We call it ground pumping.
Sometimes if checks are not done correctly, all you are verifying is that your stakes were set very precisely in the wrong location.
That's what happens when guys simply "store" the point they just staked. Then if during the course of the layout the gun was bumped, out of level etc... the software keeps collecting the information as if it is still exactly where it should be.
That is why we do an independent collection after the layout to collect the control, points staked, tie in building corners etc...
Yeppers. That's why all control is offset WAAAAAY outside of the job site! One loader driving by will ruin a months worth of work and it is of course your fault!
-JD-
> "It's simply a case of fluid dynamics crossed with soil mechanics........"
Fluvial geomorphdynamanics?
Guess that answers the question "what do you get when you cross a cow with a geotechnical engineer?"
An expert in ground moovement.
It sounds like you've got it covered. Having photos of the site and stakes just after you set them would be helpful too.
Mooving right along. Those were two of my favorite classes in college. All of the theory of fluid dynamics is dependent upon the actual characteristics of the "fluid". Mud isn't really a fluid but it exhibits many of the same issues. The solids within the mud are what really make this interesting. And, in my neck of the woods, we do a lot of work with shud.........That's a combination of (well, you know) and mud. Trying to sort through the real world of shud makes working with a common fluid such as water very simple by contrast.
I can remember setting "back n boards" out of cross braced 2x4s outside the immediate work area that were "x" feet above grade for the carpenter crews to set their forms by and to rough in the bolts and plates.
If they were in doubt we would do a position and grade check before a pour.
Most of the time they would not be off more than 0.02'
😉
First Rule of Construction
I once had a curb man try to build a curved piece of curb with straight forms and then blamed me because it didn't look right.
First Rule of Construction
Well here is another fun one.
Got the call that the curb is screwed up. Luckily this is a guy that has the smarts to make sure the contractor leaves our stakes in place.
As you can see our curb stakes are lower than the proposed curb height.
I bet you can tell already what happened - the offset to the curb was exactly 4' as we staked it, along the slope!The horizontal distance to the stakes were off by about a half foot.
> Mooving right along. Those were two of my favorite classes in college. All of the theory of fluid dynamics is dependent upon the actual characteristics of the "fluid". Mud isn't really a fluid but it exhibits many of the same issues. The solids within the mud are what really make this interesting. And, in my neck of the woods, we do a lot of work with shud.........That's a combination of (well, you know) and mud. Trying to sort through the real world of shud makes working with a common fluid such as water very simple by contrast.
Considering the recent uptick in earthquake activity just a short trot north of your location, would it behoof you to consider branching out to the study of seismic response and its effect on soil liquefaction? I.e. in cow speak, the "shudder" effect?
First Rule of Construction
Maybe I'm misunderstanding: are you saying you staked curb offsets using the slope distance from your stake to the curb? Huh?
First Rule of Construction
I think he's implying the contractor measured a slope distance from the hub to set the forms, instead of a horizontal distance. (I hope...:pinch:)
First Rule of Construction
Ah right, thanks. I'm a little slow on the up take this evening.
First Rule of Construction
Yep - I read it again and it was misleading.
The contractor built the curb by pulling a slope distance from our stakes.
First Rule of Construction
> As you can see our curb stakes are lower than the proposed curb height.
A blue flag at the grade elevation on each stake along the o/s information would have probably been helpful to your client's crew.
First Rule of Construction
We have been staking curb for 25 years this way and this has never been an issue. I have asked curb guys many times in the past what they need and they tell me just provide 4' offsets and the cut/fill and they use a 4' level plumbed over our point. As I mentioned earlier in the post, we work with a lot of really good guys and there are zero problems.
There is a lot of construction going on again and people are using inexperienced crews to get things done. That is their issue, not ours. I always tell them that if there is any question at all about the information we provide to call. I would rather have a conversation up front before improvements are built.
I also provided them with detailed maps of our stakes along with the start and end of depressed curbs. They built an entire section without driveway depressions even though it was flagged in different colors. The good guys know that they still have to open the set of plans for reference.
Sorry for the rant but there has to be a limit to the hand holding you do.
The stake at the base of the lathe with a cut/fill to the proposed grade is SOP around here.
Man, after reading this I realize how cranky I am getting as I get older:-)
First Rule of Construction
> We have been staking curb for 25 years this way and this has never been an issue. I have asked curb guys many times in the past what they need and they tell me just provide 4' offsets and the cut/fill and they use a 4' level plumbed over our point. As I mentioned earlier in the post, we work with a lot of really good guys and there are zero problems.
> There is a lot of construction going on again and people are using inexperienced crews to get things done. That is their issue, not ours. I always tell them that if there is any question at all about the information we provide to call. I would rather have a conversation up front before improvements are built.
> I also provided them with detailed maps of our stakes along with the start and end of depressed curbs. They built an entire section without driveway depressions even though it was flagged in different colors. The good guys know that they still have to open the set of plans for reference.
> Sorry for the rant but there has to be a limit to the hand holding you do.
> The stake at the base of the lathe with a cut/fill to the proposed grade is SOP around here.
> Man, after reading this I realize how cranky I am getting as I get older:-)
I feel ya, brutha.
1. Don't set construction staking 3 weeks ahead. It can change for multiple reasons
2. Vertical changes can be affected by rainfall or, lack there of.
