Using a Builder’s Level
Find the high spots by comparing measurements taken at different points along the foundation
Commonly and incorrectly called a transit, a builder’s level rotates only horizontally (a transit rotates both horizontally and vertically). Jim Anderson, a Littleton, Colorado, framing contractor and author, says that looking through the level is like looking through a rifle scope, crosshairs and all. Properly set up, the level’s magnification is great enough to read a tape measure held 100 ft. or more away.
In this video, Jim demonstrates the proper way to set up a level and explains what the measurements signify.
For more on framing techniques, read Jim’s article, Mudsills: Where the Framing Meets the Foundation.
