23 June 2017
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog

Construction surveyors play an important role in ensuring that a construction project is performed in accordance with the designs of that project. This article discusses some of the aspects that a construction surveyor pays attention to in order to ensure that you will not have drainage problems when you start using your building.

Culverts

Culverts may need to be installed in order to handle the large volumes of rainwater that may be flowing through your property. The construction surveyor ensures that proper staking is done prior to the installation of those culverts. He or she will control the elevation, slope and elbow or turning points so that the flow rates of those culverts aren't affected by defective installation.

Manholes and Catch Basins

Water runoff is also managed by the use of manholes and catch basins. These structures should be installed properly so that they will do their job well. For example, the grading of the catch basin should be carefully determined so that any runoff will be trapped in that catch basin. The construction surveyor places the stakes that show the boundaries of these manholes and catch basins so that construction crews don't make any mistakes during their construction.

Kerbs

The construction surveyor also plays an important role in ensuring that any kerbs on your property do not affect the drainage system of that property. For example, he or she checks the location of the kerbing to ensure that it meets the offset requirements that were specified in the design of the project. He or she also ensures that the transition to the kerbs is appropriate so that drainage will be effective.

Traffic Islands

Traffic islands can interfere with the flow of runoff water if careful thought isn't invested in their construction. Architects normally specify how much the driveways should be widened at the point where a traffic island is going to be constructed so that drainage is effective. It is the job of the construction surveyor to ensure that the traffic island is constructed properly so that vehicular movement and drainage are unaffected by that island.

The role of the construction surveyor does not stop at ensuring that your property has effective drainage systems in place. He or she oversees every aspect of the construction project to confirm that the designs have been followed to the letter. You should therefore do everything in your power to ensure that this professional is at your site at all times so that nothing goes amiss.