Squaring a 24' x 32' building site

[debo1683]

Ok, so I got my pad all built by the excavator and am ready to start building. I went and reserved a bobcat with a PHD to dig my holes for this weekend. Last night I went to set up my batter boards and string line to get things square to dig holes ... I never was able to get it right. Diagonal measurement is 39' 7 3/4". I got my diagonals, then my sides would be way off ... frustration got the best of me and I am going to attempt again tonight.

Any advice or tricks on this?

 

[MotorSeven]

I'm confused....if the diagonals are equal, then it is square.

Did you set up the batter boards correctly? I other words can you move the string easily in either direction simply by screwing in another screw?
http://www.mydiscounttools.com/estore/articles/carpentry-manuals/ch4.pdf


Do you have someone helping you(on the dumb end of the tape?) It's impossible to do this by yourself.


RD

 

[debo1683]

Yes, I had my wife helping me on the dumb end of the tape. i tore everything down that i had set up last night and am going to start over tonight. I would stand to assume that these don't need to be prefect at this point give that i am just trying to dig holes. My plans say i have to dig 24" diameter holes so i would think i have a little wiggle room

 

[Trails2004]

.....I'm confused....if the diagonals are equal, then it is square.

What if the sides of the building are different lenghts???

A rhombohedron- comes to mind- [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhombohedron]Rhombohedron - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/URL]


The diagonals are the same- the ends are not square-- Just a thought

 

[MotorSeven]

It helps to draw the layout once you have the measurments that are out of square. Then by looking at it, you can see which way to move the strings. You will always have to move two strings to get to square...moving only one willl not help.
It is a little mind boggling, like staring at one of those splotch paintings waiting for the teradactyle to appear.

RD

 

[debo1683]

Ok, thanks ... this makes sense. I think maybe I went into it thinking it would be a little hour long project ... and it wasn't. My frustration level was through the roof ....

 

[MotorSeven]

Oh, and take a framing square with you. Use it to eyeball the initial string settings(hold it inside the corners against the string). It helps you start out kinda sorta close to the square ballpark.

RD

 

[ElDorado]

I did a 28X24 building a few years ago. I too had my wheels spin off.

What I ended up doing, and it worked out perfectly, is not try lay out all the piers at once rather I placed one and measured the long side placed a second pier. I then took two tape measures and used the 3-4-5 rule and determined the third corner. From the first pier (this becomes the boss pier) and the second pier I then used the 3-4-5 rule, using the 2 tapes, and determined the fourth corner. Before placing this pier I then double checked square using piers 1 and 3 and then the diagonal measurement. You end up tweaking the fourth pier to fit correct measurements required. Then I simple used a string and filled in the in between piers where they need to go.

For me trying to do the entire layout at once was too overwhelming. Best of luck.

 

[Huskerplowboy]

What kind of tape measure are you using? I hadn't ever given it much thought until I spend an hour or more (with the wife questioning if I knew what I was doing:ashamed trying to square my stringlines last summer with a fiberglass tape. Turns out, they stretch, significantly, and can give you about any measurement you want when you get to that kind of distance. Went out and bought a 100' steel tape and was able to resquare it by myself in a lot less time.

Just a thought...

(Does make me wonder how accurate measurements in track and field events like discus and shot put really are since all I've ever seen used there are long wind-up fiberglass tape measures...)

 

[debo1683]

What kind of tape measure are you using? I hadn't ever given it much thought until I spend an hour or more (with the wife questioning if I knew what I was doing:ashamed trying to square my stringlines last summer with a fiberglass tape. Turns out, they stretch, significantly, and can give you about any measurement you want when you get to that kind of distance. Went out and bought a 100' steel tape and was able to resquare it by myself in a lot less time.

Just a thought...

(Does make me wonder how accurate measurements in track and field events like discus and shot put really are since all I've ever seen used there are long wind-up fiberglass tape measures...)

Haha ... I read your old thread about that experience ... I am using a steel tape ... and I also have a wife questioning me ... I will get it eventually. Hopefully my smart neighbor will be kind enough to double check before we dig holes. He offered to run the bobcat for me since I have no idea how to.