Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
(OP)
We've been looking at purchasing a distance meter gizmo to use when we go to existing structures and need to do some quick field measuring.
Up until now we've used tape measures for column-to-column distances, vertical clearance heights to bottom of beams overhead, etc.
I've seen the units sold in your local home improvement stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) and these run about US$80 to $180 but we're not sure how reliable, durable, etc. they are.
Do any of you have any exposure to perhaps more higher-end devices that you could share?
We are looking for a unit that will do feet/inches primarily.
As far as price, we are probably looking for something under $500 but I'm not sure if that is reasonable or not. Even a good device at $200 would be ideal.
Up until now we've used tape measures for column-to-column distances, vertical clearance heights to bottom of beams overhead, etc.
I've seen the units sold in your local home improvement stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) and these run about US$80 to $180 but we're not sure how reliable, durable, etc. they are.
Do any of you have any exposure to perhaps more higher-end devices that you could share?
We are looking for a unit that will do feet/inches primarily.
As far as price, we are probably looking for something under $500 but I'm not sure if that is reasonable or not. Even a good device at $200 would be ideal.
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RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
How accurate do you need the results?
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
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RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
For length of an interior room, the meter must be up against the wall, reading to the far wall. Errors creep in when you are not perpendicular to the walls: the laaser is reading even a 2 or 3 degree angle to the wall will "large" by that factor since it is displaying the hypotenuse of the angle, not the perpendicular.
I tired, but found they were almost, but not quite, good enough for pipe fitting and field runs. Rough layout was good, estimates were OK, but not for final cuts.
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
Our office also has a Bosch laser finder. I don't have any issues with the distance (I haven't used it for long distances), but there's a reason that the Hilti tape is always the first one checked out and the one people prefer to use.
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
RE: Distance meter for measuring existing buildings
I once suggested it to a site manager (we were contractors working in a hydro power plant) to check overhead clearances, etc and pointed it out in McMaster-Carr. He thought it sounded nice so he bought one and proceeded to use it extensively in many ways more than we anticipated. It's accurate, reliable, and robust compared to cheaper solutions.
I once played with the Home Depot class products and they are not comparable.
David