Engineering Services and Land Surveying in Orillia and Surrounding Areas

Boundary Survey:

A prerequisite for property ownership is to know where the limits lie. Whether it is private property, commercial space or land used for mining and drilling, arguments might arise without clear boundaries. Even if the boundary lines are contradictory; landowners may need to consider carrying out a boundary survey for a clearer picture. This could include projects like building a fence, a retaining wall, a deck or even a house. By making sure you are building on your property, and by respecting the setback requirements of your local municipality, you can properly protect your investment.

How To Define Boundaries?

People generally perform boundary surveys before they buy, split, improve or build on the land. The professionals will conduct a thorough survey of the boundaries measuring as accurately as possible and then a land surveyor will create a boundary draft. The drawings can include:

 Lot Dimensions: Usually generated from the deed, subdivision plats and survey drawings.

 Improvements: It includes changes on land made by previous owners including houses, sheds, garages, pools, and other permanent changes.

 Fences: To determine the location of the property but cannot be considered as the outline of the property.

 Easements: Only be included if the land surveyor has a copy of the title commitment.

Components of Boundary Survey

The necessary components of a boundary survey comprise of:

Extensive registry research about deeds: It includes public and private research that comes from various resources like municipal offices, other land surveyors, historical societies, state agencies, information from the owner of abutting land, and the county commissioner’s office.

 Deed sketch: A worksheet will be created by the surveyor identifying record calls along each boundary line to show the intentions of the original grantor for the property.

 Field reconnaissance: Surveyor will explore the property and mark the corners, gathering all the information required to complete the drawing.

 Data entry and analysis: Data is entered and reviewed, validated, and the mathematical accuracy verified. The surveyor determines acreage, easements, encroachments, corner locations, rights of way, and various other aspects.

 Preparing the final plan: It contains the results of all final findings and recommendations. The plan is now a legal document, insured and prepared in compliance with the requirements of the state Board of Licensure.

 Visit the site: Surveyors will visit the site and mark all the boundaries as a sign to people that the land has been officially surveyed.

Boundary Survey Process

Defining boundaries is an important legal task for the division of property and land. The general steps that are carried out in the survey are the following:

 Each corner of the property is verified and relocated, if not clear where the corner is.

 Surveyor will mark each corner which generally consists of a two feet tall rebar or iron pipe for easy location.

 After marking is done, the surveyor will spray pink paint to ensure the clear visibility of the corners.

 Wooden stakes or flags can also be put near the corners with labels to locate property corners.

 The person commissioning the survey can choose whether they want improvements to be shown on the boundary drawing. This could include things like homes, buildings, sheds, pools, fences, or other permanent structures.

 The surveyor will finally take note of all potential encroachments.

Boundary Survey Cost

The cost for each project differs depending on the various property factors and how the company changes. Some of the common things that can influence the cost of a boundary survey include:

Accessibility and terrain of parcel land to be surveyed

Parcel size

Seasonal variations of the land

Shape and size of land parcel

Reason for a boundary survey

Come to Dearden and Stanton Limited for your boundary survey in Orillia. As your trusted commercial surveyor, we would like to survey your land.

Boundary Disputes

Mr. Stanton has prepared several reports and has appeared as an expert witness regarding Boundary and Title disputes. He is very familiar with the process of completing Reports and Plans for submission in a Boundaries Act. Mr. Stanton has been cited in the following Ontario Court decisions regarding boundary issues:

• Gall v. Rogers, 15 O.R., (3d) 250 [1993] O.J. No. 2285, Ontario Court, General Division
• Meaford v. Grist, 2011 ONSC 3055
• Tiny (Township) v. Battaglia, 2013 ONCA 274
• Ellard v. Township of Tiny, 2012 ONSC 280
• Bailey v. Barbour, 2013 ONSC 204

Additional Surveying Services

The following is a list of some of the Surveying Services offered by Dearden and Stanton Limited:

• Crown Land Surveys (Provincial and Federal)
• Conversion to Absolute Land Titles
• Pre-Engineering
• Property Surveys
• Mortgage Surveys
• Condominium Plans
• Draft Plans of Condominium
• Legal Plans
• Canada Lands Surveys
• Indian Reserves
• Natural Resources Canada Federal Lands
• Construction Layout
• Integrated Surveys

Are You Thinking about Building a House?

When considering building a house and/or garage, or putting an addition on to an existing house, you will most likely require a building permit. The following are the steps we perform in order to help you to the building permit stage.

Permit Application Stage

1. We prepare a base topographic plan. 
2. Based on our topographic plan, the client, architect or builder design a Site Plan. 
3. We prepare a grading plan using the building plans and the site plan that have been provided to us. 
4. The client, or their agent, applies for permits (the services we perform are only a small part of the application). 
5. Permits are issued, construction may begin.

Construction Layout Stage

We make all the necessary calculations in our office based on the final building plans that have been provided to us by our client and/or builder. Construction layout typically requires two or three field visits. Additional field visits might be necessary depending on the requirements, or complexity of the project.

1. Stakeout for Excavation and Installation of Local Benchmark: This visit usually takes place before the excavation for the new building. It will determine where to dig and how deep. Marks are provided at major foundation corners of the proposed structure in order to show where the new structure is to be built. The depth of the excavation is guided by providing a cut stake referencing the underside of footing. A local benchmark is installed during the topographic survey process to be used throughout the construction. A benchmark is a point with a known elevation to which a builder can refer over the course of the project. It is often a nail in a permanent structure such as a fence or utility pole. 
2. Stakeout for Footings: Pins are placed at exterior wall corners to allow footings to be set in the proper location. The bottom of excavation elevation is recorded and reported to the municipality, if required. 
3. Layout for Foundation Walls Placement: Once the concrete is cast you may choose to have the house perimeter marked again on top of the footings. This will confirm that the foundation wall forms are set in the correct location. The markers that were used in-the-hole can be moved during the construction process. There is no guarantee the points remain in the original location as set by the survey crew. By staking the wall perimeter on top of footings you may avoid potential issues with setbacks to the property lines. 
4. Surveyor’s Real Property Report (As-Built Survey): A field crew measures the new house and reports any other changes that have occurred on the property. Based on their measurements and findings, a Surveyor’s Real Property Report of the concrete foundation(s) is drafted in our office. This survey will confirm that the new structure is at appropriate setbacks from property lines and that elevations are correct. 
5. Grading Certificate: Once the house has been built, and the landscaping complete, a lot grading inspection and certification will need to be completed in order to obtain a Grading Certificate from the Township. This certificate confirms that the grading has been completed in conformance with the Grading Plan that was submitted with the permit application. All of the landscaping must be completed before a certificate can be issued. Upon acceptance of our certification, the municipality will release lot grading deposits less than their processing fee.

Consulting Services

The following is a list of some of the Consulting Services offered by Dearden and Stanton Limited:

• Preliminary Design
• Detailed Design and Approvals
• Site Servicing
• Storm Water Management
• Construction Cost Estimates
• Construction Layout and Supervision
• Service Testing & Certification
• Development Agreements
• Pre-Engineering Mapping
• Tender Process
• Project Management

Planning for Construction?

At Dearden and Stanton Limited, we offer various engineering services to measure the area of your site.