Site Measurements
It is essential that accurate measurements be taken in order to produce your landscape design. The tools you are going to need for this are: your property survey, tape measure (preferably 100’), clip board, graph paper, pencil, eraser and a screwdriver, long peg or nail to hold your tape measure in place if you are taking the measurements by yourself. Note if you do not have a property survey a copy can often be obtained from the city or county engineer’s office, the lending institution holding the mortgage or the real estate office that sold the home.
Recording Site Measurements
There are three ways to take measurement s they are direct measuring, baseline measuring and triangulation measuring. For your property you may be doing all three types. Direct measuring is measuring from point A to point B. Using the triangulation method you will be able to locate a point in relation to two other known points. This is most often used when measuring the distance of trees. To do this simply measure and record the distance from each of the corners of the house to the centre of the tree. This method can also be used to locate other individual elements such as sheds, poles, lights and utility boxes. Baseline measuring is a system that aligns the tape measure along a known line, referred to as a baseline, and locates other points or edges along that baseline. The example shows how a baseline measurement is used to measure a door and windows along the side of a house.
When recording the measurements it is important that the measurements are recorded in an organized and legible fashion. Follow the steps listed below.
Step 1
Create a sketch of the house for measuring the walls, doors and windows. On an 8 ½“x 11” graph paper attached to a clipboard, sketch the configuration of the house’s outside walls. Use capital letters to note the house’s corners.
Step 2
Estimate the location of all the doors and windows on the sketch. Doors should be noted as D1, D2 etc., while the windows will be noted as W1, W2, and so on. There should be two sides (jambs) to every door and window marked on your sketch. For each side of the house, starting from corner “A”, number the jambs consecutively starting with the number 1. Continue all the way around the house until all the jambs are numbered as shown in the first example.
Step 3
With the tape measure stretched along each wall use the baseline method of measuring to record your wall, door and window measurements. Record your measurements as shown in the example.
Step 4
Once you have the horizontal measurements of the doors and windows recorded, record the height of the main floor doors and windows. Mark all doors and windows above grade with a +, for example window 1 might be recorded as W1: +3’6” if the window was below grade it would be record with a – sign.
Step 5
Locate and mark on your sketch other important elements such as, gas meters, air conditioners, water spigots, downspouts, window wells etc. Listed are some abbreviations you can use on your sketch:
Gas meter - GM Electrical outlet - EO Electric meter - EM Cable TV hook-up - TV Water faucet-WF Dryer vent - DV Downspout - DS Flood light - FL Telephone hook-up - TE Air Conditioning -AC
Record the measurements for these elements in the same way you recorded the doors and windows.
Recording your measurements in this way makes it clear what the measurements are for when drafting up the base plan. When you have finished recording your measurements your sketch should look similar to the one below.
Step 6
Make a copy of your property survey. Using this survey mark the corners of the property with Roman numerals. On this survey you are also going to mark any above ground utilities, trees, shrubs, decks, walkways, patios, sheds or any other structures you want to retain in the landscape. You can also make notes on desirable views, prevailing winds etc.
Locating utility lines. Phone your province’s “Call Before You Dig” 1 call service, at no charge, to locate any underground utilities. For utilities located above ground measure their location using the triangulation method of measuring. Always use caution around utilities. When measuring the height of hydro lines have someone stand under the line and estimate the height of the line based on the height of the person.
Mature trees and shrubs you wish to keep should be marked on the survey using the triangulation method of measuring as well. Label the trees T1, T2 etc. and shrubs should be labeled S1, S2 and so on. Include the spread of any trees using the tree’s drip line as a guide as well as the estimated height of the tree. It is also helpful to include the diameter of the trunk as well as the height of the tree’s canopy. They should be recorded as shown in the example below.
Decks and other permanent structures you wish to keep can be marked on the survey using the direct method of measuring.
Step 7
Once you have all your measurements recorded, scan the house measurement sketch, a copy of your original property survey, and the survey you have just finished recording measurements on and email all three to info@gardeninspirationlandscapedesigns.ca.
Note: If your property survey does not have significant grade changes marked on it using a blank copy of your property survey note the grade changes and email that to Garden Inspiration as well. |
