Site survey and wall inspection: what we measure and why

What happens at the site survey?

We walk through your home with you, room by room. For each wall and ceiling we look at two things: how many m² it is, and what the surface needs before the finish can go on.

We assess the wall by hand and under raking light, not just by eye. We also go through the four conditions for a wall that is ready for wallpaper, so you know whether anything has to be done first.

In a new-build home we also check whether the walls are dry enough to finish. As long as there is still construction moisture in new-build walls, the finish will not hold properly.

What do you pay, and when?

The quote is free. This is how the process looks:

Prices exclude VAT. For renovation work on a home over 10 years old, 6% VAT usually applies.

We do not charge a call-out fee for the site survey itself. The call-out fee of €99.99 is charged once per job and does not lapse. We list all other rates openly in our price list.

Why do we measure ourselves if you already know the m²?

Because a few m² of difference can change the price per m². Our prices work in tiers: the bigger the job, the lower the price per m². For renovation fleece including sanding, hanging, filling and one coat of emulsion paint, it looks like this:

An example. A 145 m² job with renovation fleece costs 145 × €15.99 = €2,318.55. If the measurements show 155 m², the job falls into the tier above 150 m²: 155 × €14.99 = €2,323.45. Ten m² more then costs just €4.90 extra.

Thin skim coats and the plastering run are also priced in tiers by area. With the M2 Calculator you can make an estimate yourself in advance, and if you want to know what renovation fleece costs per room, try our worked example per room. At the survey we measure exactly.

Why the quote first and then the survey?

Because then you know where you stand first. If it is a big job or a whole house, we are also happy to visit earlier to get to know you.

First you receive a free quote within 24 hours, based on a price indication. If you agree, we come by for the site survey.

What you get in return is a final price that matches your walls. If preparation is needed, such as a skim coat or removing old wallpaper, it appears as a separate item in the quote. That way it does not turn up on the day as an extra cost.

How do you prepare for the survey?

The survey takes half an hour. You do not need to do much, but a few things keep it smooth and make sure the final price is right straight away:

• Access. Make sure we can get into all the rooms in the quote, including the loft and the stairwell.
• Finish per room. If you already know what you want where, for example renovation fleece in the living room and emulsion paint in the loft, we record it straight away.
• Colour. White in RAL 9010 or 9016 is included in the price. A RAL colour of your choice costs €1.50 per m² extra.
• Snagging points. If you have a new-build home, go through the handover date and any points about the walls with us.

If you are still before handover, also pay attention to your walls during the handover inspection. And for the day we come to hang the wallpaper, it helps to know what to do before the wallpaper hanger arrives.

Who comes, and what happens next?

We carry out the site survey ourselves. Bouwsector België works with 97 in-house tradespeople on permanent contracts: 40 wallpaper hangers, 32 plasterers and 25 painters. There is no regional limit: we work throughout Belgium, in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.

After the survey the final price and the schedule are fixed. Our own tradespeople then carry out the work. If you choose renovation fleece, a whole home is hung, filled and painted in 3 days; if a skim coat is needed first, its drying time is added.

From request to handover we always follow the same step-by-step process. And we do the work itself in three trades: wallpapering, plastering and painting.