Replies

1. 
   FastEddie | May 05, 2009 06:02am | #1

   Water level.  Dirt cheap.  Dead nuts accurate.

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 05, 2009 06:06am | #2

   I've got one of those. I guess sometimes the low tech methods are just as good as the high tech ones.

2. 
   Scott | May 05, 2009 07:37am | #7

   >>>Dead nuts accurate.Thanks for the reminder... I'm half way through a job and am about to start a side that needs to be aligned with others.... I forgot about the elegant simplicity of my trusty old water level.Scott.

3. 
   reinvent | May 05, 2009 02:53pm | #9

   Does the water make the laser brighter? ;-)

1. 
   webted | May 05, 2009 06:46pm | #14

   "Does the water make the laser brighter? ;-)"No, it's a coolant to keep the laser from burning a hole in the siding...

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 05, 2009 07:35pm | #15

   Thanks Guys. I killed two birds with one stone.

1. 
   reinvent | May 05, 2009 09:41pm | #16

   Wait, does your laser shoot stones too?!

2. 
   Shep | May 05, 2009 11:49pm | #17

   maybe that's how he marks the elevations

3. 
   blownonfuel | May 06, 2009 02:50am | #18

   Yup,big ones.

4. 
   brownbagg | May 06, 2009 03:05am | #19

   I got one at harbor freight that cost $7 and its pretty good for like tile layout

2. 
   IMERC | May 05, 2009 06:19am | #3

   water level....

    

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!! What a Ride!

   
   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    

   "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 05, 2009 06:38am | #6

   Thanks.

3. 
   Karl | May 05, 2009 06:28am | #4

   Stanley has a self leveling laser line generator. It does a level line and a plumb line. I wanted a PLS 2 but couldn't justify the expense.

   I was at home depot and saw the stanley unit for around a hundred dollar and figured I would try it and return it if it was a disappointment.

   It was so handy I never returned it. I use it all the time. If you can justify the money I am sure a pls2 is better but the stanley is great for the price.

   Karl

   http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-77-153-FatMax-Cross-Laser/dp/B0007SXI54

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 05, 2009 06:38am | #5

   Thanks Karl.

4. 
   Shep | May 05, 2009 02:37pm | #8

   water level for the first course- story pole and chalk line for the rest

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 05, 2009 02:57pm | #10

   Thanks Shep.

5. 
   MikeHennessy | May 05, 2009 03:11pm | #11

   What Shep said. After you get your first course leveled, you can just mark the Tyvek for all your subsequent courses like story poles. If your runs are more than 12', mark both ends and middle as needed. (Of course, you mark for the *tops* of each subsequent course -- but you knew that.) Snap a chalk line every couple of feet if you want just to make sure everything's working out, but I don't bother.

   This method also makes it easy to see if you need to adjust anything so the spacing works out without crazy cuts around windows, etc.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA
   Everything fits, until you put glue on it.

6. 
   frammer52 | May 05, 2009 03:19pm | #12

   I install hardi like I install wood siding.  I make a story pole and set it on the foer corners of the foundation.  Make the mark on the tyvek and then snap red chalk lines.  Firts I snap the bottom course and level. 

   that tells me I an level, go up from there.  By using the snapped chaulk lines everything is level, put the level away and go like the dickens>G<

7. 
   KenHill3 | May 05, 2009 06:35pm | #13

   +1 on H2O level or laser for first course, then story pole for the rest. Story pole will eliminate any possible error (as long as the story pole is correct!), and as said you can check for weird cuts at windows, doors, etc..

8. 
   PeteDraganic | May 06, 2009 03:43am | #20

   you do not, nor should not use a level to hang siding, be it hardi or wood or otherwise.

   Story pole or gauge blocks are a good idea though.

    

   I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish.        Pete Draganic

    

   Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day.          Matt Garcia

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 06, 2009 04:52am | #21

   Pete are you talking about the laser or water or both?

1. 
   PeteDraganic | May 06, 2009 05:12am | #22

   both, all etc. Why would you want to use a level to hang siding on a house? No, I am not being funny. Also, have you ever hung siding?

   <!----><!----><!----> 

   I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish.        Pete Draganic

    

   Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day.          Matt Garcia

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 06, 2009 11:24pm | #24

   I have never hung siding Pete. How do you do it?

1. 
   PeteDraganic | May 07, 2009 02:48am | #27

   well, I don't use a level... lol.Problem is that if the wall is out of level and the siding is level then it will look crooked. You want to run it with the wall.There may be additional variables in the shape of the wall that also require a few tricks to make look correct.-->-->--> 
   I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish.        Pete Draganic
    
   Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day.          Matt Garcia

   Edited 5/6/2009 7:48 pm ET by PeteDraganic

9. 
   jimAKAblue | May 06, 2009 08:20am | #23

   Want it nice and straight? Measure parallel to your top plate.

   You did straighten that for up and down, didn't you?

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 06, 2009 11:26pm | #25

   I didn't think about that one Jim.

1. 
   Biff_Loman | May 07, 2009 01:19am | #26

   'S all good. As a novice carpenter myself, let me recommend 'Measuring, Marking and Layout' by John Carroll. Available from the Taunton press.

1. 
   blownonfuel | May 07, 2009 05:05am | #28

   Thanks Biff. I have that book, I'll go dig it up right now.

1. 
   FatRoman | May 07, 2009 02:10pm | #29

   Just flipped through this article again this morning while making coffee. How to use a story pole for siding, from Sept 2008 #197http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/keep-siding-straight-with-a-story-pole.aspx'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

   View Image

2. 
   blownonfuel | May 07, 2009 07:55pm | #30

   Thanks