Trying To Be Square

[pioneergal]

Somebody please help !

Our plan is 48 wide X 44 Deep.

We are tring to square up the corners to begin laying our pads and blocks.

Across the front and back our measurement is exactly 48 ft.

The measurement from the front to the back is 44 ft. as it should be.
 
When we measure from front right corner to the back left corner it measures 65 ft. 7 inches.

The measurement from the front left corner to the back right corner is 64 ft. 11 1/2  inches.

What are we doing wrong besides trying to do this ourselves and not giving this job to a pro ?

[Daddymem]

3,4,5  remember that.  
Measure from a corner along one side 3 feet, the other side 4 feet, the distance between those two points has to be 5 feet for you to be square.

[glenn-k]

Or multiples of what Daddymem says-- 30-40-50 or 6-8-10.  

I like to start from a corner then hook a tape on a nail and scribe an arc in the soil or on the floor at the correct length for each side of the triangle.  Determine a fixed side first for one length such as the 30' mark.  Determine the other corners by scribing arcs from there. Where the arcs cross is square. If your foundation size doesn't match these lengths, extend or shorten them after the squaring is done.

You can measure diagonally corner to corner after the lay out is done to see if you are correct.  You can use boards outside the foundation to attach a nail for your string.  All clear





A quick link for pix above and some applicable information,
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/print/0,17071,262821,00.html

[Bart_Cubbins]

Sounds like you've got a nice parallelogram. Nothing wrong with that, unless you really want a rectangle.

To turn your parallelogram into a rectangle, you basically have four options...

1. Shift the front to the left, leaving the rear where it is.
2. Shift the rear to the right, leaving the front where it is.
3. Shift the left side forward, leaving the right side where it is.
or
4. Shift the right side backward, leaving the left side where it is.

If you've got very deep holes on one side, you might prefer to leave that side alone and shift the opposite side. Assuming you decide to leave the front and shift the rear, this is what you do...

For a 44' by 48' rectangle, the diagonal should measure 65' 1-3/8". Take one measuring tape and measure that distance from the front left corner towards the right rear corner. Take a second tape and measure 44' from the front right corner towards the right rear corner. Where the two measurements cross is where you want the right rear corner.

Repeat the process to locate the left rear corner. When you have that located, doublecheck that the two rear corners are 48' apart. If all measurements are within 1/2", you're probably close enough.

Hope that helps,
Bart

[PEG688]

Pioneergal  Decide which side needs to conform if setbacks are  a issue or which end/ side has to be N/S   E/W . stake it straight .     push / pull  the rectangle till   the  measurement matchs  She sqr then    To simple   HTBH  ;)PEG

[PEG688]

Hey Bart You could call a sqr dance with that explanation , doe see doe   :)HTBH  ;)PEG   PS It's right but hard to follow    Good job , might be better everyone understands different   Now if Pioneergal sqr dances shes got it

[pioneergal]

Thanks to everyone for your input of information in Re: to my "square" problem.


Bart, we understood and did what you suggested and it worked.
We went back to the houseplace and within 1 1/2 hours the problem was resolved and the job is now complete.

Although my DH said that he is still off 1/4 inch in a corner and would be happy if he could fix it.
But would make himself content it it's not possible.

Once again, thanks to everyone!

 

[Amanda_931]

Glad you got it.

(see what ¹/₄" works out to as a percentage!)