Expert: Dan Griffin - 2/8/2010

Question
Good day.

I would just really want to know how do you do the setting out of a building before you start building?

Answer
Mario, this is often set out on blueprint before starting.  The major issues are height and orientation.  Most sites are platted, often with civil requirements as to set back and distance from property lines.  If there is a street in the front of the poperty, the front of the building is usually parallel to the street with a given or code driven setback from either curb or centerline.  The "beginning corner" will be determined by establishing a corner on the front wall line the proper distance from the side property line.  All other dimensions derive from this front line and initial corner.  Elevation is often given by benchmark.  If none is given, use common sense as to getting and keeping the building out of the water.

If you are asing about the mechanics of doing this:

Rough stake the corners of the building based on the above information.  Establish batter boards that will allow pulling a line at each building line.  This will require 2 batters per line.  Set batters well outside the corners to allow excavation without losing the original batters.  Set all he cross arms of the batters at the same elevaton.above finish floor.  Make sure parallel lines are truly accurate.  Measure the diagonals where the corners intersect and adjust batters to square the building.  Once you hae the layout, mark batters well to be able to reset the strings on the same lines repeatably.

If I've not been clear enough, ask me again.