Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 8 Building Layout 165
8.5.4 Setting Footing Stakes
Grade stakes for footings are usually first set to the approx-
imate level “by eye.” They are then carefully checked with
the rod and level as they are driven deeper. The top of
each stake should be driven to the required elevation.
Sometimes, reference lines are marked on construc-
tion members, stakes, or other objects near the work. A
carpenter then transfers them to the formwork with a
carpenter’s level and rule as needed. This eliminates the
need to repeatedly establish the same elevation.
There may be situations where the existing grade
will not permit the setting of a stake or reference
mark at the actual level of the grade. See Figure 8‑24.
Required grade elevation
Required
grade elevation
C
2uni2032-4uni2033
1uni2032-10uni2033
Grade stake
mark
Mark
2uni2032-4uni2033
1uni2032-10uni2033
F
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 8‑24. Cut and fill stakes are used to tell the excavator
how much material must be removed or added to reach
grade level. The letter C means “cut” (remove) and the letter
F means “fill” (add).
6uni2032-0uni2033
2uni2032-6uni2033 5uni2032-8uni2033
Curbing
used as
benchmark
(Minus reading)
2uni2032-4uni2033
Setup #1
Setup #2
Setup #
1
2
Sum
Plus sight
5uni2032-8uni2033
6uni2032-0uni2033
11uni2032-8uni2033
Minus sight
2uni2032-6uni2033
2uni2032-4uni2033
4uni2032-10uni2033
Surveyor’s Notebook
11uni2032-8uni2033 – 4uni2032-10uni2033 =6uni2032-10uni2033
A
B
C
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 8‑25. When there is a large slope on the property or when long distances are involved, the instrument will need to be
set up in two or more locations.
In such cases, a mark is made on the stake with the infor-
mation on how much fill to add or remove. The letters C
and F, standing for cut and fill, are generally used.
P R O C E D U R E
Using Multiple Readings
When laying out steeply sloped building plots or
carrying a benchmark to the building site, it will likely be
necessary to set up the instrument in several locations.
Figure 8‑25 shows how reading from two positions is
used to calculate, establish, or determine differences in
grade at various locations on the plot.
1. Set up the instrument midway between two points
on the plot. In Figure 8‑25, these are identified as
points A and B.
2. Take a line-of-sight reading at point A (or station A).
Record the reading in the notebook. In this case,
the reading is 5′-8″.
3. With the rod at point B and the instrument still at
setup #1, take a second reading. Record the reading
in the notebook. In this instance, the reading is 2′-6″.
4. Move the instrument to a point midway between
points B and C. Level it as before.
5. Take a second reading on point B and record it. In
this example, the reading is 6′-0″.
6. With the rod located at point C, take a reading by
rotating the telescope 180°. Note and record the
elevation. In this case, the reading is 2′-4″.
7. Calculate the differences in grade level for each pair
of stakes, as shown in Figure 8‑25.
8. Add the resulting distances and subtract the “minus”
sum from the “plus” sum to find the difference in
grade from one edge of the plot to the other. The
result, in this example, is 6′-10″.
Chapter 8 Building Layout 165
8.5.4 Setting Footing Stakes
Grade stakes for footings are usually first set to the approx-
imate level “by eye.” They are then carefully checked with
the rod and level as they are driven deeper. The top of
each stake should be driven to the required elevation.
Sometimes, reference lines are marked on construc-
tion members, stakes, or other objects near the work. A
carpenter then transfers them to the formwork with a
carpenter’s level and rule as needed. This eliminates the
need to repeatedly establish the same elevation.
There may be situations where the existing grade
will not permit the setting of a stake or reference
mark at the actual level of the grade. See Figure 8‑24.
Required grade elevation
Required
grade elevation
C
2uni2032-4uni2033
1uni2032-10uni2033
Grade stake
mark
Mark
2uni2032-4uni2033
1uni2032-10uni2033
F
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 8‑24. Cut and fill stakes are used to tell the excavator
how much material must be removed or added to reach
grade level. The letter C means “cut” (remove) and the letter
F means “fill” (add).
6uni2032-0uni2033
2uni2032-6uni2033 5uni2032-8uni2033
Curbing
used as
benchmark
(Minus reading)
2uni2032-4uni2033
Setup #1
Setup #2
Setup #
1
2
Sum
Plus sight
5uni2032-8uni2033
6uni2032-0uni2033
11uni2032-8uni2033
Minus sight
2uni2032-6uni2033
2uni2032-4uni2033
4uni2032-10uni2033
Surveyor’s Notebook
11uni2032-8uni2033 – 4uni2032-10uni2033 =6uni2032-10uni2033
A
B
C
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 8‑25. When there is a large slope on the property or when long distances are involved, the instrument will need to be
set up in two or more locations.
In such cases, a mark is made on the stake with the infor-
mation on how much fill to add or remove. The letters C
and F, standing for cut and fill, are generally used.
P R O C E D U R E
Using Multiple Readings
When laying out steeply sloped building plots or
carrying a benchmark to the building site, it will likely be
necessary to set up the instrument in several locations.
Figure 8‑25 shows how reading from two positions is
used to calculate, establish, or determine differences in
grade at various locations on the plot.
1. Set up the instrument midway between two points
on the plot. In Figure 8‑25, these are identified as
points A and B.
2. Take a line-of-sight reading at point A (or station A).
Record the reading in the notebook. In this case,
the reading is 5′-8″.
3. With the rod at point B and the instrument still at
setup #1, take a second reading. Record the reading
in the notebook. In this instance, the reading is 2′-6″.
4. Move the instrument to a point midway between
points B and C. Level it as before.
5. Take a second reading on point B and record it. In
this example, the reading is 6′-0″.
6. With the rod located at point C, take a reading by
rotating the telescope 180°. Note and record the
elevation. In this case, the reading is 2′-4″.
7. Calculate the differences in grade level for each pair
of stakes, as shown in Figure 8‑25.
8. Add the resulting distances and subtract the “minus”
sum from the “plus” sum to find the difference in
grade from one edge of the plot to the other. The
result, in this example, is 6′-10″.