I have watched a half dozen videos on this, and this is by far the best. Not too wonky, but clearly demonstrates how to get a square layout...Thank You!
There are several ways that one can go about laying out a building. I was a home builder for more than forty years, and i personally laid out hundreds of houses during that time. First off in most cases, lot sizes require that the placement of the home be pretty precise. That requires that the lot corners be located by a survey prior to staking the house. After that, its necessary to determine any corner of the home by pulling measurements from the property lines. Drive a stake in the ground at that corner and partially drive a nail in the top of it. Set up your transit with a plumb bob hanging directly over that nail. Next by using a tape and measuring from that nail, establish another corner, drive another stake in the ground and another nail in the top of that also. Next align the transit on that nail, set the scale of the transit on zero, then turn 90 degrees for another corner and drive another stake with another nail. Continue to turn 90s untill all the corners are located, and tape from those for others. Batter boards are as a rule set in the same manor once two corners of the building are established. This method does require 2 people, but is a much faster and a very accurate way to stake out any type of building.
This is how I just marked out my house. I did it myself, but there was a lot of walking back and forward to adjust nails etc. I used a theodolite and marked out all points from the one corner using exact angles and distances. This way I didn’t have to move the theodolite.
Beautifully and well explained to a novice like me. You have truly made my day. Thank you for your time in explaining this process. Very helpful indeed
Pretty solid practical explanation of Pythagorean theorem at work. The only other step I would add, is to keep all of your batter boards at a consistent elevation. Use a line level as a last resort, if you don’t have a laser or a builders level. Even a pair of winding sticks can get you close (although that would require a helper).
Obviously you're long past this point but for any of your viewers a simple way of squaring is the 3, 4, 5 method. Just like checking a window or door opening for square. You mentioned pyhtagorean theorem which is basically what I'm talking about. if you measure 3' out one leg of your string and 4' out the other (the bases of your triangle) and mark those spots just pull a tape across the corner (the hypotenuse) to the spots you marked. If it is exactly 5' it's square, if it isn't you need to adjust one of the legs out to meet the next. Then go around the building in one direction, checking your back leg as you go. You can also due multiples for large triangles like a building foundation. So like with your 40' leg you could go 30', 40' and 50' or any other multiple like 9,12, 15. Easy peezy lemon squeezy. A few extra hands and tape measures are helpful. Also try to keep your strings all level when doing it so the slope doesn't throw off your measurement. On a side note in your vid before this you mentioned renting equipment and people could look at renting a laser level or if they're building a house buy a decent quality one for a few hundred bucks and learn to use it. It'll well pay for itself until you finish the build.
Measure 3ft along one line. 4ft along the perpendicular line. Then measure if there is 5 ft between those two marks that corner is square/90 deg. Then double check with diagonal check
Spent 30 minutes trying to do this with my new cheapo Huepar 2-line laser before realizing horizontal and plumb really aren't that useful at this stage. So, I used the pythagorean theorem on my desired dimensions (46x16) to get my diagonal length. Then just put down 2 stakes for one side which I knew were good, and pulled diagonals from both of those. Took 5 min of going back and forth to get them equal, however pretty simple if you don't have a long 90' reference square. Just looked and you can actually get a cheapo 90' laser for $13 at AMZ. Probably a lot easier to take get a helper to hold a framing square at the base on a known good stake and pull string along with a tape meaure to really make it simple.
How tight do you pull the tape? If it’s steel it sags, but I guess if you keep the sag consistent that would work, or try to pull it real tight. Steel tapes don’t stretch but u got to pull them tight as hell
Thank you for posting this series. Surprised you did not mention elevation (or I missed it) when staking out the building. Is there a rule of thumb when you would need to consider elevation?
Yes! It looks like there is a significant drop in elevation front to back. If you are measuring along a slope, you need to take the secant (1/cosine) of the angle and multiply it by the length (e. g. for a three foot drop in 40 feet, you need to add 1-3/8"!
There is another way to get a string line tight and that is by spinning the line about 5 or 6 times and then taking that loop and slipping it over the screw. Then you have some leverage to pull on the bitter end and making the line guitar string tight. After you pull the string line tight, pull the string back towards the screw. This will compress the spin of that line and lock it in so that it will not move and there you go.
You laid down the 1st wall of the garage then measured back 40' off the two ends; how did you know you were going perpendicular off that 1st wall??? Would it have been easier to use a laser that shown two beams that were 90 degrees apart ; or two tape measures anchored to the ends of the front wall???
I know this isn't related to this video, but I was just wondering how long the permitting process was for you? I live in San Jose, CA and I want to build a very similar home for my family but with an antebellum style finish and approximately 6500-7000 sq ft
I can see now I need fluorescent orange string. I've been driving stakes for a 32' x 26' form. Measurement including the diagonal. Apparently moving the wrong stake. 🤔
@@MrPostFrame you should of modelled your storm shelter/man cave to fit a pool table, i put up a log cabin in garden in 2012 to house a pool table and now i couldnt live without it, its been invaluable thru the covid lockdown, we would of been so bored without it. your kids will love it when they get older.
I am totally lost in what you are trying to explain to us what you are doing. I suggest you go through the process using a large sheet of paper or plywood to show you are laying out the house. This will show an over view of the project. Then you can go into the field and explain what you are doing with reference to the large over view drawing. I can tell you know how to lay out a house.
House measurements made my OCD kick in. I would have established a true N-S or E-W line with a couple small concrete monuments and then located one house corner off that. And then lay out a 3-4-5 triangle with a laser.
couldnt you just have cut thru all the bullshit and got the diagnal measurement right away and just went with that, no idea why every single vid without exception leaves me more confused that I was before
This was painful to watch. So much measuring and extra work. Just drive pins in the ground and measure long side and diagonal off those to find the next pin location for each corner of the building, then put your strings above the pins. The strings will be close to square and all you have to do is small adjustments at that point.
Deciding where to put the house takes time with no set starting reference...plus he is filming and talking through every step. In Larry Haun's videos he mentions that it took two and a half times longer to complete the framing while filming. I am glad that he is documenting this!
I did that and 36 x 40, turned out front to back 36ft left corner ..diagonal 54' 2.75" 40 ft to the 54' 2.75" and the right side came ou three times 38' 6" @both end @t 40" on the 54'2.75 mark front and back@ 40ft but the other side TWO AND A HALF FT OFF three times????
I have watched a half dozen videos on this, and this is by far the best. Not too wonky, but clearly demonstrates how to get a square layout...Thank You!
Thanks!
There are several ways that one can go about laying out a building.
I was a home builder for more than forty years, and i personally laid out hundreds of houses during that time.
First off in most cases, lot sizes require that the placement of the home be pretty precise.
That requires that the lot corners be located by a survey prior to staking the house.
After that, its necessary to determine any corner of the home by pulling measurements from the property lines.
Drive a stake in the ground at that corner and partially drive a nail in the top of it.
Set up your transit with a plumb bob hanging directly over that nail.
Next by using a tape and measuring from that nail, establish another corner, drive another stake in the ground and another nail in the top of that also.
Next align the transit on that nail, set the scale of the transit on zero, then turn 90 degrees for another corner and drive another stake with another nail.
Continue to turn 90s untill all the corners are located, and tape from those for others.
Batter boards are as a rule set in the same manor once two corners of the building are established.
This method does require 2 people, but is a much faster and a very accurate way to stake out any type of building.
This is how I just marked out my house. I did it myself, but there was a lot of walking back and forward to adjust nails etc. I used a theodolite and marked out all points from the one corner using exact angles and distances. This way I didn’t have to move the theodolite.
Beautifully and well explained to a novice like me. You have truly made my day. Thank you for your time in explaining this process. Very helpful indeed
What a simple and easily understood way to lay out a building.. thank you
I am so happy to have found this. This the exact dimensions of our new house
Pretty solid practical explanation of Pythagorean theorem at work. The only other step I would add, is to keep all of your batter boards at a consistent elevation. Use a line level as a last resort, if you don’t have a laser or a builders level. Even a pair of winding sticks can get you close (although that would require a helper).
Just sent this to my apprentice …. Thanks for making the video …
Thanks for watching. We have a few other layout and squaring videos if you check out our channel.
Obviously you're long past this point but for any of your viewers a simple way of squaring is the 3, 4, 5 method. Just like checking a window or door opening for square. You mentioned pyhtagorean theorem which is basically what I'm talking about. if you measure 3' out one leg of your string and 4' out the other (the bases of your triangle) and mark those spots just pull a tape across the corner (the hypotenuse) to the spots you marked. If it is exactly 5' it's square, if it isn't you need to adjust one of the legs out to meet the next. Then go around the building in one direction, checking your back leg as you go.
You can also due multiples for large triangles like a building foundation. So like with your 40' leg you could go 30', 40' and 50' or any other multiple like 9,12, 15. Easy peezy lemon squeezy. A few extra hands and tape measures are helpful. Also try to keep your strings all level when doing it so the slope doesn't throw off your measurement. On a side note in your vid before this you mentioned renting equipment and people could look at renting a laser level or if they're building a house buy a decent quality one for a few hundred bucks and learn to use it. It'll well pay for itself until you finish the build.
Thanks for adding good info. Appreciate it.
For us old Arm Chair Generals, thanks for the explanations as you progress through your building project. Good lessons.
You have no idea how helpful this series is. I'm about to start the same process, 15 acres, building (mostly) solo. Thank you!
Thanks! We have a couple more layout videos on our channel if you want to check them out.
Measure 3ft along one line. 4ft along the perpendicular line. Then measure if there is 5 ft between those two marks that corner is square/90 deg. Then double check with diagonal check
Spent 30 minutes trying to do this with my new cheapo Huepar 2-line laser before realizing horizontal and plumb really aren't that useful at this stage.
So, I used the pythagorean theorem on my desired dimensions (46x16) to get my diagonal length.
Then just put down 2 stakes for one side which I knew were good, and pulled diagonals from both of those. Took 5 min of going back and forth to get them equal, however pretty simple if you don't have a long 90' reference square.
Just looked and you can actually get a cheapo 90' laser for $13 at AMZ.
Probably a lot easier to take get a helper to hold a framing square at the base on a known good stake and pull string along with a tape meaure to really make it simple.
How do you know how tall to make your first stakes and board?
How tight do you pull the tape? If it’s steel it sags, but I guess if you keep the sag consistent that would work, or try to pull it real tight. Steel tapes don’t stretch but u got to pull them tight as hell
Very grateful for all this knowledge.
Thank you! Let us know if you have questions
Thank you for posting this series. Surprised you did not mention elevation (or I missed it) when staking out the building. Is there a rule of thumb when you would need to consider elevation?
Yes! It looks like there is a significant drop in elevation front to back. If you are measuring along a slope, you need to take the secant (1/cosine) of the angle and multiply it by the length (e. g. for a three foot drop in 40 feet, you need to add 1-3/8"!
There is another way to get a string line tight and that is by spinning the line about 5 or 6 times and then taking that loop and slipping it over the screw. Then you have some leverage to pull on the bitter end and making the line guitar string tight. After you pull the string line tight, pull the string back towards the screw. This will compress the spin of that line and lock it in so that it will not move and there you go.
Any one who doesn't know this procedure shouldn't be laying-out, much less building.
@@jackriley5974 It seems as though you didn't read what I said.
@@robertlaird6746 It seems as though English isn't your primary language? I was pulling string across batter boards before you were born!!
@@jackriley5974 Whatever premadonna. Rather than go for that synthetic hi, why don't you go for a natural hi and humble yourself.
@@robertlaird6746 It's hard to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person!!
You’re making your math teacher proud
Ha! Pythagorean Theorem is real handy with building, even though I use a calculator.
You laid down the 1st wall of the garage then measured back 40' off the two ends; how did you know you were going perpendicular off that 1st wall???
Would it have been easier to use a laser that shown two beams that were 90 degrees apart ; or two tape measures anchored to the ends of the front wall???
Simple. Swing your tape in about a 4 foot arch to insure you’re perpendicular.
Great videos .
A pesar que esta en Inglés, llegó a entender gran parte de tus videos. Excelente trabajo.
Será posible al castellano.
Un abrazo
What kind of a tape measures did you use when measuring the 2 sides?
100’ tape measure…should be able to get one at local hardware store
Great works
Thank you!
Should the layout be done with a steel tape for accuracy?
huge help, thanks from South Australia
Thanks for watching!
Do you think of solar orientation when deciding the frontage of your house? Or any of tge other sides?
I know this isn't related to this video, but I was just wondering how long the permitting process was for you? I live in San Jose, CA and I want to build a very similar home for my family but with an antebellum style finish and approximately 6500-7000 sq ft
I had all my permits within a week.
Curious why you set the back line at 'about' 40', then actually measured the 40' and moved the line?? Measure first, then set line??
I can see now I need fluorescent orange string. I've been driving stakes for a
32' x 26' form. Measurement including the diagonal. Apparently moving the wrong stake. 🤔
What is the square app that you said you used?
What is the app you used for the diagonal measurement?
Website - learnframing.com
Diagonal Calculator
Hi. What’s the app you use
Thanks Andy
You didn’t show height of batter boards?
What app do you use for this
are you going to have a pool table in this home, as there is plenty of space for it .. ?
Not sure, quite possibly!
@@MrPostFrame you should of modelled your storm shelter/man cave to fit a pool table, i put up a log cabin in garden in 2012 to house a pool table and now i couldnt live without it, its been invaluable thru the covid lockdown, we would of been so bored without it. your kids will love it when they get older.
Great job, thx
I like it,thanks for the lesson....mm
What does the app for the diagnol name
Works good but your dependent on the app and internet those can not work slot of times and places
Instead of making the garage 40x56, you should have just made it 42x56 and your diagonal would've been 70 feet exactly.
What app are you using?
It says www.learnframing.com when he opens his phone
The fastest way to get the diagonal is to add the perimeter and square root the total..
Hmmm, you must have left something out, because that doesn’t work..
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Try again, homie. Squaring the sides is not the same as summing the perimeter.
I would start it with big nail on the ground first, just saying.
What size
When I watch one ep, when I click the next in line; it isn't consistent? the episodes are all over the place Paul.
Any suggestions? thanks
Are you going into the build playlist? They're all in order under that. ruclips.net/p/PL3QM32YjSVn3GVk2UCIj1U7tR8IRs0zKO
@@MrPostFrame thank you I have bookmarked that :)
What are the dimensions of the actual house
48x48 with 18’ sidewalls
@@MrPostFrame perfect pole barn house I'm actually getting house plans drawn very similar to yours but a three-car garage
I am totally lost in what you are trying to explain to us what you are doing. I suggest you go through the process using a large sheet of paper or plywood to show you are laying out the house. This will show an over view of the project. Then you can go into the field and explain what you are doing with reference to the large over view drawing. I can tell you know how to lay out a house.
40 feet = 12.192 metres
(or meters)
Worse thing r the ads
House measurements made my OCD kick in. I would have established a true N-S or E-W line with a couple small concrete monuments and then located one house corner off that. And then lay out a 3-4-5 triangle with a laser.
56 feet = 17.068 metres
Hi
maybe it's me but your explaination was not very clear. I have done this hundreds of times useing 3, 4 5 and its comes out square every time.
couldnt you just have cut thru all the bullshit and got the diagnal measurement right away and just went with that, no idea why every single vid without exception leaves me more confused that I was before
This was painful to watch. So much measuring and extra work. Just drive pins in the ground and measure long side and diagonal off those to find the next pin location for each corner of the building, then put your strings above the pins. The strings will be close to square and all you have to do is small adjustments at that point.
Hope you're faster building than laying out!
Do you feel better about yourself now? Forgive him for trying to help people
Always has to be a@@hole in the bunch
@@thomasjohnson8195 I'll try to keep my response on your level. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."
Deciding where to put the house takes time with no set starting reference...plus he is filming and talking through every step. In Larry Haun's videos he mentions that it took two and a half times longer to complete the framing while filming. I am glad that he is documenting this!
Plus building goes faster with a square layout!
I did that and 36 x 40, turned out front to back 36ft left corner ..diagonal 54' 2.75" 40 ft to the 54' 2.75" and the right side came ou three times 38' 6" @both end @t 40" on the 54'2.75 mark front and back@ 40ft but the other side TWO AND A HALF FT OFF three times????
try 53' 9-3/4" if your building is 36'x40'
What app are you using?
Learnframing.com it’s called feet and inch calculator. It’s free. If you type feet and inch calculator into your browser it will probably pop up.