Site Surveying Week 11 CMCC- Laser Level Field Assignment and Realistic Application

 In the photo above and to the right is a BOSCH brand laser level. This is a highly efficient piece of equipment and that  efficiency comes from its ability to self-level which mean just lay it down on any stable surface or tripod and it will level. But also because it shoots a bright beam across every surface in a room 360 degrees giving you a "level reference line" to work off. Now with this line, you can see how level existing siding is which is what we used it to determine. Additionally you can establish level reference lines for installing new siding, a suspended ceiling is also another application for using this 360 degree laser level.

 With the measurement in the photo below, from floor to the the laser level line, we went to the other end of the building to determine whether the siding was spot on level or off by any amount of 16ths of an inch.

   Real world application. Currently this is a "live" siding replacement project I was hired for and it just so happens that I came to class with a question that could be answered through the field exercises in my Site Surveying class at CMCC. 

My question: How do I, using a fixed level reference line find where my siding is going to land on the upper level of a building which I cant shoot with my level from the ground?

Trying to get your siding to land symmetrically so that it lines up corner to corner produces great result in the end so careful planning in where you start can determine where you'll end up at a different level. Knowing how much space your siding takes up every course will put you in the ballpark for those questions. Multiple the reveal of the siding and determine where based on a measurement from point A to B that it will land from there. I have chosen to start installing vinyl on the porch walls, at least the first course, because where I have enhanced the photo below in the top left corner I have a little bit of room to begin my first course of siding moving it up or down to line up with the siding on the porch. The roof above the porch however I will have to run my siding up the wall to the right of the photo outside of the porch, until the roof, then bring my builders level up to the roof and shoot level reference lines to follow but the roof siding should not be installed before anything else.