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Is a Topographical Survey Necessary Before Residential Construction?

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Before developing a lot, you could start working with a property land surveyor. This professional carries out a range of surveys to provide you with as much information as possible regarding the land that you want to build on. And one survey that is often prioritised is a topographical survey.

Unlike a boundary survey, for example, that determines property lines, a topographical survey focuses on the ascent of the lot. Hence, the land surveyor will use this survey to determine the size and height of features on the lot, the slope of the terrain and so on. But why would you need one? Keep reading to learn why a topographical survey is necessary before residential construction is underway. 

1. A topographical survey will determine if the and can support residential construction

Before you can start clearing the land and excavating it for foundation construction, it is imperative that you know whether the land is capable of withstanding development in the first place. To do so, the land surveyor will carry out a topographical assessment that takes into account the predominant soil type on the lot as well the degree of elevation.

These elements will establish if you would need to engage in levelling of the site or backfilling certain areas to ensure the ground is stable. Take note, the same survey will alert you if the soil is too weak and this would make the development project unfeasible even with reinforcement measures.

2. A topographical survey will figure out the potential applications for the lot

A topographical survey can help you determine how you can best use this lot. The misconception that some people have is that as long as there is space on the lot, they can construct the house of their dreams but this is not always the case. A couple of aspects would influence the type of development that you can engage in.

First, the land surveyor will take into account the features on the property that affect wind flow, movement of water and so on and this information will help them identify prospective sections of the lot that would be ideal for construction. Then, a topographical survey will also help with plotting your proposed structure on the map and this gives you an idea of what the finished development will appear.

To learn more about the process, it's best to reach out to a local property land surveyor. 


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