A building set out marks your approved plans directly onto the ground so your builder knows precisely where each footing, wall and structural point belongs. At Stacey Surveying, we’re licensed cadastral surveyors providing construction site surveying throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria. Put simply, we give you the confidence that what’s on paper is what gets built. Using nails in stakes or paling fences, we set out clearly labelled building lines so your property is constructed in the correct location with accurately dimensioned walls.

What a Building Set Out Survey Involves

Once your plans are approved, our surveyor attends your site and physically transfers the architect’s design onto the ground. This involves identifying and marking the major structural points your builder needs to work from (such as footings, building corners, wall lines, column positions and floor levels), all referenced to your title boundaries.

A building set out survey is precise work. We use total stations and GPS equipment to achieve millimetre-level accuracy throughout your site. All marks are clearly labelled and placed where they can be easily found and followed during construction. The result is a clean, unambiguous reference your builder can rely on from the first day of work.

When Do You Need a Building Set Out Survey?

A building set out survey is required whenever a structure needs to be placed accurately. This includes projects such as:

• New residential home builds
• Extensions and additions to existing homes
• Commercial and high-rise developments
• Swimming pools
• Retaining walls
• Fences along sensitive boundaries
• Roads, bridges and tunnels
• Large infrastructure and civil works

Construction set out surveys are needed before footings are poured. They’re often a condition of your building permit or builder’s contract, so it’s worthwhile to book yours in early.

Our Process

1. Plan & Site Review

Your surveyor reviews the architect’s plans, the title and any site conditions or constraints that may affect placement, such as easements, slope or existing structures.

2. Pre-Site Calculations

All set out data is computed and prepared in the office before we attend your site, so the on-site work is fast, accurate and free of surprises.

3. On-Site Marking

We place marks using stakes, pegs or paling fences for your builder to follow during construction. All lines are clearly labelled, so there’s no guesswork on the ground.

4. Plan Delivery

After an internal QA check, we produce a marked-up plan in both PDF and CAD formats. This gives you and your builder a clear, shareable record of the set out.