Establishing Building Lines-Part 1

How to establish the first line for a deck or addition

This first post will describe how to establish the first and most important building line, when laying out your deck or addition. Though this stuff is pretty basic, for the uninitiated, it may be a learning experience.

Suggested Tools:

• Framing Hammer: (We use 24 Oz., but  any framing hammer will do)
  
• Wood or Metal Stakes (We used 12″, 16″ and 24″ stakes for various ground conditions, but a 12″ stake can do just fine for flat ground)
• String Line (We use braided yellow masons line).
  “batter boards”-(1×4 pine, 2×4 or any board will do, approx 2 feet long, and 4 for each corner of the deck. (More on these later).
• Measuring Tapes (We use 30-35 foot Stanley tape measures and also carry 50 and 100′ tapes)
• If you can’t tie a cinch knot to a stake, then carry an assortment of small nails, to secure your line to the stakes. (My favorite is a 5P galv. box nail).
• Helper-( A Helper is handy when laying out lines-Good for the kiddies)!!

Establishing the first building line on homes with nice straight foundations. For our purposes, we will layout the first building line for a new deck, which is 12′x16′ and starts at the left corner of our home.

Note: Many will ask, why I pull my string lines 2 feet past the proposed width of the deck. the reason is, that we will be setting up “batter boards,” -a set of right angle boards, set at each deck corner to secure our lines to, which will establish the deck line and the elevation. (More on these later).

Establishing the first building line on a uneven or bowed foundation is a bit more time-consuming. The same principles apply, however you need to be accurate. (Don’t forget to transfer the difference to your proposed deck line…I’ll have a few horror stories to tell about folks who forgot to do this)!!