Need Carpentry Advice

[Harman Rabb Jr.]

I built a small (14 x 24) cabin last summer. The cabin is built on skids that sit on cinder blocks. I'm getting ready to start installing cabinets and suspect that some of the cinder blocks may have settled causing the cabin to become unlevel.

I want to make sure that it is level before I install the cabinets, what is the best way to do this. I've seen house surveyers that had an electric leveling system that checked, but I don't know if that's economically feasible. Should I just get a four foot bubbly level and check? Any ideas would be appreciated.

[TxSuperDad]

Even if you relevel its is just going to settle again. You can surely try though if you want too.

Even in doing so your cabinet have a very slim chance of being perfectly level for hanging. They will have to shimmed to meet your prefrence.

I think I have only seen maybe 2 or 3 house over 15 years that were pefect and I didnt have to shim 1 cabinet. Doesnt happen often..

[TexasBob]

Even if you relevel its is just going to settle again. You can surely try though if you want too.

Even in doing so your cabinet have a very slim chance of being perfectly level for hanging. They will have to shimmed to meet your prefrence.

I think I have only seen maybe 2 or 3 house over 15 years that were pefect and I didnt have to shim 1 cabinet. Doesnt happen often..

This, but I would use a 4 foot level and get it as close as you can before you start.

[TxSuperDad]

If your gonna do it get 6 , 8 or 10 ft level

[mchildress]

I releveled a building last week.Used a four foot level checked both ways on floor and checked window seals and door headers. Jacked it up with a Hi-lift jack and used cut up asphalt shingles for shims on top of the concrete blocks. This building was a 12X20 Tuff Shed that only had perimeter blocks.

[Dale Moser]

I releveled a building last week.Used a four foot level checked both ways on floor and checked window seals and door headers. Jacked it up with a Hi-lift jack and used cut up asphalt shingles for shims on top of the concrete blocks. This building was a 12X20 Tuff Shed that only had perimeter blocks.

This is what I would do. Never heard of shingles for shims though...

[bows08]

Mom and Dad's old house where we grew up we had to level ALL the time. Shingles were what we used as well. Old house just sat on blocks and subgrade was crap. Shingles never rotted.

Try using a marble! J/K. But yes a 6' level or bigger would be best or laying a 4' level on top of a straight 2x4 or 2x6 that is longer.

[TXJon]

Make a water level, here's one example.

http://www.deckmagazine.com/article/64.html

Cheap, easy to use, dead accurate and as big as you want.

[Lazyman]

Make a water level, here's one example.

http://www.deckmagazine.com/article/64.html

Cheap, easy to use, dead accurate and as big as you want.

x2

[froghunter]

a 20 ton bottle jack is what i use. cedar planks work as shims as well as cedar shingles.

[Harman Rabb Jr.]

Do I need to be concerned with the plumbing as I jack it up. Any precautions?

[klooney]

What kind of Plumbing? Pex I would say your ok... Copper I would be a little concerned

[Death from Above]

Just make a water level....clear tubing is cheap enough.

[sticks]

use a water level at the 4 corners, then stretch string from corner to corner. you will see any sag in the middle. put a mark on the runner at each end say 1" up from bottom. then every place you check should be 1" from bottom to string if level