What are Pre-Construction Surveys?

• Pre-Construction surveys (PCS) offer benefits to both property owners and contractors/developers. For property owners the surveys establish a baseline of the existing conditions so that if any new damage or structural settlement is caused by the construction, it is appropriately attributed to the construction activities, and therefore, the responsibility of the contractor/developer to repair. For contractors and developers the survey provides loss control and claims defense mechanism. If a property owner alleges that damage was sustained due to construction activities, the Pre-Construction Survey can be referenced to confirm what visible damage existed before the construction activity took place. This allows for fair and prompt settlement of third-party property damage claims. Similarly, at the conclusion of construction, a Post-Construction survey is conducted to close out any potential impacts on the property.
• FTGs highly trained staff routinely performs Pre-Construction Surveys and we are committed to delivering quality always.

What are Pre-Construction Surveys and are they required?

• A Pre-Construction Survey is a field review of the existing conditions at a property adjacent to a location where construction activities are about to begin. The goal of the survey is to visually identify all existing signs of exterior and interior damage and any signs of structural settlement, before construction begins. When offered, we recommend property owners take advantage of them, since most projects will refuse claims if a Pre-Construction Survey is refused.

Are some Pre-Construction Surveys more relevant than others? In other words, with most geotechnical firms, are they apples to apples?

• Pre-Construction Surveys are typically performed where a project is expected to have a potential impact. Typically these type of projects are transportation, infrastructure or construction in an urban environment.

Are Pre-Construction Surveys time consuming?

• Pre-Construction Surveys are efficiently performed by FTG.

Are Pre-Construction Surveys expensive?

• A Pre-Construction Survey is very affordable, usually taking a half day or less to perform. As a value, they are the clear way to be able to easily determine if claims made for damages arising from adjacent construction are valid.

What Pre-Construction Survey experience does FTG have?

• FTG routinely has performed pre-construction surveys for almost 20 years. On one project alone, FTG performed over 700 pre-construction surveys for the Purple Line Transportation Project in Price Georges and Montgomery County, Maryland. During these surveys, Team FTG assessed and recorded current conditions of structures (including homes) where construction was going to occur. FTG was able to coordinate, perform and document these surveys without impacting construction schedule.