Start a floor elevation survey

Every survey starts with a floor plan. TerraTopo reads a PNG or JPG picture, or a PDF export from your drawing program.

Load the plan

1. Open TerraTopo at /terratopo/app.
2. Under 1. Floor plan, click Choose File and pick the plan.
3. If it's a vector PDF (for example an ArcSite export), TerraTopo also looks for elevation numbers printed on it. When it finds some, it stages them in Step 6 and shows Autofill points now. Click it to turn them into points, then check them.
4. The plan shows on the right and the top badge shows its size.

You can also start in a job from another program: click My projects, open the house's folder and press Start a survey. If the house has a TerraPlan drawing, the survey opens on it with the scale and house outline set.

Set the foundation profile

1. Under 2. Foundation profile, tick every type in the house: Slab-on-grade, Crawl space (wood joist) or Basement (wood joist). A house can have more than one.
2. For crawl space or basement, set the Joist size, Joist spacing (in o.c.) and Typical joist span (ft). Estimate the span if you don't know it yet.
3. The Foundation badge at the top updates.

The profile sets the tolerances in Steps 8 and 9 and which repair options are offered. Leave everything unticked for general tolerances.

Save it to your account

1. Type the address in Project / address under Step 11, or wait to be asked.
2. Click Save to my account at the top left.
3. The box shows the project name and when it was saved.

Next

Enter the readings: see Enter elevation readings.