Building: Site stakes & Foundation Prep

The Right Tool For The Right Job

  I left off the other day wanting to include some helpful informatiom about specialized tools and equipment. Because, I'm amazed, of all the technological advances abounding these days it's awesome. They literally have changed the world that we live in, especially since I was just a little kipper. (fish)

  I remember when my dad wanted a new item; we would go to LOWES, HOME DEPOT or any other specialized tool suppliers; he would have a particular purchase in mind of course. Take a trowel or a fishing pole for example, I would follow him through the store and observe how he would approach the tool he wanted, he'd pick it up and examine it from all angles, put it in his hands to feel the weight and texture, and the grip for instance, checking it for perfect balance or something that had to do with the technical handling, and if he liked it and it felt right and the price was right, he bought it. You learn by experience. The new tools and equipment these days almost eliminates manual labor. Almost!

  I'm going to leave this subject for now. I'll try to cover tools later in another post. Stay tuned!!

  We were setting building stakes, and left off at our baseline where we had established our two front corner stakes. This was a critical step in the construction process because of it's critically to the square and level of our building; once your square and level is achieved the foundation and everything that follows is so much simpler and all phases of the project falls in place.

Batter Boards

  We have our baseline and first building corners. Now lets proceed with the rest of the stake-out. To do this we have to set up batter boards. Batter boards are: horizontal boards nailed to 2X4 posts set at the corners of a proposed excavation site. They're use is to indicate the desired level, also as a fastening point for stretched strings to show the outlines of foundation walls or perimeters of your building.

  We start by simply setting this temporary framework to the outside of both ends of the intended structure. Now; from the corner stakes, measure approx.  8 or 10 feet to the outside of the building. Mark this length on the baseline with an indelible ink marker. Do this at both corners.

  Now; from this spot; at right angles to the baseline, on both sides of the line, measure 3 feet, and drive a 2X4 stake deep into the ground on both sides of the baseline. Then place underneath the baseline a 1X6X6 cross-member and attach ( via. nail or screw gun ) it to the 2X4 stakes. This set-up forms the frame-work to fasten your building lines. Check that the cross-member is level and the base line is centered on the 1X6. Mark the position of the string on top of the batter board, move the string to the side and make a saw kerf on top of the batter board. This is done with a hand-saw by making a slight cut through the mark, forming a groove on top of the batter board. This groove will indicate the exact location of the baseline on top of the batter board when you need to take the strings down and put them up again. Do this for both ends.

  You'll need batter boards built in front of the corner stakes also. Again measuring from the front of the corner stake measure out 8 or 10 feet at a right-angles to the building line, then from there measure paralell with the baseline 3 feet on both sides from this spot and drive two 2X4 stakes deep into the ground six feet apart from each other. Then nail the 1X6X6 cross-member to the 2X4 stakes. Do the same for the other stake.

Transit

  Both pairs of batter boards must be level and at the same height, to check this you'll need a transit: Automatic optical leveling unit, is an accurate leveling system. By getting the leveling bubble inside the circle a compensator does the rest. Some uses include decks, landscaping, roadwork and foundations.
  The transit can be set up anywhere on the site. you use a measuring rod, that comes with the transit set. The rod is placed on top of the batter board for instance and the height is checked by viewing the rod through the transit and noting the height. The height will be the same for all the batter boards. To make adjustments raise or lower your 1X6 cross-member as needed. Every batter board maintains proper elevation of a structures, excavation and trenches or any kind of below ground work. Please read on!