What is a grade stick for? 

Just to clarify....Everyone of our jobs that has a concrete floor, the top of the concrete is 4" above "grade" . We want our concrete floor to be the same as the front doors thresh hold. therefore when we set out receiver at +4 and then zero it out...the receiver will get a solid tone at 0 on the grade stick when it is 4" below the finished concrete. Then I slide the stick up when resting it on the bracket and the number it tells me is the offset difference I use when making my columns. Hope that clears up some questions

I get what you’ve done now RR , although I had to watch it several times and then sleep on it in between. After referencing finished floor height to zero on the pole, you lowered the receiver by 4” and then lengthened the pole by 4” now the zero mark on the pole is actual grade level. So now when you take the pole around the site and slide the receiver up or down to get a solid ping from the laser the difference between the mark on the receiver and the zero mark on the pole is the variation in height from grade level. Thanks for making me think about it 👍. Please correct me if I am wrong, the moral here is, be sure to use the zero mark on the pole to make significant reference point , in this case you’ve made it grade level. Thank you for making this video it’s much appreciated.

It’s great! My shed has been completed and it turned out nice looking and sturdy and it is way better than the sheds that many of my neighbors had put up. Of course, I'm pleased with the outcome and this Ryan’s ru-vid.comUgkxGZedDTcDfgD7fG_uU4esfx_EgxzlY2_1 Plans was extremely useful to me as a guide.

I love your videos and I have learned a LOT from you. I must confess that I had to watch this one several time to get it all sorted out in my head. Thanks for all the effort you put into these, you are helping a lot of people to step up their skills.

I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. Thank you, sir!

Makes a lot more sense after you have tried to use one! Helped my in-laws put in an in ground pool and this video really helped me make sense of how to use it when I actually had one in my hands. Great work!

You and your crew are awesome , keep the videos rolling please, I learn something new every time I watch you guys

I’m almost to my third year as apprentice in IUOE. I’ve done trade work for a long time but I’m newer to the equipment side of things. Your videos are great and have helped me a lot along the way. Thanks for everything you post

I found your channel just over a week ago. I have literally just finished watching every single video you made. I live in Ontario Canada if I ever win the lottery I’m flying you here to build my shop house. I have a crazy idea for a shop/house that I guarantee no one in Canada has. Your Channel has gave me so many ideas.

Thank you for helping me understand how those work and how useful they can be!

3 years later, still wasn't a waste of your time mate, thanks for the video! I jusr wish to add that there are different grade sticks out there, some are less advanced and you do end up having to math things out a little bit.

Hi Kyle, worth it! I was a bit fuzzy, I had the basic idea this just set it for me! Thanks, you guys do great work !

It's also worth noting that when you are looking to purchase a grade stick that you need to make sure you buy one that is scaled in the right unit of measurement that you need. My dad always had fractional inch grade sticks... but when I went to work for a utility contractor suddenly I found myself working with a grade stick that was in tenths of a foot :O A tape measure can turn any piece of lumber into a grade stick when you need it to be one too. I'm sure you know that though.

This video helped me so much, not all people know how to explain and teach. My boss being one. I’ve watched 6 videos and yours is the only one that made sense. Thanks

I watch a few of your videos now and then. What I find is that I’m doing the same things just a little different. I’m not a contractor just a home owner with a lot of toys (tools). I built my own 3300 sg ft home a few years ago long before RU-vid. Now I’m looking for a skid steer. Great videos Thank You

Great video, cleared up multiple questions. Much better solution than a visual transit.

Video suggestion: What is grade, How to establish grade, How to use grade?

Badass give us as many of these as possible I’d love to see one while building stairways and decks when grading the header and footer 💪💥👍💯🙏

Showing a close-up of the sliding of the stick and actually seeing the offset difference would be nice and what number that you are marking on the steel bracket . Just want to thank you for taking your time from work to explain that level for dummies like me . Never was good in school math .

Clear and concise explanation! If anyone is confused just watch the video again!

Thanks for a helpful video, explaining some tricky ideas. Well done - keep it up!

I recently purchased an LAR350 and I was a little confused with the grade stick. I’m used to the standard inch/cm measuring sticks but this explanation helped me understand this style. Thanks!

Great video explaining this somewhat difficult task.

Absolutely taught me something i had no idea how the grade stick worked thank you

This video was so very helpful. Thank you very much!

super simple!! Thanks for sharing kyle.

Thanks for the demo I had know idea about how that all worked.

Great job mate - cheers from Australia

Nice explanation. Surveyors call a grade reference mark a benchmark- if you want to add some new terminology. Also - I used to have some problems using a laser in snowstorms. The beam would deflect off level when it hit the falling snow. This was a while ago - maybe lasers have improved since then.

I just learned something. Thanks!

I like these tips videos. Keep them coming

Loved it thanks Kyle!

Not wasting your time you helped me a lot! Feel like this is a better choice over the Dewalt

Interesting stuff. I'll never practically use that information but as a draughtsman I like to know how site guys think as it helps me know what information will be most useful to them on my drawings. That made perfect sense to me, thanks for taking the time sir.

Thanks for the video it helped me. The last thing I used to lay elevations out was a transit. So now we have bosh laser and laying out grade starting today. A video on laying out footers and squaring the footers with a laser would help. Especially with as many subscribers as you have.

Good tips are ALWAYS appreciated.

Thanks Kyle. Very good info.

Hey Kyle great videos. My name is also Kyle but Had to come back to this video to see the leveling. I have a Johnson laser level transit and getting ready to start our pole barn house conversion. Still waiting on materials from local Mennonites as the been behind and hard finding straight logs for our post and now an injury on there side. With cost of materials and everything we are so far behind along with full time work to come home and build our homestead from scratch. I have the 7 holes for porch started and still have to set grade along with mark the rest of our holes for quick tubes. And tips and trick would be great thanks Kyle b.

Great explanation! Thanks!

Thanks Kyle. I think it would be helpful for more examples. I am just starting to get the gist of it, but as a newbie , more would be helpful.

I would of just left the finish floor on zero and moved it up 4 inches in the yellow. You guys are true craftsmen and enjoy your videos.

Awesome im learnning ..keep teaching brother please...love your videos...

Ye are worthy 🙌 . Keep em coming

Very helpful thank you kyle

great tip my stick is different then that one no zero mark to set to but im going to find that one it makes it much easier

thanks man very helpful

Great video.

good stuff. still learning how to use mine.

Piece of cake. Great idea no figuring but the one time. Great content

Great video. Thanks

couldnt get my head around this till a fella drew me a diagram of what was happening. might be worth including this in a future video. Just a thought.

Hey Kyle, can you do a tools day video about the Stabilla LAR350, and walk us through the whole process? That grade stick video was helpful, but i still have questions. I am a deck builder and would use the LAR350 to level all my posts out. I am about to purchase one, and I’m sure I could figure it out, but your walk through videos are money! Thanks Kyle!

Will you show how you install grade board around the building corners over the brackets? how would you build different if the floor was going to be gravel? very informative videos. thanks.

great channel

Looking for a vid on framing a lean to on existing pole barn. Love your work, ty.

Hey Kyle I just want to start by saying I really enjoy watching your videos! I have a quick question for you regarding rotary laser. Which one or kit would you recommend to someone starting out? Would it be the Stabila LAR 350 or something else? I really appreciate it!

Cool stuff

Brilliant!

Great explanation....thank you. :--)

this helped me

Thanks bro.

Kyle Very informative but still some confusion, for my part worth while subject as are all your videos.Thank You

What brand and model number is your grade stick? Your videos are great to watch. I own a excavation company and work with Contractors all day long your professionalism is top notch. Thanks

I probably don’t have enough information to know what you are talking about, but I would love to learn more about the grade stick. I know it’s dumb to ask, but could you do like a Barney style explanation of how to use it. Even the little bit of what you did flew way the hell over my head. Would love to take a class on it and learn how to be proficient at it.

Just remember that up is down and down is up and will work fine ^^

Try to remember what it was like to learn it. The way you explained it only an expert can understand. Went completely over my head, as if you were speaking Chinese.

Worthy!

Kyle, love watching your videos. Could you do a video on the process/steps you have to go through before you even arrive onsite?? Such as designing the buildings, material takeoffs, ordering of materials, and possibly your estimating costs for projects. Thanks for sharing your passion!

Thank-you v much. Still a bit confusing after only one viewing. The pluses and minuses get confusing. Will watch again.

Great information on laser grade tool. What if you have the old school system passed down to you? Could you pass on information on that or where we could get information?

You lost me at "Hey. What's up guys"

Need hearing aides now, thanks so much... :P

Another way: 1. Lower the detector 4 inches below the zero point on the stick. 2. Adjust bottom telescope up or down to get steady tone on detector. 3. Move detector back up to zero point on the stick.

Can you post a video of your Site cleanup? your jobs don't look trashed!

The minus 4" is the finish grade under slab. The +4" is top of slab

More confused now than when I started watching

Look, let me say that I admire your work, love your videos, learn something on each one and look forward to every new one...but you did a less than stellar job on this one, even though it's clear you know what you are doing....this minus 4" plus 4" stuff was just confusing.....here's what you meant to say..... You first find out what you want to be your reference point, in this case, the threshhold (the floor) of the house. You did that. But you then tell us that the project is always 4" below that (or whatever)....so to save doing math in your head (as you said) you LENGTHEN THE STICK BY 4 INCHES. That's important and I think you were going too fast...(So far, no one sees any savings yet, so that's confusing - but wait.)That means that when the solid tone is heard out on the project, given that the stick is 4" longer, the zero is telling you that the placement of the rod is 4" below the finished house floor.... (Here a pause was needed....)........that's just the long and the short of it....pun intended. Now here is where the savings come in....Since we are (re)set at zero, any variation from 0 ( a -4" from house grade - depending on whether it is higher or lower from the set point) can be read directly and then just noted on the form or support or whatever ....as you show at the end.... You can then reset the stick, variously over the project space for other direct read measurements. Of course you don't have to reset the stick. (Which would have been a great example.)You could leave it at whatever and then when you are placing it out on the various project points you would then be subtracting, for example 4.5" from 3.25" and that's just nuts...(which is what your video was intended to show) so that's where the math savings come in....and btw, since most contractors (based on my experience) don't use a grade stick, I think it was a good idea that you made the video.....and it's not, by any means an easy subject on first exposure....hope this helps and not confuses and certainly not intended to insult.........

good vid

of finally i find a video with the correct grading rod for lasers. 👍 all the other video's are using a rod for visual scopes....🤯 en then they start calculating with every measurement..🤣

This grade stick is a lot different from what came with my Bosch rotary laser. This one seems like it works much better

I need one of those, rotary lazer level and a tape measure have been my methods..

Got it mate

That is the same math I use when I am Billing. I always add 4 when you want it to come down 4 so that gives me your bill. LOL.

Ok I got the point but you cut it short. I would just now had demonstrated the corners of the building to see and make them level so that the SLAB should line up level with the building which is standing on your tubes. I think a lot of people still have the disconnect there.

Wow, that was easy. Set it here, move over here, and put this there. Now, minus 4" and move it over there. Once there , flip it upside down and to get that number, then simply take the square root of that number , and add 5 inches! EZ. ( I guess I need to watch this 5 times to catch on) lol

Great video as always. But I have a ? Do you or have you used a water level? Is it accurate?

How far does the horizontal plane extend from the transmitter module? That thing is dam cool.

Interesting. I guess I never realized that the bottom of the column was under the concrete and the concrete was poured around and encasing the bottom of the column. Is that required by building code in your area or just considered best practice?.

This is great but the same thing can be done with a basic spirit (dumpy) level and staff, or am I missing something? What is the cost of the equipment you are using?

Thanks for the videos! Just became a member. I want to built a workshop so I need all this information. What do you think of kit buildings? Do you design all of your builds?

Could you do a video on a water level? Just thinking for the guys that don’t have a grade stick, but want to build their own building.

You confused most everyone watching!! 20+ years as a carpenter/re-modeler and you almost lost me at 4+", don't use grade sticks often enough to stay sharp on them. Let me try to explain; his finished grade is 0" (door threshold). Since he wants his unfinished grade at 4" lower, its set at 4"+ on the stick, lower on grade means moving the receiver higher on the pole which is positive direction. He wants his sonatubes set 2" below unfinished grade so they are set at +6" (4" plus 2"). Hope that clears the waters, I know its pretty muddy.

Thx

Actually people get confused because the explanation ask people to just follow the rule of -4 and +4 inches. The easiest way I think if you ask me, Take the laser unit with tripod and place it on the reference point. Let it self level to zero. Then take the stick and place it on the floor together with the reference point. So laser snd and reciever are at similar point of reference. Adjust the receiver up and down until the sound locks on solid. This means the stick is at zero level with the rotary laser on its tripod. Before moving anywhere, if you rise the stick up while being locked at number zero, it means you are at higher grounds. You will need to go to minus numbers to get the solid sound. This means higher grounds will give you negative numbers on the stick and positive numbers on the lower grounds assuming the laser unit is not moved from the initial reference point. Next, anywhere you move the stick, extend or retract the stick from the zero mark. When the stick goes to the minus side to lock the solid sound, it means the ground on that side is higher than the reference point. Similarly, when the stick moves on the positive side, it means the ground is lower than the reference point. JUST THINK OF THE STICK WITH NEGATIVE VALUES, A ZERO IN THE CENTER AND POSITIVE VALUES. IF THE GROUND IS LOWER, IT MEANS THE STICK WILL HAVE TO BE EXTENDED TO COMPENSATE THE LOSS OF HEIGHT. BASICALLY YOU CAN USE ANY TYPE OF STICK EVEN IF ITS NOT NUMBERED. WHAT MATTERS IS THE CONCEPT NOT NUMBERS. NOW WORK OUT ON THE REAL UNIT TO UNDERSTAND IT YOUR SELF.

Appreciate the effort but I found the explanation confusing. Zero on the threshold, then extend the stick by 4” or move the receiver up 4” and then you have grade below the finished floor. Then check your brackets for elevation relative to the grade. I have the same grade stick and it is a counterintuitive to me. Reverse reading grade sticks are much more user friendly if anyone is considering getting one.

I have been doing it wrong for 20 + years < Thanks rob nsw australia

Can you make a tutorial for making your own columns, aka laminating 2x6s?

Grrrrrrreat!!

What about keeping the stick plumb as that can affect the height of the laser receiver?

How do you install window trim when edge of window falls on a rib