how to fix surveyor dem pick up problem

[misterchugg]

mates

i have a strange one

when i'm in surveyor and trying to pick up already placed objects (in the main house part),
the pickup tool always picks up the dem tile, rather than what i need

the tiles are locked in their layer

is there any way i can stop this?
apart from deleting the tile

i don't want to do that as yet.
i always go back to fix a bit more

any help is greatly appreciated
thanks
ron