how important is slope on laser levil

[Ed of all trades]

As someone who has surveyed for over 25 years, i would suggest you bring someone in to help with the critical surveys such as sewer lines and such. i know you want to do this yourself, but if you had a guy bring in his level to help you might save you some money, time and possibly a lot of headache.

I have installed sewer lines and drain fields when I worked for a contractor and if someone can't figure grade on them they don't need a pro to lay it out, they need to let someone else do the job. :confused3: I just have never had the chance to work with a lazer That has slope, and wanted to know how well they worked and how much they helped. Ed

 

[davedj1]

I have never used on with slope. I use a grade rod and adjust my measurements accordingly. I just bought a new Bosch and we love it, use it almost everyday in the construction field.
We are renovating a large old house. We set all the first floor window headers with it so the siding will be the same at all window heads.

 

[jenkinsph]

A slope laser is handy because you can set the slope you need to maintain an forego the calculations and measurements of distance from point to point and elevation needed. The measurement on your grade rod and receiver remains fixed every where along the pipe or ground. Handy but not necessary if you don't do a lot of this work on a regular basis.

 

[rodnok]

I built a house a few years ago and had a cement contractor pour the slab for the floor. This was on a poured wall house and the floor was poured after walls up. ICF forms were used for walls. He used a "self leveling" laser to mark the walls at top of slab level.He also set stakes at various places in middle of floor. 30'x 40' slab. When he got done the floor was 1.5 inches low in one corner. This threw a lot of stuff off on the drywall and trim installation. If he had used a water level it would never have happened. Water finds its own level no matter where you are on this planet. It does it take a bit longer to use, yes but no where near as much time was wasted as what I had to do to overcome his error.

On a side note he took a sizeable amount off the price of his work to make up for his mistake, without being asked.

 

[LD1]

I built a house a few years ago and had a cement contractor pour the slab for the floor. This was on a poured wall house and the floor was poured after walls up. ICF forms were used for walls. He used a "self leveling" laser to mark the walls at top of slab level.He also set stakes at various places in middle of floor. 30'x 40' slab. When he got done the floor was 1.5 inches low in one corner. This threw a lot of stuff off on the drywall and trim installation. If he had used a water level it would never have happened. Water finds its own level no matter where you are on this planet. It does it take a bit longer to use, yes but no where near as much time was wasted as what I had to do to overcome his error.

On a side note he took a sizeable amount off the price of his work to make up for his mistake, without being asked.

Sounds to me like operator error rather than equipment not being right.

Humans/contractors can screw up level even with a water level or standard bubble level.

 

[prichard]

Sounds to me like operator error rather than equipment not being right.

Humans/contractors can screw up level even with a water level or standard bubble level.

I agree, that wasn't level accuracy at that distance. I can almost see that level.

 

[RDrancher]

Sounds to me like operator error rather than equipment not being right.

Humans/contractors can screw up level even with a water level or standard bubble level.

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10-4 LD. Make the marks, snap the line on the wall and double check with a level. We did it that way for over thirty years before I said goodbye to my concrete biz. Builder's levels, transits and lasers all get out of wack at some time, even from just riding around in the truck. This holds true for both auto levelers and bubble sets.

 

[Egon]

Many lines have been layed with a spirit level and knowing where to put the bubble on the cross line.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I guess it wouldn't hurt to cross-check using different approaches, too. So, if the original level was laid out with a self-leveling laser unit, it could be checked with a taut line and line level or with long contractor's level or water hose. A major difference between any two methods suggests deeper investigation (eg more replications to start) is warranted.
This is akin to the "measure twice, cut once" dictum of carpentry.

 

[jenkinsph]

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10-4 LD. Make the marks, snap the line on the wall and double check with a level. We did it that way for over thirty years before I said goodbye to my concrete biz. Builder's levels, transits and lasers all get out of wack at some time, even from just riding around in the truck. This holds true for both auto levelers and bubble sets.

I agree with double checking to catch mistakes. I only carry my laser with me on the days it will be used, riding them around when not needed can lead to early failure.