How to Avoid Costly Delays When Setting Out Kerb Lines on Site
If you’ve ever watched a kerb-laying crew sit idle for days while measurements are checked, re-checked, and adjusted, you’re not alone…
We’ve seen the same situation across multiple UK civils projects recently — especially where contractors try to set out kerb lines themselves to “save money”.
AKN Engineering Site engineer, setting out kerb lines using total station on a Highways Project in Norfolk.
One of our engineers was on-site recently when the same pattern appeared again: a team had already spent over a week trying to set out kerbs from a building line, only to discover the levels didn’t fall correctly and the drainage run clashed with an existing manhole. The crew weren’t slow — they were working without the right survey control in place.
And that’s the real issue. The true cost of kerb setting out isn’t the day rate. It’s the delay.
What Professional Kerb Setting Out Actually Includes
Before a setting out engineer even arrives on site, there’s a full pre-site workflow:
Full drawing review and clash check
Conversion of design data into survey coordinates
Verification of levels, gradients and chainages
Identification of missing dimensions or errors
Preparation of upload files for total station or GNSS
On site (usually one day):
Establish control points and verify accuracy
Set out all kerb lines to design tolerance
Mark levels and gradients for drainage
Agree any design changes or variations with the PM
Provide clear visual markings ready for installation the next morning
That means the kerb laying team can start immediately — not wait for checks.
The Time Comparison (Real-World Example
“Saving” the cost of a setting out engineer can easily extend the programme by two weeks — which costs more in plant, labour and prelims than the survey fee ever would.
Where DIY Kerb Setting Out Goes Wrong
We see the same three issues repeatedly:
1. Measuring from buildings sounds simple — until the levels don’t work
A straight line measured from a wall doesn’t guarantee correct falls, drainage, crossfall or tie-in to existing roads.
2. Drawing errors aren’t discovered until delivery
Professional engineers flag missing dimensions, incorrect radii, and clashes before anyone sets foot onsite.
3. The wrong tolerances are applied
Highways kerb installation uses tight tolerances — often 5–10mm. Manual tape-based setting out usually drifts 20–30mm over long runs.
And in the UK, kerbs form the reference line for everything else: paving, drainage, footpaths, tactile studs, channel blocks, crossovers. Get the kerbs wrong and the whole build shifts.
When Professional Setting Out Makes Sense
✅ The programme is tight and installation must start immediately
✅ Drawings include multiple radii, transitions, tie-ins, or drainage connections
✅ Labour and plant are already onsite and waiting costs money
✅ You want someone accountable for accuracy — not guesswork
✅ The teams job is to install kerbs, not spend days verifying offsets
When DIY Might Work
🔹 The layout is very simple (one straight run, no drainage)
🔹 Your team has surveying experience and calibrated equipment
🔹 The programme is flexible and rework won’t cause delay
🔹 Accuracy tolerance is 50–100mm, not 5–10mm
Most highways, retail, education and housing-infrastructure projects do not fall into this category.
How to Plan Kerb Setting Out Properly (Checklist
Read more : Techincal Design Information for Highway Developers
Ready to discuss an upcoming project? ☎️
Get expert support for kerb, drainage, and highways setting out, contact us on:
📞 01279 927 033 - Setting Out Services – AKN Engineering