Pier / Beam Foundation Layout

[Ross R]

Is there a bomb proof method for laying out my piers so that my beams are in the exact location to support my sidewalls.  Building a 16x32 Studio House.

Looking for any advice / methods I may not have considered for getting the piers lined up correctly under the beams and for getting the beams squared for the building.  I plan to make the beams slightly longer than necessary to allow for some shifting for squaring up the floor joists.

I'm planning to run a string line to dig the intial holes but I want to be sure the beams will be properly squared when the process is complete?  Will setting up the entire process with string lines and measuring  corner to corner suffice?

Thanks for you suggestions and tips.
Ross R

I'm also planning a beam down the middle for additional support but I don't believe having it exactly squared up with be as critical.

[rocking23nf]

I always use the 3-4-5 method to make sure a angle is 90 degrees. String is great, but it really sags.  Its hard to get a perfect beam and perfect layout, everything i have built has never been perfect, but usually you can wiggle it and make it work

The crappiest part is when you line everything up, go to dig you hole and the auger moves an inch to the left or right, etc etc.  Cause you cant really "redig", the auger will go back in the same hole.

[Redoverfarm]

Ross the only way that I know is to erect "batter boards" so that you will have the strings intersect at the four corners at the location of the piers.  That way you will be able to shift the strings on the boards until you get that 3-4-5 on the corners.  Just a short hint.  If you will take regular straight pins and insert them into the string lines at the 3 & 4 position it makes it easier and it will not move and allow you to go percisely to those positions with your "5" measurement.  I would also take that diagonal measurement as well.

The nice things about batter boards and string lines is that you take and either nail or screw at the location of the string lines on the boards. Then you can take them down, dig your holes and then re-erect them to get that same location to set your piers.

[NM_Shooter]

Sorry... duplicate response.   

[NM_Shooter]

Keep in mind that having beams perfectly parallel is nice, but not critical (if placing joists on top of beams).  I started out wanting to use hangers, but found that joists on top were much easier to work with.   

Are you using built up beams or monolithic para-lams or such?  If built up beams, consider where the splices will fall. 

Here is a recent thread that may help :

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=8906.0

[Ross R]

Thanks

I need to do some research to learn more about "batter boards" and the 3,4,5 method.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction

Please keep the thoughts and advice coming.  Much appreciated!!
Ross

[rocking23nf]

3,4,5 is simply a math measurement for a right angle

if you measure 3 feet one direction, 4 feet in the other direction, the distance between the points will be 5 feet on a right angle.

[John Raabe]

See this article I did several years ago: http://countryplans.com/foundation/index.html

Especially the note about temporarily leveling and squaring the beams with the brackets tacked in place. Then you fill the tubes or cut the posts to match the beam locations (which are the critical part). Final adjustments or shims can be used to nudge the beams into perfection.

[Redoverfarm]

Ross "batter boards" are real easy to construct.  Depending on how much of the frame work you want to include determines the length going 90 deg from each other.  There is normally a pair at each end and a pair on each side.  Sometimes I cheat by making them on the corners so that I can catch both directions.  I also found that it is not that hard to go ahead and set the elevation while constructing the batter boards.  That way I not only get it square but my elevation can be checked and re-checked to determine the exact heigth.  Really helpful especially if you are laying block or pouring piers.  

Here is a couple video's of them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0_Ix_WtLBk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTQYp-d-7e0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avIzTvxetgM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZXbVpux6PE&NR=1

This video shows a good picture of the batter boards about 2:07 minutes into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw95BIJh-xI&feature=related

[Ross R]

Looks like my evening is planned out. 

Wow - THANKS for the guidance and help finding the information I need.

You guys are awesome!!
Ross

[Redoverfarm]

There is another example in the recent photographs that dug posted today about half way down at http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=8038.msg115518#msg115518

[eddiescabin]

In a right triangle Pythagorean's therom states that the  sum of the squares of the sides equals the square of the hypotenuse...as in
(side A X side A) + (side B X side B) = (side C X side C)