How to quickly and accurately mark the foundation if you are doing it for the first time

The beginning of the construction season is not far off, but somewhere it has already begun. At our place I met the first builders marking the foundation. I know that beginners and self-builders who are doing this for the first time make a lot of mistakes. Often the process is delayed, it is necessary to interrupt the stakes several times, it is worse when the jambs climb out already on the finished foundation. I will tell you how to do this work simply, quickly and accurately.

Snap to terrain

Given: a plot with marked boundaries and a project of a house (garage, baths ...). It is necessary to transfer the outline of the house from the drawing to the area.

The boundary of the site parallel to one of the walls is considered basic (AB). We measure from the corners (or from the border) the anchoring distance (7 m). We drive in the stakes along the edges of the section and pull the rope (purple line). Points A and B (only point A is possible) perpendicular (see. below) we transfer the border to a stretched lace - we drive in the stakes (points 1 and 2).

From point 1 towards point 2 we measure the distance of 10 m (binding from the corner to the house) - we drive in a stake (i.e. 1’). After another 10 m (the length of the wall of the house) we drive in the second stake (i.e. 2’). The two corners of the house are marked.

From points 1 'and 2' at right angles we measure the distance of 6 m (the width of the house) and drive in the stakes. We got the remaining two corners of the house.

We check the construction. The distance between points 3 'and 4' should be 10 m (house length). We control the equality of the diagonals: the distance between 3 'and 2' should be equal to the distance between 1 'and 4'. If you made a mistake somewhere, we correct the stakes and re-measure all sizes.

I know some people end up with this construction, pull the string between the stakes and dig trenches. Don't do this, I'll tell you how to do it right below.

Constructing right angles (perpendiculars)

We use the Pythagorean rule. If in a right-angled triangle one leg is equal to three, the second to four, then the length of the hypotenuse is five. How to use it?

I made myself a simple "square" from laces. We take a lace and three trims of reinforcement. We tie the rope to the first reinforcement. After three meters, we tie the second reinforcement (I mark it with electrical tape). We measure another 5 meters and tie the rope to the first reinforcement again. Cut off the excess rope.

At the point from which it is necessary to postpone the right angle, I stick the "second" reinforcement (with electrical tape). I insert one more reinforcement along the line from which I lay the corner (the cord in a stretch). I move the third reinforcement to the side so that both cords are stretched - the perpendicular is ready.

Foundation markings

We put up poles in the corners of the future home. If left as is, in the process of digging the trench, they fall in and there will be no guidelines for the installation of the formwork. To prevent this from happening, we take out the stakes outside the foundation.

Together with a partner, we take the cord and pull it so that it barely touches two stakes (along the future wall of the house). Having retreated from the corner half a meter (outside the foundation), we drive in new stakes and tie a rope to them. We do this for each wall.

Instead of single stakes, you can install U-shaped wooden rags. It is more convenient to work with them. They allow you to more accurately mark the contour: at the desired point we twist the self-tapping screw, and tie the lace (there is no risk of shifting the plane while we hammer the stake). One cast-off can be used to attach a rope for the outer and inner contours of the foundation.

At the end of the markup, be sure to check all dimensions, including the diagonals.

For example, I showed the markup of a rectangular outline. Complex foundations are marked out according to the same principle. First we build a rectangle, then add the rest of the contours to it.

That's all for me. Thanks for reading. If the article was helpful, subscribe to the channel and of course put your thumbs up 👍.