An essential part of the garden design process
Garden surveys are a quintessential part of the garden design process. On occasion, you may be able to provide us with one (maybe you’ve had some plans drawn up by an architect too). On most occasions we request one be done by a professional surveyor. Even for smaller scale sites we insist on a survey, in our experience it will save you money in the long run.
What are garden surveys and how much do they cost?
RHS examiners give a clear definition of what garden surveys are. Briefly, it states that a ‘garden survey is the detailed surveying/measuring and recording of a garden together with features and services’.
They provide the basis for all construction drawings our team produce in the initial stages.
A professional survey costs between £350 and £650 for most average gardens, around £650 to £900 for larger sites and a few thousand for large estates with wooded areas and sprawling acreage.
Each company varies, but the usual turn around time from booking a surveyor to obtaining the drawing is around 2 weeks.
Expect your plans to arrive digitally unless you’ve specifically paid for paper copies, and be sure to obtain a pdf and dwg, because this is what architects and garden designers require to be able to build on the plans.
GARDEN SURVEY FEATURES
Features included in garden surveys include (by no means comprehensive):
- Buildings
- Trees
- Overhead or underground services
- Water features
- Potential risks
A key element of garden surveys is the topography of the outdoor space – that is, the lie of the land. It’s significant as it affects drainage, siting and design of new features, and the amount of effort needed for earthworks.
Here at Bestall & Co we use photographs to aid recollection and support any garden surveys performed. They’re indispensable when it comes to filling in the blanks or clarifying existing features.
Photos are also brilliant at capturing every step along the design process.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at Bestall & Co to arrange the first step in the creation of your dream garden!
