Trade Trick for Setting Falls ~ 2-Minute Tip

Calculate drainage pipe falls quickly and easily with this 1 in 40 drainage gradient tip from James.
==========================================
#2MinTip #DIYTips #FallCalculations
🌲 Skill Builder Link Tree: linktr.ee/skil...
👍 Tell us what you like: skill-builder.u...
📪 Ask Skill Builder: skill-builder.u...
📣 Facebook: / skillbuilderchannel
📷 Instagram: / skill_builder
🛒 As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases
🎬 All videos: www.youtube.co...
💧 We Support Charity Water: www.charitywat...
💰 Bitcoin donations: 3J2mHmK3J94v6Xo2jbG3mdruWvSq5LVNyu
◾ Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we'll remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.

[@martynedmiston2369]

Two minute tip is a great idea for us mere mortals, keep them coming!

[@SkillBuilder]

Will do!

[@acciid]

You can also use it vertically to build Italian towers.

[@jimichip]

😂😂😂

[@Tommy-on6sl]

😆

[@barrydoherty636]

Every day is a learning day.

[@iangough7659]

You truly are the professionals

[@ashleyrowe2681]

Such a simple trick....how do we not all know this!

[@powernumpty]

A good video with some solid content, moved along nicely.

[@vinnysurti]

Listen Roger I’m going to level with ya..........

[@wkevant357]

Genius!! Simple and effective... Keep these nuggets coming guys.

[@TYLERCONSTRUCTION]

The skill builder team is full of brilliant people with fantastic ideas. Top marks mate 👍

[@jimichip]

Cheers Tyler👍

[@anthonywhite721]

Nice to see James looking happy after visiting Dulux or is he still pissed about the trade price 👍👍

[@SkillBuilder]

James is over it. If it hadn't been for the video he wouldn't have bothered going to Slough

[@kevincollins512]

Great tip will use that going forward

[@nickcollins1289]

Why didn’t you do this video last month! When I needed it haha

[@peterbigo9951]

Brilliant advice. More like this 👍🏻

[@liviu2004]

Great tip for my project.

[@MrBillUp]

Brilliant tip. Been wondering how to do this for when I lay my new patio in the spring. 👍👌

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Another good n James , with Roger heckling in the background 😁. ......Big Job broke out there .? 🤔🧱👍🏼

[@jimichip]

Cheers boys, I like the new logo!!! Yeah, onto a new big job, filming has already started. Here’s a little teaser for you - Blake’s profiles are involved and I know how much you boys like them😉

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@jimichip Cheers James we are well chuffed with it , we almost look professional now 😆. Look forward to the new project ..... excellent profile choice 😉🧱👍🏽

[@martinroberts5577]

Thanks lads. Learnt something. Lovely 👍

[@peterhanson3962]

Excellent tip James. You learn something new every day. I didn’t know about setting the fall too steeply would leave the solids in the pipe.

[@SkillBuilder]

Leaves them high and dry

[@thetessellater9163]

Only the heavy ones, the floaters make it regardless. Which are you?

[@PeteBrisbourne]

Simple. Practical. Works. Awesome.

[@JamesOStanworth-Wang]

Great 2 mins of value No BS. Thanks

[@stuffoflardohfortheloveof]

Nice tip! 👍 Out of interest, I was always taught that if you have (in old money) a 4” pipe it required a 1 in 40 fall, 6” pipe - 1 in 60 and 9” pipe - 1 in 90.

[@thetessellater9163]

Good tip, guys. Given that there are 39.37 inches to a metre, a quick ready reckoner for 1 in 40, if you pardon the mix of systems, is - 'an inch a metre' - which can be useful.

[@wittywoo9559]

thanks 👍

[@tjjmcgoun]

Beat me to it

[@JAZCA1]

Love the two min tips

[@garethheathcote4988]

Nice tip mr.James King thank you kind sir.

[@robmaule4951]

Love it James 👌🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏼

[@jimichip]

Cheers Rob!

[@Tehcarp]

level manufacturers could put another set of lines outside the ones for level that registered the pitch for the self clean

[@SaintCoemgen]

Don't know about regulations in the UK, but when I learned this in the USA, the code was 1/4 inch per foot min, max 3 in per foot or vertical. So there actually is a bit of fudge room in the code. Personally, the first bend in my index finger is about right for a 1 in 40 slope on a meter level, so I can just put my finger at the end of the level at that point to get slope on a pipe. Repeat measurements on down the pipe one meter at a time. No tape or blocks of wood needed. But that is just how I do it. And for me, the exact slope is not critical (as long as it is within code) but that there are no dips are valleys in the pipe along the path. But how doing that is another topic (there are also easy ways to get that, especially on longer pipe runs).

[@SkillBuilder]

Ah the finger tip or tip of the finger. Very good. I will measure mine. As you say a bit more is not an issue so long as it isn't crazy.

[@royksk]

So simple, bit of maths and a bit of wood. Excellent tip.

[@Nbomber]

Done this for slabs before, neat trick.

[@SkillBuilder]

What fall do you use?

[@Nbomber]

@@SkillBuilder 1:100 usually. I find that on a large patio even that seems a bit steep. Last patio I did had a path going down the side of the house also, about 7 meters, that had to meet a monoblock driveway at the same level. This resulted in a slope upwards, followed by a slope downwards. I wasnt happy with that tbh, but they had already hardcored and plated the ground, so it had to do. Still, looked pretty good though. Edit: I use a 1800mm spirit level for slabs, its good for making temporary slabs to slab between.

[@brucelangridge6302]

Thanks for the tip once again excellent video

[@rodgerq]

I'll never use this but it's pretty ingenious. The simplest hacks are the best.

[@davidlang2743]

Excellent! Thanks for the great tip!

[@razmiihsan8897]

Thank you very for the video. I'm not in the this kind of trade, but there are a lot dishonest people in my place. I'm not here because I want to build my house myself, but your video help people from being cheated. I wish your business success.

[@BerkleyBuilds]

Great tip!

[@maxmerton]

Nice tip 👍

[@Ratsotone]

That's a heck of a good tip, thanks for that

[@philipwelsh1862]

Thanks that’s great = all the best your the man

[@dougsaunders8109]

Brilliant thanks 😊

[@richardbowles7690]

Brilliant

[@jeffyoung321]

I really enjoy seeing James at work, really seems to know his stuff.

[@SkillBuilder]

Either that or he is very good at faking it

[@jimichip]

Skill Builder 🤔🤔🤔 I wonder!?!

[@jeffyoung321]

@@SkillBuilder 😂😂

[@daves4026]

Awesome tip 👍

[@plummetplum]

Great tip. I'm just laying a patio, standard fall is 1 in 80. I could have used this idea. Funny thing too is I'm drinking gin and tonic now, not on the patio though, it's too cold and it's not finished 😁

[@vic6820]

Not finished, it's g&t on the rocks then.

[@TurinTuramber]

For patio, I usually just lay with the bubble touching a line (Every level is different). That way you can use the straight edge for across and diagonal as normal.

[@plummetplum]

@@vic6820 😆😆

[@futurenewmedia]

Great tip, thanks 👍

[@Danzwain1]

Love the tips keep em coming

[@bogusawkuznar]

You’re genious!

[@AJR2208]

Great tip fella's, thank you. So, does this mean that gin should be drunk sitting up, reclining or laying down. Or is that just a consequence as my London Dry gets drained. Stay safe and well :)

[@tanja8907]

That's cool!

[@alibabar007]

Exellent idea by putting a block under 1800mm spirit level , indeed a top tip. Thank you

[@johna6327]

Brilliant tip. I could have been doing with this when putting garden drainage in earlier this year.

[@neilcrawford8303]

Remember being taught about self cleansing velocity at NESCOT. Interesting that Roger in the background says a fall of 1 in 200 for the patio. If my history serves me right, that's the fall Joseph Bazalgette laid his London sewage system to after the 'Great Stink' and when London was plagued with cholera. As for gin and tonic. Revolting drink, best place for it is on the patio.

[@jimichip]

I went to NESCOT too! Although it was for carpentry and joinery.

[@SkillBuilder]

Neil Actually I looked it up and the industry standard for domestic patios is 1 in 80, If it is commercial paving then it is 1 in 60. 1 in 200 would be slow to drain in a storm but a lot of paving is now laid as water permeable. There is a good video coming up on laying paving

[@paulross7204]

Good tip

[@hannecatton2179]

Here in Denmark the fall is a little shallower at 20mm per 1meter run for Dn 110 drainage pipe. So instead of a 45mm block we would have a 36mm block on an 1800mm spirit level.

[@jimichip]

Interesting. We all do things a little differently.

[@mistervelux]

Maybe you have less sticky poo....😂😂

[@Frank-1978]

Nice one ✌💪

[@Panther-]

Very useful thanks.

[@simransihaniya4370]

Brilliant idea boss

[@4addevelopments139]

Yet another short to the point top tip! Love it guys! Is it me or are the tips like this where is so simple make you wanna kick yourself for not thinking of it first??

[@thinkaboutit5893]

Just the info l needed brilliant

[@Joe-jv5mm]

Great tip, Cheers 🍻

[@42RHD]

Really nice!

[@MrGlenfraser]

Fab I have some rain water drain to do so I can do that as and 80 or 100 fall.......was wondering how to measure the fall...thanks for that

[@tsango1972]

Very clever tip this…..

[@thePonker]

perfect thanks man

[@DSkimRS]

great 1 minute tip

[@SW-zx3op]

Love it - cheers

[@markdicker2732]

Perfect thank you

[@pointblankracer6274]

Awesome thanks Chap's

[@Greg-z9v]

Does the length of the level matter when. Setting this trick up?

[@NeonXXP]

Nice tip, I'm doing a self build and sorting the soil pipes now. The current UK Regs are a fall of 1 :40 to 1:110. I worked out that equated to an angle of 1.43° to 0.52°. My laser measure has an angle finder on it, just lay it on the pipe and check its within range.

[@InstantSleep]

This is why you should stick to the office 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@InstantSleep]

Who uses a laser level for drainage?!

[@NeonXXP]

@@InstantSleep I designed and built an annex myself with no experience and have passed all the building inspections whilst running my company from my home office. I used a tool I already own to very quickly check drain falls.

[@bricksandstuff2631]

just tape blocks of wood to the patio table legs. This is a great little video and no messing, 1000 level = 25mm 1200 level = 30mm block of wood.

[@barrysmith5466]

They call it murfeys law,1in 40 for 4” pipe and 1in 60 for 6” pipe and when you work on drains and manholes it’s always time and a turd.

[@jethhughes4278]

Nice trick! It’s fool proof.....

[@gavincollins9376]

For the patios always use the bricklayers level, bound to be out !!!

[@jimichip]

😂 good one!

[@TurinTuramber]

I think their levels work okay, problem is they would keep saying that they will get the level back on the next slab.

[@kierenboimufc5940]

@@TurinTuramber we use lasers to mark a datum so there not normally out of level on the next slab lol plus our ribbed stabilas are good than most levels

[@TurinTuramber]

@@kierenboimufc5940 No doubting the greatness of the laser levels and profiles. The older brickies used to grind and bump courses, probably not as common these days.

[@kierenboimufc5940]

@@TurinTuramber still have to doit the frames we have on site come up 10 mm plus in gauge so have to bump plus do a lot of bump and grinding in footings

[@TurinTuramber]

Do this a lot actually. Works on the vertical of course, good for setting velux splays perfect. Also put a either end is good for leveling coping stones.

[@SkillBuilder]

Good tip

[@kieronmoore7083]

Thanks

[@ashleygainard4978]

Great tip👍 knew about the level thing but not the calculation. For instance if you can’t get a 1-40 as levels to existing drain wouldn’t permit, would a 1-80 be acceptable, Or is that too slow?

[@terenceretter5049]

Thanks to his bottom right hand corner accent( ie the South East of UK) he seemed to say 'a 1 in 44' whereas he actually said ' a 1 in 40 fall'. People brought up in the left hand corner of UK would understand the importance of a pronounced 'r' or 'rrrs'.... or even perhaps ...'arse'!

[@SkillBuilder]

It is amazing how differently we all speak

[@maciejtrybilo]

Great tip. All important gin-related caveats discussed 👍🏼

[@vincejohnson2130]

Remember doing Maguire’s rule during my college days, 45 years ago.

[@robthesamplist]

Yeah 3 cans then on the head.

[@robertsullivan2396]

Yes so do I but 60 years ago. 4in pipe 1in40, 6in pipe 1in 60, 9in pipe 1 in 90

[@140rware]

@@robertsullivan2396 I didn’t know there was a difference 👍🏻

[@DitNg516]

very smart

[@vic6820]

Nice tip. I wonder how the Romans did it with the acqueducts over those great distances.

[@SkillBuilder]

Good question! We will send James to find out. He could do with a holiday.

[@rayt8606]

Roger is old enough to remember them laying the foundation 😆

[@barrysmith5466]

They used water levels

[@mootymootmoot1679]

I brought a small 8" level that has 2 bubbles in the middle 1 is for level and the 2nd bubble has numbers on in 1-5 so 1 is 1 in 10 and 2 is 2 in 10 pitch and so on so no need for the block check it that way Always use the pipe laser and target but still double check with that as with higher temperatures the laser can wonder around a bit plus it's got a magnetic strip at the bottom so you can either leave it hanging out of a pocket or stick it to the trench box and keep moving it along with you Was a fairly cheap tool but worth it's weight in gold to me as a tool of my trade

[@nicoenas971]

Would I do the same for a short run? I have a 1.2 meter run and a 600mm level. Would I just divide 600 by 40? Sorry for the simple question I just want to make sure i do it right!

[@SkillBuilder]

yes it will work fine

[@M.Godfrey]

1:29 That’s all I needed to know

[@Chris-uu6dg]

Hi mate, thanks for the great video, I just want to ask you if there is a building regulation that stipulates what the fall should be on a patio? or is anything between 1 in 60 to 100 ok? Many thanks Chris

[@MrGlenfraser]

Great tip, so if I am doing surface water I can go for a 1 in 100 which would be 18mm on a 1800mm level.....

[@SkillBuilder]

It doesn't matter. If you can get more fall go for it but if not go for 1 in 100

[@MrGlenfraser]

@@SkillBuilder Thanks for that!

[@manishpatel5236]

Fantastic tip! Thanks SB & James! Does this calculation also work for smaller spirit levels? Say a 1200 spirit level? So would you do 1200/40 if the fall you want is 1 in 40?

[@smurfman691]

Yes

[@jimichip]

It does Manish, just divide the length of your level in millimetres by 40 and the answer is the size of block that you require. So in your case 1200/40 = 30mm block.

[@PL-fc6hm]

correct

[@tilepro-uk]

All tips welcome. It Could take a professional a life time to come up with a tip and two minutes to learn it so always ears and eyes No matter how big you are in your game

[@jimichip]

Very true! Thank you. 🤔

[@125brat]

Basically it's a 1" per metre fall as 1 metre is as near enough 40 inches, so tape a 1" block to a 1 metre level, job done😁

[@balamusadanso7074]

How did you get the 40 that is divided by the length of the spirit level 1800mm?

[@georgeshepherd694]

Roman's been doing this for centuries !

[@jasonald71]

Is back of the bubble about 45mm on 1800? That's what I've tended to use tbh and it still looks good on a G and T, unless of course someone has tried to have a shit on the patio, then nothing looks good.

[@alwayslearning7672]

What does the 40 represent? 40° deg angle?

[@SkillBuilder]

a ratio. 1 mm fall in 40mm linear

[@thetallcarpenter]

I knew Roger was a G&T man!!. Chin,chin...

[@SkillBuilder]

Not me mate, I hate the stuff.

[@thetallcarpenter]

@@SkillBuilder Ah, sorry, meant to say beer. Cheers.

[@bestvids446]

so how do you work out a 1 in 20 fall? apologies for being slow😅 but using an 1800 level is that not 1.8 in 40 ? im lost with the calculation..say if the level was 1m long is it just a 20mm block id need ?

[@SkillBuilder]

1000mm divided by 40 = 25mm

[@bestvids446]

im talking about how do you calculate 1 in 20 fall for a patio? I understand 1000 ÷ 40 would be a one in 4 fall

[@roysammons2445]

I've been along some drivers in Uganda and 1 in 40 ain't steep. There have been times I wondered if we'r would make it to the property 🤣. I never actually realised the drop was so shallow for a drain.

[@juliestreet8688]

Was doing this once and my neighbour tried to lend me his spirit level cos he thought mine was broken........

[@JD-uh9od]

I tried this but had the block at the wrong end 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@JD-uh9od]

@@shaunthompson8943 yes house is now full of shit 🤣🤣

[@DoubleA115]

Question - So over a distance of 13m - 13000 / 40 = 325mm Min fall. 13000 / 110 = 118mm Max fall. I sometimes don't see the wood for the trees. But the Max fall is less than the Min?? Help?? I'm wanting to drop some soil pipes down through a pot and beam floor into a new build house with a un-supported basement. I am going to suspend the pipes on brackets attached to steel work in the basement roof which the house is being built on. I want the pipework to only drop as little as i can get away with so that the pipework does not get caught by higher vehicles which at the moment are spec'd to fit through the entrance door to the basement / car park area. i have 13000mm distance for the pipe to travel to get it outside the building. Over 13000mm is the fall at 1 in 110 = 118mm?

[@eddieharding2432]

The 1 in 40 for 4" , and 1in 60 for 6" was a rule of thumb used for salt glazed pipes over 50 years ago . The Building Regs only state a "self Cleansing fall of 1.2 m/sec " .not gradients. In practice you have a start level and a finish level and if you can make it fit and work , no questions will be asked . Very soon Roger will get fed up with me . Just tell me when I am wrong

[@deendoherty9674]

You can't do that the ground can slope at different gradients over say 20 m, it could fall at 1 in 40 for the length of yur level but then rise. Id bang in a line at the two ends get it perfectly plumb and level in the middle with a spirit level by banging down one end then measure the height at both ends and subtract and you have the fall. Your drainage pipe doesn't start and end at your spirit level just 2 m or whatever length it is. Also on grass there could be small dip in ground that you wouldn't even notice at end yur level and then rises again. Best to to it over longer length with line.