ourselves, but for particularly large or challenging sites a professional survey is usually necessary. We will discuss what is necessary for your project at the initial consultation stage and then include a quote for the survey as part of our design proposal.
In this blog we look at why a survey is necessary – and then at the importance of the site analysis, which we consider to be a key part of the survey process.
1. Without accurate dimensions, an accurate design and build quotation is impossible
The survey, together with the design brief, is the foundation of all our design decisions. If we don’t know the dimensions of your garden with a high degree of accuracy, this will lead to mistakes, which may not become obvious until the build stage. This is at best disappointing – and at worst can lead to extra expense.
2. Level data is crucial
The difference even minor level changes can make to a design is often overlooked. If a large site needs grading or re-leveling – or requires a significant dig out – it can be very difficult to provide an accurate quotation if level data is missing or inaccurate. Such data is even more vital when designing steps. The designer needs to know the exact level change to calculate the correct number of steps required to ensure the risers (the overall height of each step) are manageable and comfortable.
3. We need to know the exact position of existing features
This is particularly important when it comes to trees and shrubs that you want to retain. We need to know exactly where they are, both so that they don’t impact on hard landscaping decisions, but also when it comes to the planting design. It’s no use designing in a nice retaining wall and then realising that you can’t dig out the foundations because of potential damage to the root system of a tree you want to keep. And if we don’t have accurate existing plant positions, the planting design plan itself becomes something of a lottery.
4. Don’t forget the house!
It is an accepted rule of good garden design that it should relate in all ways to the house it surrounds. This starts with accurate measurement of the house features, doors, windows, door cills, airbricks, outdoor taps and power points – it’s a long list. We don’t want to design a patio that covers up and air brick or a flower bed that prevents access to an outdoor tap and if we’re thinking about key focal points in the garden then we need to know exactly where your house windows are and how the view will appear from them. This is particularly important when it comes to the lighting design stage and how the garden will appear at night when you’re sitting inside.
5. Why is a site analysis so important?
The survey is also the base document for the site analysis. We walk the site with the survey in hand to accurately plot views in and out that we want to keep or enhance, views that we may want to screen, areas of sun, areas of shade, local landscape character, site access, soil conditions and drainage issues, areas of exposure and aspect – to name a few. These, in conjunction with the survey itself, are absolutely fundamental to all of the design decisions that we then have to make on paper when away from the site.
Kevin Hosier – January 2023
If you would like to discuss a design and build project for your garden, please call Kevin on 07958 704261 or email kevin@jardinialandscapes.co.uk