I just bought a 28’x 28′ wood frame house with a pier and beam foundation that needs some leveling. 20 yrs. ago I leveled(sorta) a small house with bottle jacks just by eye-balling. But this time I would like to use something more accurate. I will be working by myself and was wondering is there a good way(other than a water level), like a laser mounted on a tripod? And if yes on the laser, can anyone recommend a decent one(brand)?(not wanting to spend over $200.) I would use the laser for future projects, so could possibly spend more. Or will rent if need be. Thanks very much for anyone taking the time to comment.
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I would buy a low-priced laser and spend the savings on some heavy duty screw jacks. Bottle jacks are not appropriate for leveling a house IMHO, unless your life insurance is well paid up. A PLS2 or PLS5 might be the ticket. There have been many threads in the tool folder about lasers, and everyone has a fave.
IMO, a water level is superior to a laser in this situation. You can't see around corners with a laser.
The major advantage of a laser is that you do not need to lug it around under the house. Imagine a guy in a 24" crawl space with cribbing and plumbing and other stuff in the way trying to drag a water level hose around without getting it kinked or losing any water. A short time spent shooting points with the laser and you can turn it off and start jacking.
Right on the laser.I use 20 and 50 ton bopttle jacks for this all the time. The tricks are to make sure to plant it plumb ( that goers for ANY jack ) and to safety it with blocking/shims tight when leaving it alone in case it bleeds down, and to have enough of them. ( I used to have a dozen but some have grown legs I think) I have a few screw jacks too, but they are far harder to operate. We use them at critical places to follow the hydraulics. The hysdraulics do the lifting easy, then the screws help hold for time
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I've got a milkcrate full of bottle jacks but they are mostly low-end and will bleed down a little if left with a load on them. Never had one just blow out completely, but I can imagine it happening and would not want to be under the house. They are quick for lifting stuff, and then a screw jack goes in if it's going to be very long.
Piffin -
The few times I've leveled a house, I've also used bottle jacks for the lifting and screw jacks to hold the load. I don't trust the bottle jacks to hold but they're sure easier to use for the lifting - lol.
I go with both responses. Get a water level, hose with the res of water, and spend the rest on good size house jacks....yes screw jacks.
Bulldozer. Oh, you meant "leveling," not "leveling."
Raise, not raze.
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There ee go! (Now that brings to mind a topic for a thread--words that sound alike or that are even spelled alike, but have nearly opposite meanings--like cleave.)
How many peirs are there? My suggestion would be to mark (using 3x5 lined cards) the walls above each peir and tape a clear hose at each location.
Have a minimum if 1/3 of the number of peirs for the hose count. This will be a little expense up front for mega time and sanity savings down the line.
All hoses should be connected at a central point, You can get one of these connecting gizmos at a plumbing supply house that carries water filers or at a store which sells aquariums.
Fill the hoses with water, food coloring and a bit of white vinegar. Mix it up in gallon jugs prior to filling hoses.
Get screw jacks as others have suggested. Number of jacks is relative to number of peirs and how much time you have.
When you get to the correct height/ level be sure to use nonshrinking grout.
Hope this helps,
Frankie
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Let the water sit in an open bucket for 24 hours before filling the hoses. This will allow it to "outgas", reducing the problem with bubbles. (Or briefly boil the water, then let it cool.)If you don't get the bubbles out they'll much up the readings and drive you crazy.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
Speaking of bubbles (I really am not trying to hijack this thread!), ever put a newly opened bottle of soda in a ultrasonic cleaning bath? The bublles all leave in a dramatic fashion.
The laser vs. water level issue will depend on the obstacles to shining the light around, and your time vs. money trade off.
Water's much cheaper, but takes a lot of time and care to use accurately. The PLS-2 is a nice laser, but you need to be able to set it in a corner and hit everything, since its spread is just a little over 90 degrees. That, or you're into multiple setups, and a decreasing convenience advantage over water.
Bottle jacks are the way to go for lifting, but you must follow along either with screw jacks or stacks of cribbing and blocks. Try to find used screw jacks if you can. Adequate ones new are even more expensive than bottles. The screws made for permanent installation aren't a substitute for screw jacks.
I really wish I still had the half dozen screw jacks that my father left in Chicago when we moved in 1955. ;-)
-- J.S.