Batter Boards

Hubs driven at the exact locations of building corners will be disturbed as soon as the excavation for the foundation begins. To preserve the corner locations, and to provide a reference for measurement down to the prescribed elevations, erect batter boards as shown in Figure 28.

Nail each pair of boards to three 2 by 4 corner stakes as shown. Drive the stakes far enough outside the building lines so that they will not be disturbed during excavation. The top edges of the boards are located at a specific elevation, usually some convenient number of whole feet above a significant prescribed elevation, such as the top of the foundation. Nail to the batter boards cords located directly over the lines through corner hubs, placed by holding plumb bobs on the hubs. Figure 28 shows how to locate a corner point in the excavation by dropping a plumb bob from the point of
intersection between two cords.

In addition to their function in horizontal control, batter boards are also used for vertical control. Place the top edge of a batter board at a specific elevation. You can locate elevations of features in the structure, such as foundations and floors, by measuring downward or upward from the cords stretched between the batter boards.

Always make sure that you have complete information as to exactly what lines and elevations are indicated by the batter boards. Emphasize to your crewmembers that they must exercise extreme caution while working around batter boards. If the boards are damaged or moved, additional work will be required to replace them and relocate reference points.