Site surveys and readiness assessments in South Africa
FortisCo carries out practical project site surveys that give design, costing, manufacturing and installation teams verified information about the space before anyone commits to a drawing, a price or a delivery date.
Site surveys and site-readiness assessments, explained.
Most fit-out cost overruns start with an assumption: a landlord drawing that no longer matches the space, a ceiling void that is shallower than expected, a lift that will not take a 3.2 metre counter section. A survey replaces those assumptions with recorded fact.
A FortisCo survey is a project survey, not a professional land or building survey. We measure and record what a designer, estimator, manufacturer and installation team actually need: dimensions, condition, access, visible services, constraints and the practical risks that will affect programme and price.
The output is a structured written report with measurements, annotated photographs and a risk and constraint list, issued in a consistent format so it can be handed straight to the design and costing teams — and compared across sites when several stores are being assessed.
What the appointment covers.
Each survey is run against a fixed template so nothing is left to memory, and the same template is applied to every site in a multi-site instruction to make the results directly comparable.
- Site dimensions and spatial verification
- Existing-condition assessment and photographic record
- Access, delivery and installation-route assessment
- Lift, door, stair and loading restrictions
- Landlord and tenant-interface requirements
- Visible existing services and infrastructure
- Floor, wall, ceiling and soffit conditions
- Shopfront, signage and facade positions
- Equipment, counter and furniture positioning
- Installation risks, constraints and site-readiness findings
- Structured survey report for design, costing and planning
Companies and projects we take on.
Designers and design studios
Studios that need verified dimensions and conditions before finalising a layout, rather than working off a landlord drawing of unknown vintage.
Manufacturers, shopfitters and joiners
Manufacturing businesses pricing or setting out joinery, counters and shopfronts that must fit the site and get through the access route on delivery day.
Retailers and operators
Brands assessing a new lease, an existing store before a revamp, or a portfolio of sites ahead of a rollout decision.
How FortisCo runs it.
Brief
Confirm what the survey must answer, who will use it, and any drawings or templates to work against.
Access
Arrange landlord, centre or store access and confirm permitted survey hours before mobilising.
Survey
Measure, photograph and record conditions, access routes, services and constraints against the agreed template.
Report
Issue the written report with measurements, images and a risk and constraint list, then walk the team through the findings.
Where we work.
Surveys are carried out across South Africa, most frequently in Gauteng, and we have surveyed sites in Namibia and Botswana as part of regional programmes.
For rollouts we plan surveys in geographic clusters so travel time and cost are controlled and several sites are captured in the same trip.
Frequently asked.
- What do we receive?
- A structured survey report containing measurements, annotated photographs, condition notes and identified risks or constraints, formatted for use by the design, costing, manufacturing and project planning teams.
- Is this a professional land or building survey?
- No. FortisCo is not a registered land surveyor, engineer or quantity surveyor. These are practical project surveys for design, manufacturing, installation and coordination purposes. Where statutory or professional surveys are required, they are performed by appointed registered professionals.
- How quickly can a survey be done?
- It depends on the site location, access arrangements and the number of sites. Send us the address and the date you need the information by, and we will confirm availability.
- Can you survey multiple sites in a rollout?
- Yes. Multi-site surveys are carried out to one consistent template so the results can be compared and used for programme and cost planning across the whole rollout.
Related services
Discuss your project.
Tell us the site, the programme and the deadline — we'll come back with a clear scope and fee basis.