Accuracy comes first if you need to attain excellent results for any planned construction project. Laser level tools are essential in the construction industry to provide contractors with a measure of accuracy while working on a construction project. The laser levels perform several tasks such as wall layouts, laying foundations, wall tiling, among other tasks. In this article, we will learn the different applications of the laser levels and the role they play in the construction industry.

Indoor Applications of The Laser Level

• Leveling building floors
• Aligning cabinets, shelves and trims
• Aligning walls
• Dropping ceiling installations
• Checking the heights of doors and windows

Outdoor Applications of The Laser Level

• Used to establish grades
• For contour drainage and farming
• Aligning posts, fences and decks
• Site layout
• Applied in all forms of basic survey
• For masonry alignment
• Checking land elevations

Most construction workers forget to make adjustments to their laser levels before using them. Even the best laser levels in the market fall back to occasional calibration errors. Therefore, it is essential for both the new and used tools to be calibrated to offer you accurate results.

Usually, new laser levels remain calibrated for a year. However, this will depend on the working conditions the tool gets subjected to. Calibration is an important way of caring for the laser level to serve you best for an extended period.

The Accuracy Level of a Laser Level

The accuracy of laser levels lies around 1/16 of an inch in every hundred feet. They are more accurate compared to the spirit levels whose accuracy lies around ½ inch every hundred feet long. The excellent accuracy level of the laser level is made possible through a laser diode that continually emits a concentrated beam in the area of operation to provide the required accuracy project levels.

How to Check the Laser Level Accuracy

Construction workers need to check the accuracy level of the laser level before embarking on the real construction project. This helps avoid faulty calibrations that result in disastrous consequences after completion of the project.

Therefore, you need to keep the laser adequately calibrated to ensure you get accurate leveling within the set satisfactory standards. So, it’s you the buyer to check the laser level calibration and its overall accuracy to avoid all the errors that arise when using a less calibrated laser level.

Other factors that might affect the laser level accuracy include;

• The ambient temperature
• Wear and tear of the laser level
• Drops from high heights
• External pressures
• Inappropriate handling of the tool

All these factors play a role in making your laser level less calibrated. You need to check the accuracy levels of the tool often to ensure you work with an accurate tool. This way, you’re assured of excellent results from the projects you undertake.

Steps to Check The Accuracy Levels

First, place the laser on a tripod and about 100 feet from the wall. Start rotating the laser until the head points the wall. Switch on the detector and the laser level. Make marks on the wall as the detector gives signals of different levelness.

Next, make a rotation of 180 degrees and mark at the wall the levelness provided by the detector. You would have made two different marks; measure the difference between them and if the difference falls within the specified accuracy of the laser level, then your tool is correct for use.

Lastly, make again another 90 degrees rotation and use the detector to make a mark. Get the difference between the previous mark and the current one. The device is correct for use if the difference falls within the specified accuracy of the device. If the difference is out of the specified accuracy range of the device, then seek professional help to calibrate the laser level.

The Best Types of Laser Level for Construction

In the market, there are several laser level models. Selecting the right one for a construction project can be a big challenge at large. Most construction workers prefer the line lasers since it projects straight line references that work both vertically and horizontally. However, there are other commonly used models in the market ideal for construction projects, they include;

• The rotary lasers
• Spot lasers
• Combination lasers

Depending on the accuracy level you need, choose an appropriate model to give you the best results.

How to Use The Laser Level 

Once we have all the above idea, we should move a step ahead to learn how to use your laser level. All construction works are simplified if you have proper knowledge of how to use a laser level. The laser level is an ideal construction tool helping contractors achieve maximum accuracy when dealing with the vertical and horizontal surfaces. Let’s read on to learn how to use the laser level;

Preparation of Work

Accuracy and the smoothness of the surface play an important role in all installations in a construction site. A slight error in any construction project can lead to fatal mistakes that will cost you significant to repair.

Different devices help contractors avoid such building troubles. The devices are grouped into three categories based on their work principles and accuracy levels. We have three accuracy levels; these are the high precision, exact and technical level. On the other hand, according to the principles of work, we have three categories of levels, they include the optical, digital and the laser.

Installation

Installation of the laser level is the next step before you start making measurements. Connect the laser into a power source or insert batteries to use if necessary. Once you have done this, follow the steps below for its preparation for use.

• First, get off all obstructions from the room you plan to work on to avoid interruptions of the laid line.
• Choose a level location where you’ll place the laser and place it on a tripod or any other special holder. Secure well and don’t move it during work until everything gets completed as required.
• Next is taking observations of the specified distance in the instructions the laser should be placed from the particular object or surface you need to work on.
• The laser level emits powerful radiations that can be harmful to you and the animals alike. Therefore, you need to wear special glasses to protect your eyes.

Setting The Laser Level.

The manufacturers provide instructions on how different models get set for use. However, most models have similar setting procedures that are simple and straightforward to use. For simple brands in the market, the body comprises of screws and two bubble levels. You’ll twist them gently to align the beam.

There are other brands designed to project several light bars at ago. For this, you need to customize the beams to the exact one you require. Align them by looking at the number of degrees in every guide.

If you have a laser level designed with self-leveling control functions, the indicators are set zero. Besides this, you need to tighten the handle and always recheck the horizon. With this, you will find it easy locating the laser line when using it outside.

A point to note: Avoid using the laser functions all at the same time. They might create confusions to lead you to make poor measurements.

Additional Devices to Provide You With Accurate Results.

Once installation and setting get complete, you can start using the laser for whatever purpose you laid it on for. However, sometimes proper installations and adjustments to the laser alone are not enough to provide a contractor accurate results. There are additional devices that need to be in place to help improve the quality of work you’re doing. Some of the essential other tools include the staff, the beam receiver and the target. All these tools are incorporated together to provide you with the best results ever.

In case there is need for drawing several parallel guides on the surface similar distance from each other, the rail is of importance here. The target, on the other hand, is ideal for those who plan to work on large rooms mainly to increase the projection transfer accuracy.

Lastly, Installation of a successor is also vital to produce a visible projection even during the sunny day. However, you need to get the one of a similar brand of the laser you are using. Usage of successors of different models since you’ll experience incompatible problems.

Correct Use of Laser Levels For Various Purposes

Wall alignment

Every contractor can agree with me that aligning wall is not an easy task. You need the help of the laser level to guide you throughout the process to get accurate results.

For this project, direct your laser level beam on the wall you’re working on. Place a ruler perpendicular to the laser radiation line. Look keenly at the measuring scale to determine where there is a deviation from the normal on these points. Use the measurements to determine the layer you need to add or remove from the wall to level it.

Using a Laser Level When Leveling The Floor

You will take a similar approach you took leveling the wall to get an accurate leveled floor. Before you embark on the project, ensure the laser is aligned, and a horizontal line included. Mark the extreme points and carry out a similar thing to the entire floor. Connect all the points, and you remain with a straight point of view that will guide you on the amount of material you need to level the floor.

Wall pasting

The vertical beam of the laser level helps to align the joints of a building. On the other hand, the horizontal beam aligns all other decorative elements in the building. The laser level is also essential for checking the quality of work done. In case of a deviation, you’ll need to fix the problem before you continue to other parts.

Installation of Furniture

In the past, rulers and bubble levelers got great importance in the installation of furniture like shelves and cabinets on wall surfaces. However, this is a thing of the past, today we’re dealing with modular furniture. A lot of calculations need to be done to get stable and quality structures.

You will use the laser level to get excellent furniture easily. All you need is to draw a horizontal laser line that focuses on the furniture you’re dealing with. Let it be your guide to fix everything on the walls and get the best results overall.

Laying Tiles

Tiles need to be positioned strictly at a right angle. The laser lever is the best construction tool to give you quality installation of tiles. When lying down the tiles, you should first turn on the cross-type construction of different planes. Radiations are emitted, and after that, they get converted into a mesh. The center of the seams between the tiles will coincide with the center of the crossed lines. This provides a guide strip where you’ll align the side of your tiles.

As you can see, different sections of a building have a different approach for you to achieve better results. This is why you need to grasp the skills on how to operate the laser lever before you embark on a construction project.

You need to ensure you’re working only with an accurate tool to give you the best results. Professions should fix less calibrated laser levels before using them. Everything needs to be looked upon keenly when taking measurements during the construction process. After all, this, get assured you’ll have the best results from your construction projects.

Conclusion

A laser level is an ideal tool for quality construction projects. They save not only time but also labor at the worksite. They provide accurate measurements to ensure you avoid making construction errors that will cost you big at the end. While out there looking for the right laser for your projects, it’s recommended you take time reviewing all specifications of different models to get a tool that provides accurate performance.