Expert Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineers in Virginia Beach, VA

Consulting with a surveyor will help define the type of survey that best suits your needs. The more detailed information provided will help eliminate extra services that may not be needed.

When seeking the opinion of a professional, it is best to research the field and ask for recommendations. Clients are looking for accurate and reliable information to improve the quality of their decisions. Prepare a list of questions to ask a potential consultant to narrow in on their expertise and ask to see similar in scope examples of their past experience. WPL has a stellar reputation in Hampton Roads and is interested in developing long-term relationships with our clients. We encourage our clients to ask questions and stay involved with the project from start to finish. Please let us tell you about our past experience and we can help you problem solve!

The short answer is the life of a survey depends on the needs for which a survey is requested. The rule of thumb is a survey is not good after 10 years if you are altering or adjusting the construction footprint of the property. However, if the project is minor such as building a fence, a boundary survey will be valid indefinitely. Because existing ground surfaces and features change over time, topographic surveys are used as a base map tool to show boundaries and easements to accurately show zoning.

Stormwater management is an element that is required on virtually any site design. In most cases, new or redeveloped sites create an increase in hardscaped areas. These hardscaped areas create stormwater runoff and pollutants which eventually reach our waterways. To help protect our waterways, each site employs a technique to reduce runoff quantity and pollutants. Some of these techniques may involve stormwater infiltration, bioretention beds, stormwater ponds, or even third-party constructed filtering systems. Depending on the project, the final design could use one or a combination of these items and is integrated into the final site design. For more information contact your local municipality.

Simply put, a survey will show the boundaries of the property, the relationship of the property to adjoining properties, easements to be aware of and whether there are any encroachments such as a fence or any other construction that is hanging over onto the land. A residential physical survey is the only reliable way of locating and confirming elementary information about a property. Obtaining a survey is very beneficial so homeowners do not run into any discrepancies between actual occupation or use and the description of record while also indicating the location of physical improvements in relation to the property lines. We highly recommend every homeowner to order a survey and review it before taking a title.