Did you recently purchase an excellent laser level for ground leveling tasks? It’s time to learn how to use a Laser Level to level ground! Laser levels can be difficult to see outdoors. Thankfully, most laser levels come in either green or red, and with a laser detector, you should be able to work outside with your device. We want the process smooth and easy for you. Therefore, this guide will teach you how to use a laser level to level the ground for your next construction project!
Why the Rotary Laser Will be Your Best Option
When it comes to outdoor projects, a rotary laser guide is your best option. They are best used outdoors in conjunction with a laser detector. They are also used with a grade rod for excavation. The grade rod is effective for both digging and building. With a rotary laser level, you can find a horizontal or vertical plane with the rotary level. This is because the beam shoots in a 360 degrees direction. The beam of light produced by the rotary laser level rotates between 100rpm to 1000rpm. Below are some reasons why a rotary laser level is your best option when you want to level ground:
1. Different Leveling Method
One of the advantages of the rotary level is that you get different level methods. So, depending on how easy you want your ground leveling to go, you can choose the leveling method that suits you best. Let us start by looking at the manual leveling. The manual leveling method allows you to adjust the laser till it lines up with the vial. However, the manual leveling method comes with its problems. The manual level depends heavily on the eye of the operator and the quality of the level.
The second leveling method used by the rotary laser is the Self-Leveling method. So investing in a rotary laser with self-leveling will automatically level itself through a pendulum. The self-leveling method is remarkably more accurate than the manual level.
There is also another method of leveling used by the rotary laser level and it is called the automatic self leveling. Automatic self leveling means that the rotary laser level uses servo motors to lift itself to a high level of accuracy. Electronic self-leveling is perhaps the most accurate of the leveling methods mentioned above.
2. Different Laser Level Wavelength
If you are leveling a ground outdoor, you must know about the rotary laser level wavelength. The diode determines the wavelength of a rotary laser level. The green beam laser is brighter than the red beam. The green is about four hundred times brighter than the red. However, if you are leveling outdoors, it won’t matter whether you choose a green or red beam. This is because both of them cannot be seen outdoors. You’d need to add a laser detector to use your rotary laser level to level the ground outdoors.
3. Good Working Range
As the name implies, the rotary level is more of a rotational laser beam. This means that a rotary laser can reach within a specific diameter. A rotary laser level can also go in any direction within the diameter, half of the specified diameter, and the radius. It has a range of 2000 ft in diameter. You can achieve a more extended range if you use a laser detector with the laser level. A laser detector makes it easy to see the beam, making the distance more significant.
4. Can be Used With a Receiver
Another reason why the rotary laser level is excellent for your ground leveling project is that you can use it with a receiver. Since most ground leveling is done outside, it is impossible to see the beams as you work. This is where a receiver or a detector comes in. Even if you are working indoors, you may still need a receiver. If the room is expansive and there is a large amount of light, you may still need to use a receiver.
For a distance of up to twenty meters, you will have no problem seeing the laser lines. You must use a laser detector if the space is more than twenty meters. A rotary laser level is mainly used outdoors and comes with a detector in the box.
How to Use a Laser Level Prior to Leveling Your Ground
Before you begin using your laser level, you will need to set up your laser level. You’d need to mount your laser level on any surface of your choice. Then, it would help if you will also calibrate the laser level. Follow these simple steps to get it calibrated:
- Step 1
Begin by placing your rotary laser level on a surface. Preferably, you should use a flat surface.
- Step 2
Place your device twenty inches from a wall and one inch from an opposing wall.
- Step 3
Set your laser in a way that it is along the axis of the vial. The vial should be the one you wish to level. Ensure that the vial is pointing to both walls.
- Step 4
The next step is to check your device for two screws. The screws should link up with each vial. Proceed to turn the screws until the beam is level with both axes. When the vial shows bubbles resting between two black lines, your device is calibrated.
- Step 5
Turn on the lasers and mark where the beams hit the one-inch and twenty-inch walls.
- Step 6
Move the laser about one inch away from the wall.
- Step 7
Level the laser and then adjust the height. Ensure that you change the height until it hits the mark you made on the wall.
- Step 8
Proceed to the one-inch wall and check the difference between the mark you made and the one the laser made. Your device is calibrated if the difference is slightly less than or equal to the mark you made.
Now that your device is appropriately calibrated follow the next steps to set it up before starting the task of leveling your ground.
Steps to Set Up
- Step 1
Place your device on a tripod.
- Step 2
Then, push the “on” button.
- Step 3
If you are using a self-leveling unit, give it a few minutes to self-level. This should take about a minute. However, if your device is manually leveled, check the user guide for information on how to level it.
- Step 4
Listen closely to the beep sound. The beep sound indicates a connection with the laser. The laser won’t be seen in broad daylight if you are not using a detector.
How to Use a Laser Level to Level Ground
If you are using a laser level to level your ground, the first step is getting a spot for the tripod stand. Set your laser level on firm and good ground. Keeping the device out of the way is a great technique to prevent needless movement. After finding a benchmark, you shouldn’t move it around.
Then, you can check for the subgrade inside the foundation. You can do that using a grade stick. The grade stick has numbers on it. You can then move the laser receiver up and down until it reads the laser beam coming from the laser and spinning 360 degrees.
How do I know the ground is leveled? It is pretty easy to figure out. The receiver will give out a beep when it is near an inch of reading the beam from the laser. If it beeps fast, move the receiver down. If it beeps slow, move the receiver up. To check for grades, take the reading of the sub-base. You can take ten different readings using your grade stick and find the average. This would give you the average sub-base grade. With the reading you get, you’d know if you need to level high parts of the ground or add dirt to lower areas.
Finally, Set your receiver to the chosen grade using the laser level to level the ground. Then, you can keep checking the dirt as you spread it around. You can set the grade stick on the level ground. If you hear a beep, you’re level.
This is a good video about how to use a laser level to level ground. Check it out https://youtu.be/qsmbw_9wiDQ!
Final Thoughts
Your ground leveling project will be much easier if you have a laser level. While it is one thing to own a laser level, it is another to know how to use a laser level to level ground – outdoors or indoors. Use a rotary laser level for outdoor projects because they give you the best results, especially when used with a detector.
