Had to pick between a drone and a laser level for site layout last Thursday

We were starting a foundation pour on a 40x60 slab and I only had budget left for one new tool. The drone could map the whole site in 20 minutes but the laser level was what I knew would work. I went with the laser level because I figured the old school way was safer for a Friday pour. Turns out the grade was off by 3 inches on the north corner because I missed a benchmark. Had to call in a Saturday crew to fix it and ate $800 out of my bonus. Anyone else ever cheap out on the right tool and regret it?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_anthony10d ago

Honestly, you're blaming the wrong tool here. The laser level was fine, you just messed up the benchmark check. A drone wouldn't have saved you from missing that.

grace893d ago

Oh man, benchmark checks are no joke. I read somewhere that like 80% of job site errors come from skipping those basic steps. People just get too confident or in a hurry. Honestly though, I've seen guys use drones for site surveys and still miss obvious stuff because they didn't double their starting point. It's always the simple checks that get you.

the_elizabeth10d ago

Wait wait... you're telling me he skipped the benchmark check? That's like the ONE thing you absolutely don't skip on any job site.