How can I make a long wall perfectly level?

Question

I am installing a short stone wall, made from these bricks.

The wall is not tall, about 2.5' (0.8 m), but it is about 140' (45 m) in length. The wall needs to be strong to withstand flash floods, which can dump 1' (30 cm) of water in the back yard in as little as 15 minutes.

I carved out a trench in which to place the first row of bricks. I've filled the trench with water to get a level.

----       ------
   \       /
    ------- <-- 6 inches (15 cm) wide

The trench is 2 inches (5 cm) deep at the low spot of land, but the wall goes up a slight incline, and there the trench is 14 inches (35 cm) deep.

----       ------
   |       | <--- It can be much deeper up higher on the hill
   |~~~~~~~| <-- I can pour in water to get a level, but no idea how to use that to place the bricks level
   \       /
    ------- <-- Still 6 inches (15 cm) wide here

How can I get this wall to be perfectly level, within 1/4" (5 mm) of accuracy from the one end of the wall to the other?

I can fill the trench with water, to get a level line. Is there some kind of concrete mix I can pour into the water that will easily give a level the whole length of the trench?

I considered just adding gravel to the trench, and eyeing if it is up to the water level, but the act of adding gravel will change the height of the water itself, so I don't know if that is a viable plan.

Answer 1

Use a 70 foot water level.

Here is a diagram of one.

Use 1/4 inch tubing or slightly larger.

Fill tubing with water before submerging one end.

The container of water is required because a huge difference in water level at the stick end, translates to a tiny difference in the water level at the container.

That keeps the actual water level almost the same, no matter how much you move the stick up or down.

NOTE: the accuracy suffers on windy days.

Answer 2

Stakes.

Place stakes in the bottom of the trench. Put them up against the edge to leave room next to them for bricks. They will stick up out of the trench. Run a string along the stakes corresponding to the top of your wall. Move the string until it is straight using a level or laser sight.

When you are done you will have a string corresponding with the height of your wall. Build the wall up to the string. If a brick sticks up too high you will need to make the trench deeper at that point.

Remove stakes when you are done.

Answer 3

A video mentioned in another answer shows three methods: a string line-level, a laser level, and a water level. These will all work, but I think you'll get your best results with a water level.

Laser levels are expensive, they're super expensive if you need good accuracy and something that can be used at decent distances outdoors. In my experience they're a time saver and accurate enough for most things, but not as accurate as they claim.

String line levels are very handy, and cheap, but they're definitely not super accurate. There's always some sag and motion in the line, no matter how tight you stretch it. You're just eyeballing when the bubble is in the middle of the vial. You have to get your stakes really solid so the string tension doesn't pull them out of plumb. You need two people unless you're really patient.

Another answer shows a water level using a bucket but I don't think you'll have good results with the method as illustrated in that answer. I don't think water will stay in the hose where it goes over the edge of the bucket, and you will either need a very tall bucket or drum of water. If that bucket or drum gets moved or knocked over during the course of your project, you have a headache. There's a much more practical water level you can set up very easily.

You want a hose with see-through sections at both ends. You can make that yourself, or buy a kit like this one from Mayes

With that kit and a garden hose you probably already have, you can set your reference stake in the middle, and transfer your mark to every stake to the left and right, and get it dead on with the least chance for error.

Now whether your soil cooperates, and is stable enough to maintain your 1/4" accuracy over the years, well time will tell, but that's a different question.

Answer 4

This Old House has a great video showing you how to set level lines for landscaping projects. I think this is exactly what you're looking for. Video is about six minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuK5d7zNRZw They show three methods, also described below; but I highly recommend watching the video as their explanations & demonstration on a project are great.

Line/spirit level

This is a spirit bubble attached to a long string. It's the least-accurate of the three choices but requires the least equipment. As shown in the video, it's totally usable for small projects, though.

Water level

Basically, a long tube with some water in it functions as a level. The water will reach the same height at each end of the tube. The linked video has some good tips, but this is really a great way to find a level over a longer distance.

Laser w/ target and grade rod

A laser level is a great tool for many kinds of projects, but it's the most expensive of these three options. If you've used one without a target before, you probably know it can be hard to see the laser in daylight. That's where the target comes in -- it's a device that beeps when it intersects the laser beam. You can raise and lower it along a grade rod until you find the beam.

Answer 5

Your question about getting a wall exactly level is presumably intended to prevent overtopping at any one location. In fact, overtopping at one location is preferable so that you can respond to the spill. For example, overtopping water is likely to erode the base of the wall, so in having the spill where you want it, you can mitigate the spilling flow without having to defend the entire length of the wall from possible spill.

In flood construction, there are other issues to consider such as the wall should be constructed as a retaining wall to withstand the pressure of the water against it (1 tonne / m without considering inertia) and of course, once the flood is in place then groundwater pressure may cause your wall to 'float'; biological routes through the wall will be explored by the water with 'piping'; leading to weakening and possible failure. So consider your construction prior to being over-precise on the elevation of the wall, whilst leaving a "back-door open".

Legal issues include possibly making the situation worse for someone else, by defending your site and you may face liability claims for this. What environmental impacts will the wall have?

On making your wall level, with even limited means such as a post and nails combined with a 'straight-edge' and spirit level then your wall is likely to end up level by means of minute errors averaging out, rather than accumulating. Similarly for a(n imperceptibly) non-straight edge. Simply reverse it for determining alternate lengths between posts are level. Job done.

You're welcome! A qualified surveyor working in flood management, but please be responsible for your own decisions having an improved awareness of the surrounding issues.

Answer 6

I use a site level (like a small telescope on a tripod and a graduated staff). You can rent this for little money.

Knock in pegs, 60cm or so apart (wood or reinforcing bar) with the top of the peg at the same level as the top of your concrete foundation. Move the staff from peg to peg, adjusting each peg till it's at the right height (same place on the graduated staff).

Pour your concrete to the top of the pegs, no more nor less. Build your wall, ensuring the height from the concrete is uniform. Requires skills for sure, but you'll get a pretty level wall if you're careful. I build houses with this method and my wall pates are always exactly level; start level, finish level.

My pentax site level is accurate to 2mm per km.

Oh, and you'll be needing expansion joints in a wall that long...

Answer 7

First of all, I think it's perfectly obvious why it needs to be so exactly level. The OP stated that the purpose of the wall is to hold back flash floods; if a human can't find a low end of the wall, then the water, when it comes, will.

Having said that, I agree with jsotola that the thing to use is a water level. A water level remains accurate over long distances. Dig your trench and lay your first course of stone brick.

The OP also said that the trench would get deeper as it goes "up the hill". But the bottom course doesn't have to go the full length -- at the hill end, stop the course and just make the next course the bottom course there. Like so:

                     ~~   ~~~  ~~~~
  ~    ~~~     ~~ ~~~  ~~~   ~~          ~ = grade level
~~ ~~~~   ~~~~~  ~  @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@                     @ = bottom course of stone bricks

Of course, try to make the bottom course as level as you can. But slight irregularities can be compensated for with mortar that is just a tiny bit thicker where it needs to be. Keep checking the levelness with each course. If you really wanted it accurate, leave it one course short for now, and when the next flood occurs, make that your water level. Mark the water level on the wall, and add the final course after the wall dries out again.

Answer 8

Don't worry about the foundation. Get it sorta level, but understand that it will settle. Then MacGyver a way to make the wall level at the top when it's finished. Use a water level or laser level to check things with each course of bricks, and correct incrementally.