Construction Setout Sydney

Get Your Build Started in the Right Spot

Your architect's plan shows exactly where your building should go - but how does that translate to marks on bare ground? That's what construction setout does. We take the approved plans and mark the precise building corners, foundation lines, and reference points on your site so your builder knows exactly where to dig and pour.

Getting this wrong creates expensive problems. A building that sits 200mm too close to the boundary might breach your DA conditions. Footings poured in the wrong location mean services don't line up. Setout mistakes discovered after concrete is poured are measured in thousands of dollars to fix.

How Construction Setout Works

We take your approved architectural drawings and work backwards from the design to mark actual positions on your site. Using GPS equipment accurate to 10mm and robotic total stations for millimetre precision, we:

• Review your approved plans, development consent, and survey documents
• Establish site control points tied to the NSW Survey Control Network
• Calculate precise positions for all setout points from plan coordinates
• Mark building corners, foundation lines, and structural elements on site
• Verify setback distances from property boundaries comply with council requirements
• Provide a setout certificate or sketch for your records and council inspection

Types of Construction Setout

We provide various types of setout services to suit different stages and scales of construction projects:

Building Setout

The most common type of setout for residential and commercial construction. We mark the external corners of your building footprint, allowing excavators and form workers to position foundations accurately. For new homes in Sydney, this typically includes setting out the four corners of the house plus any garage or extension corners.

Foundation Setout

More detailed setout for slab-on-ground or strip footings. We mark footing centrelines, pier positions, and slab edges. Foundation setout is essential for ensuring your concrete slab is poured in the correct location and at the correct level.

Boundary Setout for Construction

When your building needs to be positioned relative to property boundaries (for council setback compliance), we first verify the boundary positions then set out the building corners at the required offset distances. This is particularly important for zero-lot-line townhouses and developments with minimal setbacks.

Column and Grid Setout

For commercial and industrial buildings, we set out column centrelines and structural grid intersections. This precision work uses robotic total stations to achieve millimetre accuracy for steel and concrete structures.

Level and Height Control

We establish height datums and transfer levels across your site, ensuring floors, footings, and other elements are constructed at the correct height relative to Australian Height Datum (AHD) or your project datum.

Why is Construction Setout Important?

Accurate construction setout is critical for several reasons:

• Council Compliance: Your development consent specifies minimum setback distances from boundaries. Incorrect setout can result in your building encroaching into required setback areas, leading to costly rectification or demolition orders
• Correct Building Position: Ensures your building is constructed in the approved location as per your DA plans, not shifted onto neighbouring land or public areas
• Avoids Costly Mistakes: Repositioning a building after construction has started is extremely expensive. A setout survey before excavation costs a fraction of fixing errors later
• Structural Accuracy: For multi-storey buildings, accurate setout of columns and cores is essential for structural integrity and floor alignment
• Services Coordination: Correct building position ensures pre-laid services (sewer, stormwater, electricity) connect in the right locations

Our Construction Setout Process

1. Plan Review: We analyse your approved architectural and structural plans, checking dimensions, setbacks, and reference points
2. Site Control: We establish or verify survey control on your site, connecting to existing marks or the NSW Survey Control Network
3. Position Calculation: Using CAD software, we calculate the precise coordinates for all setout points relative to boundaries and site control
4. Field Setout: Our surveyors visit your Sydney site and mark positions using GPS or total station equipment
5. Physical Marking: We mark points with survey pegs, nails, paint marks, or profile boards as appropriate for your construction stage
6. Documentation: You receive a setout sketch showing all marked positions, dimensions to boundaries, and any relevant notes for your builder

Construction Setout Costs in Sydney

Construction setout costs vary based on the complexity of the project, number of points to be set out, and site conditions. Typical costs in Sydney:

• Residential Building Setout (4-6 corners): From $600 - $900
• Larger Residential or Duplex: From $900 - $1,200
• Commercial Building Setout: From $1,200 - $1,800
• Industrial/Complex Projects: Quote on application

Prices include establishing site control, setting out the requested points, and providing documentation. Multiple site visits for staged construction (footings, floor, upper levels) can be quoted as a package for better value.

Construction Setout Across Greater Sydney

We provide construction setout services throughout Sydney and surrounding regions, including:

• Eastern Suburbs: Bondi, Randwick, Double Bay, Coogee, Maroubra
• North Shore: Chatswood, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Willoughby
• Northern Beaches: Manly, Dee Why, Mona Vale, Avalon, Palm Beach
• Inner West: Newtown, Marrickville, Leichhardt, Balmain, Ashfield
• Western Sydney: Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, Liverpool, Bankstown
• South Sydney: Sutherland, Cronulla, Hurstville, Kogarah, Miranda
• Hills District: Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Dural
• Growth Areas: Marsden Park, Oran Park, Leppington, Box Hill

Our teams are based across Sydney, allowing fast response times for urgent setout work. Same-day and next-day setout is often available for priority projects.

When to Book Your Setout Survey

Timing is important for construction setout. We recommend booking your setout:

• 1-2 weeks before excavation for standard residential projects
• Immediately after site clearing so marks remain visible
• Before form work if you need foundation setout
• Before each construction stage for multi-level buildings requiring progressive setout

Contact us with your construction schedule and we'll coordinate our visit to minimise delays to your project. For urgent requests, call us directly on (02) 5114 2551.

Related Services

Construction setout is often combined with other surveying services during a building project:

• Detail surveys before design to capture existing site conditions
• Boundary identification to verify setback distances
• Building identification surveys for council compliance checks
• Engineering surveys for civil and infrastructure projects