Timber Frame Barn 4 - How to level and square the footings

[@sbk162]

when i was using water level in columbia hospital to level the floor every carpenter on the job was laughing at me, but when they came to set the glass it was perfectly leveled. they said first time they see a floor perfectly leveled still today i use water level it is way more accurate than laser level and other methods of leveling

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

That's true! Thank you for watching!

[@larrywolfe7451]

Awesome, using a water level when you don’t have a transit , my dad showed me this when l was a kid .good job explaining how this all works .👍

[@sulebo2153]

Cool - came looking for a beginner's leveling technique to set footings for my IBC tote water catchment system - THANK YOU! I'm a single ole' lady and love remodeling but kind of dumb when it comes to calculus and physics. Your explanation is very understandable and you talk in a cadence that doesn't rush my ADHD brain :) Your video reminds me of growing up with a DIY dad. He was always remodeling and adding rooms on to our house. He used me and my 5 sisters as pack mules and "holders". Back in the 60's he didn't really care to teach us skills but I got the bug when I bought my first reno when I was 47. Wish I had a little brother like you to help me out :)

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Glad I could help you out. Thank you for watching!

[@user-db5ef7mc5n]

@@GreatPlainsCraftsman😊

[@user-db5ef7mc5n]

😊

[@thefruitshowstheroot7844]

OMG! This is one of the greatest videos on KZbin! Thank you!

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Thank YOU!

[@JimiJimi1000]

Another great video bud!! I love that you have the whole family helping out!!😁🌲

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Thanks!

[@TimberLineNorth]

I just can't leave with out saying thanks,,for the information i learned.

[@dustinbrown2209]

Great video and well explained. I've been trying to figure out a way to level Footers for a gazebo and I think this will do the trick thank you.

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Glad to help Dustin. Thanks for tuning in.

[@bearrivermama6414]

The water leveling trick is slick! 👍🏻great video!

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

B Lestico Thanks for watching!

[@augustreil]

Just subbed and Excellent video, We're from Ct and built 3 small vacation homes in Vt and we always used a water line level. Doesn't matter where you are, it's level, accurate and it's beyond simple to use !

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

august Thank you for joining the journey!

[@practicallyIndependent]

Great video man! Exciting to see you starting your timber frame. I hope to start in the next year or so. Nice work!

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Dillons Woodworks Hope you can get started soon. I'll watch!

[@dodgygoose3054]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@jmc6940]

What beautiful country you live in. You a truly blessed. What town and or state is this?

[@Anton-pd7qd]

Wow! Really cool!

[@ServiceTrek]

nice work and good explanation. would have been good to see on a diagram as well. thanks.

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Thanks for watching!

[@nielsvanvlerken3398]

Nice video! Lots of interesting information. One question I am I'm wondering about: how you set your parallel line accurately? As I see it nothing guarantees you come of your baseline exactly square for both measurements which may result in a non-parallel line or a parallel line which is slightly closer to your baseline than intended. I'm used to using two mearument tapes at the same time to guarantee squareness but your method intrigues me. I think I am missing something though because the way I see it it is hard to set that parallel line exactly right by just measuring the required disctance without taking squareness in relation to your baseline into account. Thanks in advance.

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

The parallel measurement is the first step, the square measurements are second. The two parallel lines are long, not the exact length so to allow for adjustment for square.

[@nielsvanvlerken3398]

@@GreatPlainsCraftsman Thanks for the reply. Actually that is exactly my point. Without checking for squareness first it is not possible to establish a line that is exactly parallel. Let's assume we start with a line AB that runs from point A to point B and is 10m long (we only need 8m but we make it 10m to have additional margin to do the squareness like you say later). Now we want to create a parallel line CD that runs from point C to point D and is 6 meters away from AB. To do this we take two arbitrary points on AB and we measure 6 meters to were line CD needs to be. Now let's assume for the first measurement (point C) we are exactly square to AB, but for the second measurement (point D) we are at an angle of 88 degrees to AB. Now when we draw a line from C to D this line will not be parallel to AB as we have not drawn a square but a form with two square corners and two that are not square. If you extend line CD far enough it will intersect with line AB because of the angle. To exaggerate, imagine using an angle of only 10 degrees. We will not get a line parallel to AB. Of course if you can eyeball it at exactly 90 degree measurements that would be awesome but I can't :). Wen establishing a parallel line that needs to be 10 meters away and we use two 85 degree angles (instead of 90 degree) when measuring, in the end the real distance will be short 4cm (the parallel line will run at 9.96m). Its less of a difference than I thought and that makes me think this technique can be used for a quick layout on small projects but for larger ones and where precision is key I would check for squareness first.

[@roccodragani7101]

good video, thank you

[@RustandRedemption]

Good video. In the future I suggest getting straight to the point before showing any no dialogue saw footage.

[@bosse641]

Beautiful area you live in. Where in America is this ?

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

John Grytbakk I live on the front range of the Black Hills in SD

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

at 4:13 lady in background vanishes! cool editing.

[@Dimmu666ist]

I still dont get how you squared the corners

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Start at 8:52. Establish the first line where you want it, set a parallel line exactly to a set distance. Then pick a starting point in one corner and pull diagonal measurements and mark on the strings

[@defytyrantsofmississippi2198]

@@GreatPlainsCraftsman I usually use 2 tape measures and I use the Pythagorean theorem. I set up a base line like you did in the video then I calculate In inches my diagonal dimension. I then hook both of my tape measures simultaneously to both ends of my baseline ground spikes and pull them together at the cross point of my diagonal and second side measurement. Then I simply lift up the tape measures then my second side tape measure becomes my diagonal tape measure and my diagonal becomes my third side tape measure. This way I don’t have to measure both diagonals to get square. I’ve already done it in one step without actually unhooking my tape measures from my ground spikes. Now I have all four corners set perfectly square. When it comes to my water level I use a 3/8 inch clear water line like you do with one end of the water line inside of a milk jug filled a little more than half way full of water and elevated on a bucket and the other end of the water line is taped with box tape to a drywall T-square so that way I can set a baseline on the T-square and measure the change in inches on the T- square as the water level moves up and down the T-square. That way it becomes a one-man operation instead of two people having to holding the water line. The added bonus to using a tape measure or a T-square with the water level is you can also set a grade not just find level.

[@pippaseaspirit4415]

It makes me wince to see you lean over your saw blade! All it needs is for your back foot to slip (or your dog to knock you off balance!) and things could get messy fast! I love where you live👍🏻

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

SeaSpirit4 seaspirit Hey thanks for your concern! We all need a reminder once in a while to be careful. Looks worse than it is in the video but I hear you!

[@lashawnknowles2491]

But with the water level technique, how can you tell you have the exact same water as last measurement? Example your leveling a 100foot run, its the end of day, you go home and come me back the next day to do the other side of the 100ft run, and say.. SOME water evaporated, his when you level it will be level, but lower total elevation then before. Could you explain sir? Thanks

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Doesn't matter. Hold on your control mark with one end and start again.

[@JRCoronado24]

Hello sir, how do you know you are square when you nail that third stake going 16 feet across?

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Watch it again, I explain that in the video Juan. You can get it.

[@timgiles9413]

So, the barn is 20' x 16' , correct?

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Yes.

[@timgiles9413]

@@GreatPlainsCraftsman I didn't see it in any description. Very nice barn your building :)

[@ELPATRON839]

Beautiful view brother . What state is this in?

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

SD

[@johnisley4578]

Not being rude but here in Australia you can buy a laser/dumpy level for 50 bucks

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Great! I was talking about a true laser level transit

[@tjam4229]

Why do you waste 3 minutes at the beginning of the video with useless video?

[@lefstop]

Dear sir, although it’s your build and project , please acknowledge your wife and daughter I believe in the video. You’ve acknowledged the men, not the women. Cheers from Monpazier, France

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Thank you William! I prefer to keep my family private for now.