\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The slant height youre looking for when calculating the elevation change should be measured from ground level up before starting any calculations. Put the spacer on top of level and it to will read level when you get the drop you desire and build up spacers to fit. 6. You will need to ensure that when you are measuring the slope of your roof, that you hold the level properly. Levels with replaceable vials can be adjusted. Typically, the vials in a spirit level are a yellowish-green color with additives for UV protection and maximum performance in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees F to 130 degrees F. The best spirit level is accurate to within plus or minus 0.5 millimeters/meter, or 0.005 inches/inch or .029 degrees. Hes the DIY editor at Popular Mechanics and also the founder of the home improvement site, Charles & Hudson, the Webby-nominated family site, Built by Kids, and Tool Crave. To Measure Ground Slope: Hammer a stake into the ground next to your home's foundation. Support wikiHow by Measure the distance between the string on the outer stake and the ground to determine the slope. The spirit levels have at least two bubble level vials, which can be used to check the vertical as well as horizontal plane. Lawn Slope Calculator - Robot Mower Center Type above and press Enter to search. 7. How it works: Sides wrap around corner of post and show level in two directions, denoting plumb; magnetic models are good for positioning plumbing waste lines. Chat with uson the forum! . Now, place the spirit level on the surface whose levelness is being checked. Step 1 Set the extension ladder against the side of your house. The colour will fade from the liquid over time and in the sun, but how long this takes is a mark of the quality, but of course you have no way to tell this in advance, except by a guaranty and may be the price! How to Use a Level Including the Types of Levels, General Building, Self Build and Renovation, Planning Regs, Project Management and Safety, Let us help you find a tradesman local to you, all about using laser levels that you should read, make your own in our project about water levels, (Dont worry, you can buy one here if you prefer), How to Use a Handsaw Properly to Cut Timber, Drills and Drivers for Home Maintenance and Repair DIY Doctor Webinars, Place the level against the surface where you want to find the level. How to Use a Hand Sight Level | Hand Level Definition and Uses For other handy sets of instructions on proper level use, visit Johnson Levels how-to guide. Only then can you be sure your work is on the level. How to Use A Spirit Level - FullyInstrumented Laser tools are great for layout work, but their fleeting lines arent much help when you have to physically check the positioning of an object. Once you have established the angle that you need the slope to be used can be transferred using the spirit level to ensure that you consistently keep to that slope.The guide rings on a Spirit Level vial to show the angle off the horizontal, The guide rings on a Spirit Level vial to show the angle off the horizontal. This will be the case if you are measuring rain gutters or a patio on the horizontal plane, which must have a slight slope to drain rain properly. If you are buying a level these are the features you should look out for: All levels should have an accuracy tolerance which will be published for you to check before purchase. For: General-purpose levelinghanging pictures and shelves, installing cabinets and rain gutters, or plumbing posts. The process for checking a levels accuracy is very simple; effectively you are checking the level in two directions to see if there is a difference the size of the difference is a measure of the inaccuracy, as ideally it should read the same in both directions. The vial or tube is actually quite delicate and as such needs to be protected, however the level will be dropped and have a touch life especially if on a building site. If the bubble is exactly between the two lines marked on the vial or simply at the center, then the surface is considered level. Photo 1: Extend the 2 foot level. How to Read a Spirit Level - Keson Angle your other string line on an arc across to finish up next to where it started with just enough drop for each 6-foot (1.8m) length. If the surface to check is a pipe, use the models with a V-grooved base shape. Hold that position and make a mark on the 4x4. Some spirit levels are magnetic which are ideal for construction with metal studs, or a plumber or electrician working around pipes and conduit.