How do U use a water level to level block pillars for a home? How do U start? How do U find whats level?

Question

I know water returns to level naturally, but how does it know what point is level?

Answer 1

You need to establish a starting reference point, a line on a stake or wall which we call a benchmark. this might be precisely where some point of your structure will be located, such as the top edge, or a random point which will allow you a common reference to measure from all around the work area.

You need a clear plastic tube (at least 1/4" in inside diameter), with the length as needed to reach any point around the structure you want to mark.

Attach one end on the stake or wall with the benchmark line. The tube is positioned so it stands vertically and extends above the line by several inches. This part of the tube is called the riser. Position the other end of the tube at a point on the wall where you want to mark the equivalent level, again extending it above where you think the level will be. Fill the tube with water, until the water height matches the line of your benchmark. Both ends of the line must remain open to the air, and you don't want air trapped anywhere inside the water filled area.

At the other end of the tube, the water level will be at the same height as it is at the benchmark, automatically. Mark a line on the wall at that point, and you have duplicated the benchmark level. You basically repeat this at each point you wish to transfer the benchmark to, but you don't need to add water.

It helps to have two people. When you move the far end of the tube to point a new point after the second mark, you raise or lower that end until the water level again matches the benchmark at point one- so you need someone to watch that while you adjust the end point.

An alternative method allows one person to do the leveling. You can divide the tubing into multiple ends with fittings, such as tees or 4-way connectors. With this approach you can have an end riser of tube fixed at each point you wish to mark, such as the four corners of a building, and then fill all the the tubing at the same time- again, to the benchmark. Now, the water level at all end risers of the tube system will be the same. Nothing to move or re-adjust. Takes more tubing, of course.

Or.... you could just rent a laser level and save 90% of the time it takes to do the water level thing.

Answer 2

Gravity- both ends of the pipe will show the water at the same level

Answer 3

Rent a spinning laser level and rod, it is a one man show.