Construction Layout: How to Establish Elevation

There is a free course offered by Construct-Ed called Layout Part One: Establishing Elevations, its a free course that takes you through the whole process of understanding decimals to shooting elevations. There is also a quiz at the end, click this link Layout Part One: Establishing Elevations to start the course!

Set Up

•Set up tripod
•Set & level
•Find a benchmark
•Place grade Stick on benchmark
•Shoot grade stick to determine elevation above benchmark.
•Determine the height of your instrument (HI)  

To find your HI (height of Instrument)

Start from a benchmark-Known elevation point + measurement on grade stick
IE: benchmark 4320 + 5.80 (decimal Stick)
Your HI= 4325.80

If your building datum elevation is 4320 (which is equal to level one finish floor)
then 4320= 100.

If your HI is 4325.80 this equals 105.80, so you are 5.80 above finish floor.

If you are trying to establish elevation, lets say 105.00 on core walls for reference. Then you would shoot a mark on the wall (this is level with your instrument) and measure .80 (9-9/16”) below the mark to be at elevation 105.00.

Want more information on establishing grades:
​take me to Layout Part one 

---

Using a decimal stick is quicker to convert numbers vs. using feet and inches stick.
A cheap calculator  and  to know decimals is all you need to make elevation layout a breeze.  (need inches to decimal converter: click here)

View around this SketchUp model to establish elevations with an auto-level. 

---

SketchUp example of elevation set up.

---

---