how to use a water level?

[amyinraleigh]

Thanks for the replies!

Matt - Yes, you are the kind one I was referring to in my original post I read through/watched those links and got a great grip on the mechanics of the water level, would have no prob using one on a wall (cool that it goes around corners into diff. rooms - I'll have to remember that one, it WILL come in handy some day!), but am just not positive how to best apply it to leveling ground, was curious if there was some "industry standard" method in its use for pool/landscape purposes.

Sevver - No, my level did not come with a receiver, I'll have to look into that. I did a bit of googling on the brand name of my level and they sell several for much less than the one I have that ARE visible outside. I guess I just figured since I paid more, I should be able to do more - what I get for figgerin', eh? Sounds like you got a very important job done with a water level, sometimes you just can't improve on simplicity - I'm sure I can make one work for me and my lil Intex after the story you told!!

Carl - Mason's line and 2x4, this is what I will try today! Great idea. And yes, it's amazing that red clay CAN stain so badly! I would never have believed it until I had to have the builder replace some carpet in our brand-new house that had been stained by muddy sub-contractor feet. Amazing Wouldn't be such a problem if every last bit of meager topsoil that we have here weren't graded away on every building site out there. And everyone wonders why it's so hard to grow grass

Again, thanks for all the help, I'll report back.........

Amy

[matt4x4]

Amy - real easy - pick your starting point - (the grade that you want to make everything else level to), this is where you put the bucket, measure from the ground up to the water level in the bucket - write this number down (reference num).
Take a stake and pound it into the ground at the next point you want to check your elevation at, tape the tube to it, there will be a water line in the tube, measure from the ground up to the water line, this measurement will be either:
1. less than reference num - you have to remove dirt until equal to reference num
2. More than reference num - you have to add and compact dirt until equal to reference num.
3. Equal to reference num - you have to do nothing

Move onto next spot - using same stake or new stake - repeat until everything is checked

[CarlD]

BTW, the water level can EASILY be used to set the mason's lines up. In fact, it should make it easier to set up the lines.

[amyinraleigh]

Matt - Excellent! Exactly the guidance I was looking for. There's always a more efficient, more reliable way of doing whatever I "think" I'm doing correctly - DOH!

Thanks!

[amyinraleigh]

BTW, the water level can EASILY be used to set the mason's lines up. In fact, it should make it easier to set up the lines.

I do believe that's what I'm a-gonna try!!

Thanks!

[hrsdennis]

Matt, I followed your links and did some research on the water level. Looks like it would be easy and accurate. The only variable I see is evaporation. So what if it takes a year or more to level the red clay.

They are not cheap but the only way I have found to use a laser outdoors in the daylight. No matter how expensive the unit. They have really neat beep sounds to tell you when you are level. I silence that of course.

Later, Dennis

[amyinraleigh]

Thanks again all.....

My neighbor just stopped by, he used to be a surveyor and had a transit (?) laying around that he showed me how to use. Tripod thingy with a scope type deal on top. I'm going to give it a try, hopefully this will work!

[sevver]

If you feel the need to test the transit, then a good way to do it is get two set up in the middle, and get two opposite blocks level, so that you have to spin the transit around. Then take the transit down, and move it so you can shoot the two in line, without the need to spin it, the numbers should be the equal to each other again. If it passes this, then it is still calibrated and you can use it. Those things can get out of whack, even a little can equal alot over a distance.