The two most common types of grade rods are aluminum or fiberglass. They both come in tenths or eighths (inches) and they come in different lengths from 8’ to 25’.
![Grade Rod](http://www.newenglandlaser.com/gfs/media/images/graderod.jpg)
Leveling Rods
Two types of leveling rod are available “architects” (graduated in feet, inches and eighths of an inch) and “engineers” (graduated in feet, tenths, and hundredths of a foot).
Inches and Decimal portions of a foot
Leveling and measurements of distance are often carried out in decimal portions of a foot (hundredths). Whereas building plans are usually given to carpenters and masons in feet, inches and fractions of an inch. (0.08 ft.) Is equal, very nearly to one inch. Also 1/8 inch is very nearly equal to one hundredth of a foot (0.01 ft.)
Inches and Eighths to Decimals of a Foot
in. |
0 |
1/8 |
1/4 |
3/8 |
1/2 |
5/8 |
3/4 |
7/8 |
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 |
.00 .08 .17 .25 .33 .42 .50 .58 .67 .75 .83 .92 |
.01 .09 .18 .26 .34 .43 .51 .59 .68 .76 .84 .93 |
.02 .10 .19 .27 .35 .44 .52 .60 .69 .77 .85 .94 |
.03 .11 .20 .28 .36 .45 .53 .61 .70 .78 .86 .95 |
.04 .12 .21 .29 .38 .46 .54 .62 .71 .79 .88 .96 |
.05 .14 .22 .30 .39 .47 .55 .64 .72 .80 .89 .97 |
.06 .15 .23 .31 .40 .48 .56 .65 .73 .81 .90 .98 |
.07 .16 .24 .32 .41 .49 .57 .66 .74 .82 .91 .99 |
Examples:
From Table: 2 feet, 7-1/8 inches - 2.59 feet.
From Table: 8.38 feet = 8 feet, 4-1/2 inches