Building Lines and Batterboards

CORNER STAKES

  For the sake of clarity, we'll call the first corner stake located on the baseline, point (A); and the second corner stake;( B). To find (C and D); refer to the site plans and note the exact depth of our structure; apply this figure by measuring from the corner stakes ( A and B ) the specified width or depth of the building, to points ( C and D ).This marks the rear structural line and is parallel with the baseline, set batter boards to this measurement using the same techniques described in setting the baseline batter boards. This set of batter-boards will hold the second line that we,re to put up to show the the exact width of our building site.  After you have this pair of batter boards installed; stretch the string and tie it to the 1X6 cross-members. Cut a slight groove in the top of the cross-member where the line intersects with the frame-work. These kerfs will hold the exact width of your building line. Do the same with the adjoining frame member.

Batter Boards

  Now; we have the base and rear line in place, it's good practice to make sure that the level of the batter boards is maintained throughout this process. With the transit set up in the center of your site, check and recheck the height and level of every installed batter board; the sides and the front and the two back boards and make adjustments if needed.

  Let's proceed with the last two batter boards which are built 8 or 10 feet beyond the back building line facing the two front batter boards. Easy!

Baselines

At a 90 degree angle to the baseline tie a string to the front batter board at corner stack (A) and pull it down the side of your structure to the opposite end and tie it to the back facing batter board. Check with a plumb-bob, the strings cross directly over corner stake (A). Then Check your angle by using a method based on the Pythagorean theorem and that is simply; from corner stake (A) measure 3 feet across one line (A,B) and 4 feet on the other line (A,C) mark these points, then measure across the two points which should equal 5 feet. This is called the 3,4,5 method.And you can obtain greater accuracy by increasing this number by two. For example 6,8,10 can be used. Lines have to be tight!

A quicker and easier way to square the corner is to set your transit directly over point (A)drop a plumb-bob centered directly over the stake. This will center your transit exactly over point (A). Set line (A,B) to 0 degree by pointing the transit at stake (B) and aligning the transit at 0 degree to stake (A). To find (C) turn the transit while maintaining the 0 degree mark pointing to stake (B) set the transit head to 90 degrees and sight down to the base board at point (C) and mark the transit cross hair location on top of the batter board, marking the spot for your line and where it should be tied to the batter board. Tie the string at the mark and re-check your 90 degree angle.

 With the angle verified and correct. Find point (D)by measuring the specified length indicated on the site plan point (C) to point (D),mark the location on the line, adjust your lines and tie it to the base board. Finally, check the diagonals of your site by measuring across the layout. Take a measurement from point (A,D) and compare that measurement to the diagonal of points (B,C)These lengths will be the same.

If everything went right with hardly no problems, your layout should be square. Go-to line intersection (A,C) drop a plumb-bob at this point and drive a 2X2 stake deep into the ground centered on the plumb-line, and place an 8 penny finish nail precisely at that spot. Do the same for the line intersection of point (B,D). And this completes the layout and the building line frame-work. Thank Goodness!!