How to beat off the floor level: the principle of using water and laser levels
Before you begin to level the surface of the floor, you must beat off the horizontal level of the room. In other words, draw on the walls the ideal horizontal lines that you can orientate when aligning. Today we will analyze how this can be done most easily using traditional and modern devices.
What tools exist for level beating?
In order to beat off the floor level, you can use:
- water level;
- laser level;
- level.
The latter option, that is, the level, is difficult to work and requires knowledge, therefore it is rarely used for these purposes.
Using water level for marking
The builders most love the water level (water level) - a transparent flexible tube (like a dropper, but with a large diameter) at both ends of which there are two control flasks with digital marking. They facilitate the task of leveling for beginners, but for experienced builders they are practically useless. Often these flasks are even removed as unnecessary. So, in fact, any transparent hose with a length of 3 - 25 m can be considered as the hydraulic level. The accuracy of level beating will not be affected.
The principle of the hydraulic level is based on the properties of communicating vessels, in which any homogeneous liquid (for example, water) is always set clearly at the same level. If the hydraulic level is filled with water, and then both of its ends are lifted vertically upwards, then we will get exactly such communicating vessels. And the surfaces of the water columns in both parts of the hose are sure to match.
How to recapture the horizontal level using the hydraulic level?
Work with the hydraulic level involves the participation of two people, so if you carry out repairs yourself, then in the process of leveling you will have to invite an assistant.
The stages of leveling work are as follows:
1. Filling the hydraulic level with water, raising the ends of the hose up and bringing them together. When the tool is working properly, the water in both parts should combine. If this does not happen, then most likely there are air bubbles in the water. They need to be kicked out by shaking the hose, striking it on its walls. This will allow the liquid to become homogeneous, then the hydraulic level will work correctly. Due to a reluctance to fumble with bubbles, some builders prefer to pour boiled water into the tube. But not at all facilities it is possible and convenient.
Another reason that the hydraulic level may refuse to work is pinch and hose creases. It must be ensured that the central part of the hose, which remains lying on the floor during measurements, is not clamped at any point. That is why it is impossible to step on the hydraulic level neither during measurements, nor after (creases may appear).
2. At the edge of the wall (usually near the corner), the first person from the brigade puts one end of the hydraulic level.
3. On the other side of the wall, a second person, at any distance from the floor, marks (usually at a glance level) and places the second end of the hydraulic level on it. The main task at this stage is this: combine the water level in your pipe with the mark on the wall.This can be done by moving the handset up and down, naturally, without sudden movements, carefully. After the water level coincided with the mark on the wall, the same level should be established at the first end of the hose, which, as we remember, is motionless in the hands of the first person from the brigade.
4. After about 20 seconds, the first person draws a mark on the wall at the water level in his pipe.
5. Transfer of the same label in exactly the same way is carried out on all walls of the room.
6. Beating (drawing) horizontal lines according to the marked marks using a chopping cord (sold in hardware stores, reminiscent of a tape measure).
Through such simple actions, you can make a level beat in the entire apartment.
Laser level - a new generation tool
It is even easier to work with the laser level (laser level), one might say - it’s a pleasure. However, such a pleasure is worth a lot, therefore, professional builders mostly acquire this tool.
The laser level is a small apparatus (usually a telescopic tripod or stand is included in the kit) that can emit a laser beam. This beam draws a perfect horizontal on the wall (in most modern models, it’s also a vertical).
Stages of horizontal level beating with a laser level
1. Install the laser level on the floor or on a tripod.
2. Alignment of the device. In expensive models, the automatic leveling function is often provided, which allows you not to worry about the evenness of the installation. Otherwise, you have to align the bubble in a transparent flask (located on the surface of the device).
3. Turning on the device and obtaining a perfectly horizontal line on the plane.
4. Drawing this line with a chopping cord.
5. To obtain a horizontal line on another wall, the laser level must be deployed in its direction and perform the same actions. This principle of operation is characteristic of positional laser levels, which belong to the budget line. More expensive models are rotational. They do not need to be rotated. When turned on, they immediately give a projection around the entire perimeter of the room.
You can hear additional tips on working with the laser level (and see this device in action!) If you look at the video below:
Andrew 
Eugene
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