Once you have completed your site survey, the site is cleared of trees, brush, depending on the grade of your parcel, fill dirt has to be brought in or taken away. Also, take note on the site plan, the necessary locations of utilities, electricity, and water. And do you have a proper disposal site in place or do you know of one in the area.
What's Next! Do you want to grade before you stake or stake before you grade or stake while you grade or is that really up to you? Do you know the answer? I've been on sites were multiple operations were all performed simultaneously and it was quite hazardous, you would not have wanted to be there, and I would not have recommended it. Is their a clear definitive answer to this question, should we take a pole, if we stood around all day for a show of hands we wouldn't get much done would we. Our next step is to establish our perimeter lines. This is the logical step. You wouldn't know where to start your grade operations without establishing where to begin leveling the ground for your foundation anyway, Consequently there is some leveling that is necessary before you finish grade. This is just skimming, clearing, and smoothing out the surface, then, lets get the stakes out.
So we establish our boundaries, starting with our property lines. This critical step is usually done by a licensed surveyor will insure an accurate layout of the baseline. Let's proceed to the setback dimensions given on the site plan. Starting from one end of the property line, take the measurement from the site plan and measure the distance of the setback from the property line to the location of the baseline and drive a 2"x2" stake into the ground at this point. This marks one end of your baseline. Go to the other end and do the same. You'll have the same measurement for both ends of the property line to the baseline.
Tie construction string to one of the stake you just placed and pull the string parallel to the property line; the amount of string needed to reach to the other stake and tied. This string should be tight. Now you have a baseline for the proposed site. Illustrated on the site plan is a previously set or established land mark, which is used to pin-point the first corner stake of the building. Measurements shown on the site plan, are taken from that marker to a location on the baseline that indicate our first building corner stake.
Measure and mark this point on the string with an indelible ink marker. This is the exact location of the first corner of the building. Drive a 2"x2" stake deep into the ground at this spot, just below and centered on the mark of the string. Use a plumb-bob, and drop it to the top of the stake, perpendicular to the mark on the string. Next, mark the position of the plumb-bob on the top of the stake. Nail an 10 penny finish nail, where you marked the top of the stake and drive it into the top of the stake, designating the exact location of the corner.
Once you have this location established, your ready to proceed with the rest of the building stakes. Now, measure the length of the building, starting from the first corner mark located on the building line, measure the specific length listed on the site plan and mark that point on the building line for your second corner stake. Drive the stake into the ground, centering the stake below the mark as you did with the first stake, using the plumb-bob etc.
All your building stakes will be installed in a similar fashion and we will consider the rest of the layout next time for the rest of the story.
