kenhar
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2014
- Messages
- 51
- Location
- romance, ar
- Tractor
- 6640 ford, 1135 massey, 1610d yanmar, 1957 350 international utility
I think they used a water level on the pyramids. It will work on a barn.
That was then. They had lots of cheap help too. I suppose they had plastic tubing from a big box store too!I think they used a water level on the pyramids. It will work on a barn.
Working Alone. Differences in elevation between two points can be measured by going through a series of steps. (1) The fieldworker needs to now the height of his or her eye above ground level. This can be done by standing against a wall, facing it, sighting horizontally, and then marking the wall at the cross hair. The distance from the mark to the floor is one's "eye height." (2) The fieldworker stands at a low point of known elevation (a benchmark or datum) and sights a level line through the hand level. (3) The point on the slope at eye height is then noted, usually in reference to a rock, twig, leaf, etc. The fieldworker walks to that point, stands on it and repeats the process. (4) This is done until the fieldworker's eye height is greater than the point whose elevation is being calculated. (5) At this point, the vertical distance between the point where the fieldworker is standing and the point whose elevation is desired is then estimated. (6) The sum of all the eye heights sighted and the last estimate are added together and then added to the elevation where the process began. Obviously, this procedure can only be used in determining elevations higher than a known point. Work must progress up-hill.[example]If you learn to use one, a Lok Level, is a handy tool, that takes up zero room, takes no tripod, just a steady hand and shovel, and a helper on the rod. Not as precise as a laser or real builders level, but the old farts did a lot of rough work with them. The biggest advantage of laser is the single person operation over a builders level.
I have to install a driveway with a pipe and some fill. I got a used self-leveling level for $200, and I'll sell it when I'm done. You can get new for $250. Lazer levels start around $350, but you don't really need the small increase in accuracy. The best thing about a lazer level is one person can use it. That is the only way I would deal with a foundation. Set it up twice to double check your readings. You can use the rod (make sure to get one) to get the higher elevations by measuring from a known elevation below. I'm not a surveyor, but a Professional C. E..I've got a 30 x 25 dirt floor barn that sits on a concrete foundation on 3 sides. Framing is 2 x 6 construction. There are two sets of 8 x 8 posts rising from the front wall and midway back to carry the load across 3 door openings across the front. All 4 posts terminate in the dirt floor. I'm not sure how deep either the posts or the foundation walls go, yet. Looking at the front of the barn, it is obvious from door misalignment that the foundation has either settled or the posts have heaved. The center is higher than the two sides. Not sure about front to back yet. I will either need to jack up the barn walls along the foundation, or drop the center of the barn at the posts. To better understand the task ahead, I want to lay out elevations, at the 4 corners ground level, as well as above in the lofts and along the posts. Thus my question: how do you take accurate elevation readings? I don't own a ziplevel altimeter, or even a laser level. I'm happy to invest modestly in equipment (renting equipment nearby doesn't appear to be much of an option). Would love to hear how experienced "surveyors" would tackle this.
LASGOO Laser Level Self Leveling, Green Cross Laser Line with Vertical and Horizontal for Picture Hanging and Construction, Magnetic Rotating Stand and Portable Case Included, Green https://a.co/d/9EhOTUt
The Lasgoo only shoots laser out one side. I got a cheap one off Amazon that has a beacon on top that beams all the way around horizontally and a vertical line on the ceiling, floor, and walls. Some use AA batts and some might have a built-in batt. Set and forget like this: https://www.amazon.com/OMMO-Laser-Level-Leveling-150ft-Line-Horizontal-Magnetic/dp/B09W93PJRT