Bubble level

karlitob

Perhaps a silly question but can you use the line on a level to ensure you get fall.

So if you want to lay a patio with 1:10 fall, could you use the bubble just hitting the line to do that.

Does the line represent a ratio (I’ve a good quality stabila). I think I read that it’s called bubble fall.

Thanks all.

the_pen_turner

probably yes. that deviation from level would be consistant. what fall that would be i dont know.
the best way i have found is to attach a spacer under the level so the level reads level . so if the level is 1000mm and you want a one in 10 you would add a 100 mm spacer.

karlitob

the_pen_turner wrote: »

probably yes. that deviation from level would be consistant. what fall that would be i dont know.
the best way i have found is to attach a spacer under the level so the level reads level . so if the level is 1000mm and you want a one in 10 you would add a 100 mm spacer.

Very good. Thank you.

cletus

You can buy levels that have a number of bubbles, one for level, the others for reading set amounts of fall, marked on the case

karlitob

cletus wrote: »

You can buy levels that have a number of bubbles, one for level, the others for reading set amounts of fall, marked on the case

Thanks for that. That’s what prompted me actually.
bought expensive stabila levels last year. And wondered if the lines meant something.

https://www.stabila.com/en-US/products-553/details/type-196-heavy-duty-levels.html

Stihl waters

You could cut packers that will give you the fall while the level will read level, when I'm casing footpaths I'll use a 25 mm piece to put on outside of casing to get my fall from inside of the path

karlitob

Stihl waters wrote: »

You could cut packers that will give you the fall while the level will read level, when I'm casing footpaths I'll use a 25 mm piece to put on outside of casing to get my fall from inside of the path

Very good. Thanks.

By the way - stihl waters is a great handle.

The Continental Op

The way I'd do it is use the level to get a level. So start at your highest point put in a short stake. Next use your level on its own or on of a dead straight plank of wood to get the top of another stake in at the same height. Do this down the slope until you get to the end. You now have a row of stakes all at the same height. Get the fall you want by measuring down the last stake and tying a string line between it and the top stake.

karlitob

The Continental Op wrote: »

The way I'd do it is use the level to get a level. So start at your highest point put in a short stake. Next use your level on its own or on of a dead straight plank of wood to get the top of another stake in at the same height. Do this down the slope until you get to the end. You now have a row of stakes all at the same height. Get the fall you want by measuring down the last stake and tying a string line between it and the top stake.

Another good suggestion, thank you.

chooseusername

1:10 is a serious drop for a patio.

karlitob

chooseusername wrote: »

1:10 is a serious drop for a patio.

Going by some lads on YouTube. Tidybricks. I thought it seemed a lot but what would I know. What would you suggest?

The Continental Op

https://www.minsterpaving.co.uk/how-to/how-much-fall-should-a-patio-have/ 1:80

You could go 1:60 or 1:50 if you wanted really good water throw off.

Put a few flags out at different levels to see how they look.

The reason I suggest more than 1:80 is that I suspect your experience level may mean that some slabs go in level so won't shed water easily. At 1:50 the fall will be more obvious and all the slabs should go in with some degree of fall.

Edit> Checked Tidybricks and the video I checked said 10mm in 1 meter thats 10mm in 1000mm so 1 in 100

Melzea

Put up a chalk line then work out the drop you need