diff --git a/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3.h b/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3.h
index 30ffac0d945..0f2b7a3a695 100644
--- a/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3.h
+++ b/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3.h
@@ -238,15 +238,6 @@ public:
     return *this;
   }
 
-  /// \cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
-  Point_set_3 (const Point_set_3& ps)
-  {
-    *this = ps;
-  }
-
-  /// \endcond
-
-
   /// @}
 
   /// \cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
@@ -476,6 +467,15 @@ public:
     return out;
   }
 
+  iterator insert (const Point_set_3& other, const Index& idx)
+  {
+    iterator out = insert();
+    Index new_idx = *out;
+    m_base.transfer(other.base(), idx, new_idx);
+    *out = new_idx; // Do not copy index from other point set
+    return out;
+  }
+
   /// @}
   
   /// \name Accessors and Iterators
@@ -840,6 +840,16 @@ public:
     return m_points;
   }
 
+  /// \cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+  void copy_properties (const Point_set_3& other)
+  {
+    m_base.copy_properties (other.base());
+    
+    m_normals = this->property_map<Vector> ("normal").first; // In case normal was added
+  }
+  /// \endcond
+
+
   /*!
     \brief Returns a vector with all strings that describe properties.
   */
diff --git a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Properties.h b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Properties.h
index c0b53cd8e23..640c7221585 100644
--- a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Properties.h
+++ b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Properties.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ public:
     virtual void reset(size_t idx) = 0;
 
     virtual bool transfer(const Base_property_array& other) = 0;
+    virtual bool transfer(const Base_property_array& other, std::size_t from, std::size_t to) = 0;
 
     /// Let two elements swap their storage place.
     virtual void swap(size_t i0, size_t i1) = 0;
@@ -77,12 +78,19 @@ public:
     /// Return a deep copy of self.
     virtual Base_property_array* clone () const = 0;
 
+    /// Return a empty copy of self.
+    virtual Base_property_array* empty_clone () const = 0;
+
     /// Return the type_info of the property
-    virtual const std::type_info& type() = 0;
+    virtual const std::type_info& type() const = 0;
 
     /// Return the name of the property
     const std::string& name() const { return name_; }
 
+    bool is_same (const Base_property_array& other)
+    {
+      return (name() == other.name() && type() == other.type());
+    }
 
 protected:
 
@@ -142,6 +150,18 @@ public: // virtual interface of Base_property_array
       return false;
     }
 
+    bool transfer(const Base_property_array& other, std::size_t from, std::size_t to)
+    {
+      const Property_array<T>* pa = dynamic_cast<const Property_array*>(&other);
+      if (pa != NULL)
+      {
+        data_[to] = (*pa)[from];
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      return false;
+    }
+
     virtual void shrink_to_fit()
     {
         vector_type(data_).swap(data_);
@@ -161,7 +181,13 @@ public: // virtual interface of Base_property_array
         return p;
     }
 
-    virtual const std::type_info& type() { return typeid(T); }
+    virtual Base_property_array* empty_clone() const
+    {
+        Property_array<T>* p = new Property_array<T>(this->name_, this->value_);
+        return p;
+    }
+
+    virtual const std::type_info& type() const { return typeid(T); }
 
 
 public:
@@ -241,11 +267,11 @@ public:
         return *this;
     }
 
-    void transfer(const Property_container& _rhs)
+    bool transfer(const Property_container& _rhs)
     {
       for(std::size_t i=0; i<parrays_.size(); ++i){
         for (std::size_t j=0; j<_rhs.parrays_.size(); ++j){
-          if(parrays_[i]->name() ==  _rhs.parrays_[j]->name()){
+          if(parrays_[i]->is_same (*(_rhs.parrays_[j]))){
             parrays_[i]->transfer(* _rhs.parrays_[j]);
             break;
           }
@@ -253,6 +279,38 @@ public:
       }
     }
 
+    // Copy properties that don't already exist from another container
+    void copy_properties (const Property_container& _rhs)
+    {
+      for (std::size_t i = 0; i < _rhs.parrays_.size(); ++ i)
+      {
+        bool property_already_exists = false;
+        for (std::size_t j = 0; j < parrays_.size(); ++ j)
+          if (_rhs.parrays_[i]->is_same (*(parrays_[j])))
+          {
+            property_already_exists = true;
+            break;
+          }
+
+        if (property_already_exists)
+          continue;
+
+        parrays_.push_back (_rhs.parrays_[i]->empty_clone());
+        parrays_.back()->resize(size_);
+      }
+    }
+  
+    // Transfer one element with all properties
+    // WARNING: properties must be the same in the two containers
+    bool transfer(const Property_container& _rhs, std::size_t from, std::size_t to)
+    {
+      bool out = true;
+      for(std::size_t i=0; i<parrays_.size(); ++i)
+        if (!(parrays_[i]->transfer(* _rhs.parrays_[i], from, to)))
+          out = false;
+      return out;
+    }
+
     // returns the current size of the property arrays
     size_t size() const { return size_; }
 
@@ -529,6 +587,11 @@ public:
       return parray_->transfer(*(other.parray_));
     }
 
+    bool transfer (const Property_map_base& other, std::size_t from, std::size_t to)
+    {
+      return parray_->transfer(*(other.parray_), from, to);
+    }
+
     /// Allows access to the underlying storage of the property. This
     /// is useful when the key associated with the properties is
     /// unimportant and only the properties are of interest