Construction Staking

Construction Staking is the process of locating on the ground, horizontally and/or vertically, the position of new improvements such as roads, buildings, sewers, bridges, utilities etc. Contractors know how to build things, however many times the Contractor doesn’t know where to build it.

The surveyor takes plan information and translates this into field locations. Stakes or marks are placed at or near the location where an improvement is to be built. Typically stakes or marks are placed at a specified offset distance from the improvement to be built. This distance is usually far enough away so it is not lost when construction begins but close enough that the craftsman can use their usual measuring tools such as tape measures, carpenter’s levels and string lines. It is in the best interests of the Contractor or Owner to use the skills of a licensed surveyor to implement the staking. A good surveyor will interpret the plans, which many times can have complex geometry or be related to property lines, and layout the design as the designer, engineer, or architect intended with accuracy and reliability.

Construction staking is a critical step in the construction process that can directly influence whether a project finishes on time, on budget, and free from errors. Accurate construction staking helps ensure that everything is built per the engineer’s or architect’s specifications and prevents costly mistakes and delays.