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Job site measurements

5/10/16       
Nick Cook Member

Website: http://www.cedarrivercabinetry.com

I currently measure on site with a tape measure, drawing the walls on graph paper.
What upgrade to that might you be using?
I'm looking into evernote for pulling all the information together for jobs but would like to use a more accurate possibly faster way to collect job site information. Has anyone used the digital laser tape measures?

5/10/16       #2: Job site measurements ...
TomB

I just bought a Bosch GLM 50 C Laser 2 months ago. That thing is accurate. Paid about $160. It is blue-tooth capable so you take a picture of the wall, set up the laser in the corner, shoot the wall length, beams right into the picture on the app on your Ipad or phone. The jobs are in folders, so you can email them to the office, or download them when you get back. I was skeptical at first, double checking every measure, but it was always 1/32 more accurate than I would have been. It also makes it fast. I measured an entire church millwork package in about 45 minutes. Normally it would have taken hours.

5/10/16       #3: Job site measurements ...
Snaglpuss

We use similar measuring lasers from Leica.
Some have Bluetooth also.
You can buy some of the first generation stuff without Bluetooth cheap off ebay.

5/10/16       #4: Job site measurements ...
Charles Member

I use a Leica DISTO D210XT laser. It is accurate to 1/8" over about 200'. I have had it for years. I believe the newer models are accurate to 1/16" according to the website. Mine has more capabilities than I use. I can switch from inches to feet to mm as well.

For sales calls, it usually gets some positive comments from potential customers. ("I need one of those!") It adds a professional touch to the sales call. But, that is not why I use it. I use it because it is fast, accurate, and I can measure over and under obstacles by myself.

I still use a conventional tape measure as well. Measuring the width of a window, or the height of the baseboard, etc. is something better done with a tape.

I also carry a spare battery with me. The battery lasts a very long time, but there was this one time when the battery died on a sales call and I did not have a spare. Using the old tape measure was not fun. :-(

5/10/16       #5: Job site measurements ...
Kerry Fullington

Nick,

I also use both laser and steel tapes but I take my laptop on a stand and enter the walls, doors, windows, plumbing, and electircal directly into the cabinet design software while on the site. No need to decipher my scribbles on graph paper.

5/10/16       #6: Job site measurements ...
cabinetmaker

What Kerry does and then the installer double checks us before production and alerts us with changes. He gets a book with pictures and shop drawings......

Tedious ? @ first it was, then it saved us some serious $ when the installer confronted the GC with moving a wall 3 feet with out telling us.

5/10/16       #7: Job site measurements ...
Nick Cook Member

Website: http://www.cedarrivercabinetry.com

Kerry and Cabinetmaker

I'm thinking this is a great idea. You e mail your wall info to the shop or use a flash drive and transfer the data? Or do you guys have the site measurement person also do the full design? In my case I use Mozaik to design for the CNC. I'm checking with them to see what I need to do this so I have another program on the field device. I wish there was a camera that would take a picture of the wall and superimpose the measurements on it.

5/11/16       #8: Job site measurements ...
Kerry Fullington

Nick,

We use Microsoft One Note to share information in the shop. After drawing the walls I can save that job and insert the file into One Note. In One note the file is uploaded to the cloud where it is available to the office.
All of our line drawings, cut lists, notes, appliance spec sheets and photos are also inserted into One Note. All of this is synced to all of the devices on the office account making this information available to all the computers in the office, my home computer, as well as tablets at different work stations in the shop. Employees can access the cut list information and line drawings and print what they need from the device. Any notes or changes made by anyone to these documents is then synced and shared by all.
Our installer gets the info on his phone and prints what he needs at home.

5/12/16       #9: Job site measurements ...
Tom C

Image Meter Pro $5 on my dell Pad $89
It will work Blue tooth with a laser also going right into it.
I don't have that ,but after reading here how accurate they are. -Maybe.
I have sent several of the contractors I deal with Google Play store gift cards with this pre-picked.

Some have it on their phones and now send me pics with it ...,
Rather than me go out on LOOK-SEE"s
I send it to my installer so he can see stud layout,pipes ,ect..

This one shows the plumber that he put a vent Stack right where a Recessed Med Cabinet was going.
He didn't even read the blue tape that we put there...
Sent it to the builder, Caught before the Sheetrock.!!


View higher quality, full size image (800 X 600)

5/12/16       #10: Job site measurements ...
Nick Cook Member

Website: http://www.cedarrivercabinetry.com

Tom,

How did you get the measurements on the image?

5/12/16       #11: Job site measurements ...
Tom C

With this App ,you take a pic& then you can write ,dimensions line etc... on screen.
Apple- My Measure ,although did not think that was as good.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.dirkfarin.imagemeterpro&
amp;hl=en

Image Meter Pro App

5/12/16       #12: Job site measurements ...
Sam S

I pad app" Photo measures" allows you to take a picture and annotate with text boxes lines, arrows etc. email,save, print - cost was about $5. they offer a free demo. I purchased and have it on my Iphone 6, it is workable with a $3 wall mart stylus, but an ipad would be big enough to allow a person to be a little quicker and to show the client how amazing you are with the technology.

5/13/16       #13: Job site measurements ...
Mark

1. Prior to the site visit I will review whatever information I can get and prepare a "checklist" of measurements I want to take. This may also include a quick floor plan, section view drawings prepared in cad, so I can fill in dimensions on site.

2. This list either gets printed out or I will keep a copy on my ipad. Depends on the situation.

3. When I arrive at the site, I go down the list take measurements and fill it out. I will then take a number of photos. Take down whatever additional notes, dimensions I can think of.

4. I will often bring my laser level and do a quick survey floors, walls, etc... for level/plumb. Noting anything particularly out of whack.

I try to avoid having to write anything down other than measurements, and a few notes. I also try to avoid having to do a bunch of drawings on site. If that becomes a necessity, I will take my laptop and enter stuff right into cad.

I came up with this system after getting distracted taking to a client one too many times and loosing focus. Really easy to avoid that when you have a list you can go down, and fill out.

5/16/16       #14: Job site measurements ...
Luke Vickery

Website: http://www.calwoodinc.com

Leica 3D Disto. Doesn't get any better than that!

5/22/16       #15: Job site measurements ...
Derrek Holland

Ive used Leica Disto for 10 years. Super fast and very accurate. I have a samsung note 3 that has a stylus and use the samsung app to.draw all notes. I can add phots i. As well and email pdf


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