Dagenham, London
Riverside aggregates wharf, Dagenham
Piling setting out, Volume surveys, Remote monitoring and alerts
Setting out engineers for piles, foundations and steelwork
Experienced site engineers who put piles, foundations, gridlines, bolts and levels exactly where the drawings say. Single-person robotic total stations, fixed prices or day rates, and markers supplied free.
- Usually on site within 3 to 7 days
- Robotic total stations, calibrated annually
- Fixed price, day or half-day rates
TSA member
Full member of The Survey Association, the UK trade body for survey companies.
Quotes in 24 hours
Fixed price, confirmed timescales, no surprises on the invoice.
Since 2013
Over 2,000 surveys, from home extensions to nuclear power stations.
Fully insured
£1m professional indemnity and £5m public liability cover.
What setting out is
Setting out transfers the architect’s and engineer’s drawings onto the ground as physical markers, so every structure is built in the right place and at the right level. Our engineers use robotic total stations and GNSS to mark reference points and lines that guide the team placing foundations, piles, walls and steelwork.
Why use a professional setting out engineer
A mistake in setting out is cheap to prevent and very expensive to fix once concrete has been poured. A professional engineer with calibrated equipment reduces the risk of rework, keeps the following trades moving and gives you a record showing the work went in where the design said it should.
What we set out
- Foundations and footings. So the base of the building is aligned and level.
- Piles. Positions and cut-off levels for piling contractors.
- Gridlines, columns and steelwork. Including holding-down bolts.
- Walls and brickwork. Lines and levels so walls go up straight and true.
- Drainage, roads and utilities. Runs, inverts and levels for services and highways.
Where we have worked
From navigation towers in Liberia to a hospital helipad in Brighton and a flood barrier in Lincolnshire, our engineers have set out projects of every size. Most of our work is in London, Essex and Kent. If you have just commissioned a topographical survey from us, the control stations we left on site are ready for setting out.
Types of setting out
Building setting out
Gridlines, footings, walls, columns, holding-down bolts and levels set out from your drawings with robotic total stations, so the building goes up where the design says it should.
Piling setting out
Pile positions set out to tolerance ahead of the rig, then surveyed as built with cut-off levels and offsets reported, so the engineer can sign off pile caps with confidence.
Roads and drainage
Kerb lines, road levels, drainage runs, manholes and invert levels set out from your design, with as-built drainage records when the work is complete.
Site engineer hire
An experienced site engineer with their own robotic total station and GNSS, booked by the day or half day, for setting out, levels and checks whenever your programme needs one.
How it works
Quote and booking
Send the drawings and the elements you need setting out. We reply with a fixed price or a day or half-day rate, and our earliest date on site.
On site
Our engineer sets out foundations, piles, gridlines, walls, bolts and spot levels using a robotic total station or GNSS.
As-built record
If you need it, we process what was set out and issue a CAD and PDF as-built drawing for your records.
What it costs
Most setting out is booked on a day rate, which covers an experienced engineer and all equipment. Defined packages can be quoted at a fixed price.
| Typical job | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Site engineer with equipment, per day | £600 |
Prices exclude VAT.
Who we work with
Structural engineers
Piles, foundations and steelwork placed to the design, with a record to prove it.
Main contractors
A site engineer for the days you need one, without a full-time hire.
Groundworkers and builders
Footings, drainage runs and levels set out correctly before the concrete goes in.
Recent projects
See all projectsWhat clients say
Read our reviews on Google★★★★★
We was looking for a local company to survey our setting out on our new build project and came across THS, We are VERY happy with the service they provided, Tom visited the site and was very helpful and professional. providing a detailed description and was very thorough. we will defiantly be using THS in the near future.
★★★★★
I was impressed by THS Concepts topographical survey services' professionalism and accuracy. They were efficient and reasonably priced. I highly recommend them.
★★★★★
We recently approached THS Concepts to carry out a level survey of the screed to the ground floor of a large residential property we were Project Managing. The property was undergoing extensions and refurbishment work. We had a tight timescale to receive the information, and THS Concepts delivered quickly and efficiently to meet our deadline. This is the second time we have used them and would highly recommend.
Setting out: common questions
How much does setting out cost?
Setting out is usually charged at a day rate, typically £600 per day for an engineer with all equipment. Defined packages can be quoted at a fixed price.
How quickly can you get to site?
Our standard lead time is 3 to 7 days, and we can often help with last-minute requests. Call us if it is urgent.
What equipment do you use?
Robotic total stations and GNSS. The robotic instruments allow one engineer to work alone, and all equipment is calibrated every year.
Where do you work?
Mostly London, Essex and Kent, and across the UK. We have also set out projects in Europe and West Africa, including navigation towers at the Port of Monrovia.
Do you work on residential and commercial projects?
Yes, from single houses to large commercial and infrastructure schemes.
Related services
- Topographical surveys
Site levels, features and boundaries for planning and design.
- Structural monitoring
Movement, crack, tilt and vibration monitoring with alerts.
- 3D laser scanning
Point clouds and BIM models of buildings, plant and structures.
Tell us about your site
Send a location, a rough brief and your deadline. We reply with a fixed quote within 24 hours.