Site preparation and marking for foundations - Building Your Straw Bale Home - page 9

held in the horizontal position. Once the string is deemed to be horizontal as determined
by the spirit level, mark the position of the string where it sits across the vertical timber.
The measurement from the bottom of the vertical timber to the mark on the string line
is, in theory, the fall of the land between the peg and the base of the vertical timber.

Figure 2.1 String line level to establish the basic fall in the building site

Tying a string line
When using a string line, avoid tying knots in the line. The string line should have a
permanent loop in the end of the line, which will often be used to loop over a nail (Figure
2.2a). To fix the other end of the string line, create a loop of line over your finger (Figure
2.2b). Using four circular motions of your finger around the string line (Figure 2.2c), the
string leading to the loop of the line will become twisted. Place this loop over the nail and
pull the loose end of the line back toward the opposite first nail and loop of the string
line (Figure 2.2d), thereby tightening the line. Once the line is at the desired tension, pull
the loose end of the line in the opposite direction (Figure 2.2e). This will cause the
twisted section of the line to become entangled on itself thereby fixing the line in the
taught position (Figure 2.2f).

a b c

d e f

Figure 2.2 Tying a string line