Hello,
I am currently planning a renovation of my house built in 1966.
I have reviewed the original building plans, had them digitized, and am now comparing the “as-built” and “planned” conditions to prepare proper designs.
I have taken various measurements and compared them, while also incorporating my desired changes.
My question is: What level of accuracy is appropriate in this situation?
The drawings sometimes differ by up to 5-20 cm (2-8 inches), but it is also not feasible to measure everything within ±1 mm (±0.04 inches). What would be a practical compromise in terms of accuracy?
Regards and thanks
I am currently planning a renovation of my house built in 1966.
I have reviewed the original building plans, had them digitized, and am now comparing the “as-built” and “planned” conditions to prepare proper designs.
I have taken various measurements and compared them, while also incorporating my desired changes.
My question is: What level of accuracy is appropriate in this situation?
The drawings sometimes differ by up to 5-20 cm (2-8 inches), but it is also not feasible to measure everything within ±1 mm (±0.04 inches). What would be a practical compromise in terms of accuracy?
Regards and thanks
The basis for any renovation planning is always a building survey and the creation of current as-built plans in 2D/3D. A purely digital representation does not necessarily reflect the actual condition. In some cases, deviations from the original design already occurred during the shell construction phase—this becomes apparent at the latest during demolition or remodeling if the structural framework does not match the engineer’s specifications, or if more or less significant modifications have been made to the building over the decades.
To avoid surprises during execution, the building survey and condition assessment (construction damage, quality of building materials, usability of the structural and finishing construction) should be carried out very carefully and professionally. This is the most effective way to save costs.
With a building survey of accuracy level II (handheld laser device), deviations from the actual condition—depending on the building’s deformation—of up to 10cm (4 inches) on the external dimensions of the building are tolerable, expected, and unavoidable.
To avoid surprises during execution, the building survey and condition assessment (construction damage, quality of building materials, usability of the structural and finishing construction) should be carried out very carefully and professionally. This is the most effective way to save costs.
With a building survey of accuracy level II (handheld laser device), deviations from the actual condition—depending on the building’s deformation—of up to 10cm (4 inches) on the external dimensions of the building are tolerable, expected, and unavoidable.