How to Read a Grade Rod

The earth is hardly flat, and surveyors in construction overcome this in building projects by flattening the ground into a specific level, or grade, using tools such as a grade rod. Used with a level and grade stakes, a grade rod measures the difference between the elevation of the ground and the prescribed grade elevations. Though grade rods are of many types and levels of sophistication, all determine whether land needs to be filled or cut. Reading a grade rod reveals the difference between the existing grade and the prescribed grade elevation.

Stakes
Lumber crayon (keel)
Pencil and paper
Grade rod or stick and measuring tape

Instructions

- 1
  Set up as constant the Height of Instrument (HI) using a measuring tape. This is the constant level of view in a surveying project. Determine the exact HI and write it down.
- 2
  Determine the prescribed or desired grade elevation for the project, based on specifications determined about the construction project or irregularities in the land (such as a watershed, rocks or other geographical points).
- 3
  Insert grade stakes into the ground. Depending on how uneven the ground is compared to the prescribed or desired grade elevation, many or few stakes may be used.
- 4
  Mark the desired grade elevation on the stakes using the lumber crayon (keel).
- 5
  Calculate the difference between the desired grade elevation and the HI. The grade rod can be read by using a rod that comes with a level to get the most exact measurement, or it can be read by using a stick and measuring tape.

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