How to Find the Corner of a Wall Using Length & Width

Marking out a wall on the ground is an important part of a building project. It enables the builder to be certain that the wall is in the correct place relative to other features, such as existing walls and buildings, foundations, and services that include electricity and water pipes, for example. Starting at a known point, measurements are made to the key points on the new wall, and these are marked on the ground. When the length and width of the wall are known, locating the four corners is a straightforward task.

Tape measure
Marker pegs
Builder's square

Instructions

- 1
  Stand at the point where the new wall begins. For example, if the wall is a continuation of an existing building, stand at the point where the two join.
- 2
  Use the building plans to ascertain the direction in which the wall travels and then mark it on the ground. For example, if the new wall heads south at 90 degrees to the existing one, use a builder's square to mark the correct direction on the ground. This line represents the outer edge of the wall.
- 3
  Move along the line representing the edge of the wall until you cover a distance equal to the wall length. Mark the spot with a peg. This is an outside corner of the new wall.
- 4
  Mark a line from the corner, perpendicular to the length of the wall, running toward the inner edge of the new wall. Measure a distance equivalent to the width of the wall along this line. Mark the spot with a peg. This is an inner corner of the wall.
- 5
  Mark a line from the inner corner that runs parallel to the outer length and returns back to the starting point. This line ends exactly the width of the wall away from the original start point. Mark it on the ground as the final corner of the wall.

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