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[email protected] | 020 8935 5160
Need a quick price for your project? Get a quote
See example measured survey drawing types such as floor plans, elevations, and sections.
Article By: Tom Ayre
Last Update: April 2026
If you are commissioning a measured survey for the first time, or checking whether a surveyor’s deliverables are suitable for your architect or designer, this page explains what each drawing type shows and when it is needed.
The examples below cover the most common outputs from a measured building survey. If you want to see actual drawing samples in DWG and PDF format, you can download an example pack from the link below each section, or view our full measured survey service to discuss your specific requirements.
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CAD Floor plan drawings are one of the most common drawing types in architecture and building engineering projects. A floor plan is a scaled drawing showing a view from above, which clearly defines the relationship of rooms and areas to each other.
Floor plans are important as they show elements of a building and where they are positioned. Elements include doors, windows, walls, stairs, overhead beams etc.
A floor plan is one of the first places a designer will start when coming up with their designs. They can help to understand the layout of a room and see whether furniture fits, and obtain accurate floor areas for contractor pricing.
A standard floor plan typically shows wall thicknesses, door and window positions with sill and head heights noted, stair layouts, built-in cupboards and fireplaces, sanitary fittings, floor and ceiling level annotations, and room names. For loft plans, it will also show the rafter or truss layout where accessible.
A section drawing shows a cut through a building as if it has been sliced with a knife and one part has been removed. A section through a building is very useful for a designer as they can clearly see the relationships of the spaces to each other, which may not be clear on a plan.
They are also useful for getting a clearer picture of heights within a building and can show important relationships between items such as ceiling and floor levels. The direction and location of the section lines are usually stated on the floor plan drawing and, if drawn correctly, will show the section as it is at that exact location.
A measured survey section will typically show floor-to-ceiling heights on each level, floor construction depths where accessible, stair profiles, roof structure where visible, and any significant changes in level between rooms. One section is usually taken through the staircase; additional sections are specified by the architect or designer based on where the key relationships need to be understood.
An elevation drawing is a view showing one side of a building. It’s the most common method to show the outside of a building and is useful as it can clearly show what an existing or proposed situation looks like.
An elevation drawing can pick up basic information such as the location of doors, windows and steps, as well as more complex features of the building’s façade, such as architectural details above windows and ironmongery.
Depending on the building work taking place, an elevation will be required on the building faces that are being changed. For example, a rear extension may require both a rear elevation and a side elevation drawing.
A measured survey elevation will typically show wall openings with their positions and dimensions, door and window types and proportions, roof lines, chimneys, rainwater goods, and any significant architectural features or mouldings on the facade. For planning applications, external elevations are nearly always required on any face of the building where alterations are proposed.
A site plan can be defined as a slightly simplified topographical survey. This will show your building in relation to important features such as property boundaries, other buildings on site, large trees etc.
A site plan may also show where inspection chambers are and note their details, including invert levels and drain run directions. Sometimes it is crucial to know where your proposed development sits in regard to other features, so issues like planning permission are nullified.
A site plan produced from survey data will typically show the building outline in relation to boundary features, neighbouring structures, access points, significant trees, and hard and soft landscaping. Where levels are required, spot heights or contours can be added. This type of plan is commonly needed for planning submissions where the development affects the site beyond the building envelope itself.
The right combination depends on what you are doing and what your architect or local authority requires. As a general guide:
For a house extension or loft conversion planning application, you will typically need floor plans of all affected levels, external elevations of any faces being altered, and a site plan. A section is often required as well, particularly for loft conversions where the roof structure relationship is important.
For a full refurbishment or building regulations submission, a more complete drawing package is usually needed, including all floor plans, full elevations, sections, and in some cases ceiling plans and internal elevations for the rooms being altered.
For commercial fit-outs and office refurbishments, floor plans and reflected ceiling plans are the most commonly requested combination, with sections and elevations added depending on the scope.
For heritage and listed building work, a detailed survey covering all elevations, sections and any significant architectural features is usually required. Laser scanning is often the most appropriate method for these buildings.
If you are unsure which drawings your project needs, the easiest approach is to share the address and a brief description of the works with us and we can advise on a suitable scope.
Yes, ideally. The survey scope and cost depend on which drawings are required, so the more clearly you can describe what your architect or designer needs, the more accurate the quotation will be. If you are not sure, share the project brief and we can advise.
Yes. The links throughout this page go to a PDF sample pack showing typical drawing quality and content. If you need a DWG example or want to see drawings from a specific project type, get in touch and we can share relevant examples.
Seen enough to know what you need?
Send us the property address, the drawings required and any timescales, and we will confirm the survey scope and issue a quotation.
