Leveling posts ?

[hosspuller]

I'm planning a 20' x 36' pole shed. There will be two rows of posts every 12 feet separated by 20 feet. Once the posts are vertical in the ground, I need to trim the tops level about 12 feet above ground for the trusses. How would a person determine the level plane on the posts? Use a line level and string ?? Work from one post around the perimeter and hopefully end up at the starting level??

Don't have any exotic equipment like a laser level.

Your experiance is appreciated...

 

[Duffster]

I'm planning a 20' x 36' pole shed. There will be two rows of posts every 12 feet separated by 20 feet. Once the posts are vertical in the ground, I need to trim the tops level about 12 feet above ground for the trusses. How would a person determine the level plane on the posts? Use a line level and string ?? Work from one post around the perimeter and hopefully end up at the starting level??

Don't have any exotic equipment like a laser level.

Your experiance is appreciated...

"Exotic" :laughing:

Your best bet is to rent a laser for the day.

 

[rekees4300]

How would a person determine the level plane on the posts?

You can use a clear plastic tube and water. The level of the water on one end of the tube will be exactly level with the other end.

 

[ArkOma]

Rotary laser without a doubt.

Shoot a benchmark on the posts and simply measure each post and with some calculation, cut them all to the correct length.

 

[grsthegreat]

yup...yo can rent these very cheap for the day. also use them to set the marks for the 2x6 stringers so all will be even and level.

 

[BeezFun]

How would a person determine the level plane on the posts? Use a line level and string ??

I'd ditto the suggestions to rent a good outdoor spinning laser level and shoot marks on all your posts. Maybe shoot some grade marks while you've got it. That will come in handy when you reestablish the soil or put down gravel.

A line level will work, put it exactly in the middle of the line to get the best accuracy. Pull the line very taut to mark the intermediate posts accurately. It's more important that you have straight lines than it is that they be dead level. A wavy roof of floor is more of a problem than one that's a bit out of level.

Water levels aren't so easy to use unless you have two people, or one of those audio alarms that go off when it's at a set point. They also have to be large enough in diameter to not resist the small motions of the fluid column. And you need to make sure there's no trapped air. If you do it, get clear plastic tube and tint the water with food coloring so you you can find the air bubbles.

 

[Egon]

Some very inexpensive lazer levels out there.

 

[bindian]

I'd ditto the suggestions to rent a good outdoor spinning laser level and shoot marks on all your posts. Maybe shoot some grade marks while you've got it. That will come in handy when you reestablish the soil or put down gravel.

A line level will work, put it exactly in the middle of the line to get the best accuracy. Pull the line very taut to mark the intermediate posts accurately. It's more important that you have straight lines than it is that they be dead level. A wavy roof of floor is more of a problem than one that's a bit out of level.

Water levels aren't so easy to use unless you have two people, or one of those audio alarms that go off when it's at a set point. They also have to be large enough in diameter to not resist the small motions of the fluid column. And you need to make sure there's no trapped air. If you do it, get clear plastic tube and tint the water with food coloring so you you can find the air bubbles.

I used a water hose with clear tubing on each end. It works, but slow. However, you can measure level out of line of sight, like around corners.

I have also just leveled one board at a time as I went around the barn and that worked.

 

[Lloyd_E]

rekees has the simplest solution... used it and it works great.

 

[duckhunter27]

I just did this my self i put up a 24 x32x10 pole shed. The way i did it was measure 10 ft on one cornor post and then levelled each board with a 6 ft level as i went. seemed to turn out ok.

 

[Highbeam]

A rotary lazer level with tripod and everything is only about 400$ at the home depot. You will use it more than you know for all kinds of things.

I got one for installing drainage pipes and have since used it for drainage ditches, site grading, and setting up my own pole barn.

A guy borrowed it for installing cabinets too.

 

[massey990]

Unless you use a laser to set at your "cut line" where you can mark each post you might want to set a "control line" by marking the corners and use a string to mark intermediate posts. Set a control line at a moderate working height say at shoulder level, then you can cut a thin straight stick etc. that is the exact length above the "control line you want to make your cuts. Attach the stick on each pole to mark your cut line.

Using something like a water tube level will work great but again I suggest only marking the corners and using a string to mark intermediate posts, this cuts down on slight errors that can occur. Using a tube level will work best if you set each mark leveling from the original grade, marking one post and moving both ends of a (short) tube level will compound any errors.

This observation comes from my days as a surveyor where we layed out and set grades on many stilt homes and pole barns.