Building bubble level characteristics. Construction level how to choose

A good tool is a great help in any work, and a good building level is necessary in any household (to hang a mirror or a cabinet), when repairing. And to build a bath, you will need at least two or three different levels. There are quite a few types of this tool and each has its own characteristics.

Bubble levels are the most popular. Most likely, this is due to their not very high price and sufficient measurement accuracy. These instruments come in very different lengths - from several tens of centimeters to 3 meters. During construction or repair, levels of several sizes are usually needed: short ones are convenient if you need to check compliance not with small areas, but long ones are irreplaceable, for example, when plastering, when installing lathing under a lining in a bathhouse, etc.

Bubble levels have one, two or three transparent chambers with a scale, filled with liquid with a bubble. By the position of the bubble relative to the marked divisions, the deviation from the vertical and horizontal is determined. If the instrument has only one camera, only horizontal surfaces can be monitored, if there are two cameras - vertical and horizontal. There are levels with three flasks. The third, if fixed, is used to determine the deviation from an angle of 45 degrees. But there are models with movable flasks that allow you to determine the deviation from the selected angle of inclination. Such will be needed when erecting a rafter system and some other work.

There are several modifications of bubble levels: some of them have magnets installed and are convenient to fix on metal surfaces. Such levels are also called magnetic levels. There are special tools for masons and tilers: there are places where you can knock with a hammer, which is very convenient.

How to choose a bubble level

The price range for these instruments is quite large. Definitely, buying the cheapest is hardly worth it, except that you need them for one-time work. If you have construction or major renovations, you should choose one of the professional levels. Although they are several times more expensive, they will last much longer: they have thick-walled bodies, for which shocks and falls are not so terrible, some are equipped with rubber pads that soften shocks. The building stabila has proven itself the best. The Kapro tool (the manufacturer gives a lifetime warranty on the flasks) and Kraftool serve well. These are probably the best building levels on the market today. If we talk about the middle price category, then Zubr, Stayer and Matrix have proven themselves well.

When choosing a tool, pay attention to the attachment of the flasks: they shouldn't stagger... Better if they are mounted tightly, without screws. At first glance, the flasks fixed with screws are good because they can be independently adjusted, but in practice such tools very quickly get lost, and you have to repeat the entire adjustment procedure over and over again. In order to work with the level conveniently, you must clearly see the flask, the divisions on it and the position of the bubble. The further from each other the strips on the flask, the more difficult it is to determine how much the bubble is displaced.

Important! Even after a slight drop, the bubble level can start to "lie", especially for cheap models. For this reason, check the level for accuracy in the store.

How to check the bubble level

To check the accuracy of the level, you need to put it on any horizontal surface (for example, on a display in a store), notice the place where it lies, and remember the position of the bubble. Turn the instrument 180 ° (the part that was on the right should be on the left), set it in the same place and look again at the position of the bubble. If the readings match, the horizontal flask is aligned correctly. Repeat the same test on a vertical plane (for example, on a wall). If the readings are the same there, you can buy this level. If there is a deviation somewhere, ask for another.

See the video for details on checking the bubble level.

Laser building level

Laser building levels are the most modern and accurate, but also the most expensive. Most budget options cost the same (or more) as professional bubble levels. But this is a compact device that attaches to any surface and has a range of up to 100 meters. Laser levels allow you to ideally set a straight line, some models have the function of sweeping the direction in a plane, there are cross models with 2 or more (up to 10) lines, with which you can perform any work. Their only drawback is the high price.

The world leader in the production of laser levels is the German company Bosch - it produces a huge line of laser levels. Compact models include the Bosch PPL5.

This device is quite compact, as can be seen by watching the video.

The laser level can be fixed on the wall, and the tiles can be glued to the walls in a bath or sauna along the guide.

If you are not a professional builder, you are drowning in the need to buy expensive levels, which include Bosch products. If you only need a laser level to build a single bathhouse, then it is quite possible to buy a laser level in China. The price of this level on eBay is only $ 8-9, and shipping to Russia is free.

Chinese laser level with tape measure (click on the picture to enlarge)
The laser requires three coin-cell batteries

Water or hydro level

This tool is suitable for detecting the presence of deviations of horizontal surfaces. They cannot check neither verticals nor planes located at an angle. The water level is a set of a hose (from 5 to 25 meters long) and two glass flasks with a scale printed on them.

Water is poured into this structure (be sure to pour water at room temperature and make sure that bubbles do not form). You can draw a horizontal line by setting the same water levels in both flasks.

Water levels are convenient when working with large surfaces (for example, when laying a foundation or piles), but they are inconvenient when working in small rooms. Their main disadvantage: sensitivity to temperature extremes: surfaces that are less than 1.5 meters away from heating devices or other heat sources cannot be checked.

The huge advantage of water levels is that, if used correctly, horizontal lines can be perfectly extinct on large planes. For this reason, for marking, it is advisable to use a water level, and not a bubble level.

When buying a hydro level, check that there are no cracks on the plastic flasks.

Pipe levels

They work on the bubble principle, but are small in size and are most often made in the form of a rectangle. Some models are foldable.

They are convenient to use when working with pipes or when laying profiles (some have corresponding holes and / or magnets to make them easier to attach).

There are many types of levels and their different modifications. The main thing is to determine for what purposes you will use them, and choose the most suitable option for them.

Level on Android

What progress has reached ... This is what I want to say when you learn that now you can download and install the program-building level on a device running the Android operating system.

Building level program in a smartphone

A rather large number of such programs have already been created, but there are not as many of them of high quality as you want. One of the most popular levels for a smartphone is the program Bubble level, which can be installed by following this link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id\u003dnet.androgames.level&hl\u003dru.

Bubble level software allows you to switch the view of the level.

Bubble level software allows you to switch the level view

The smartphone is oriented in space using the camera built into it. After installing the program, you need to calibrate the device by placing it on a flat surface.

As you can imagine, the level for an android cannot be considered as a full-fledged tool for building a bath. Although using this level it will be quite possible to even hang pictures in the rest room.

conclusions

When building a bath, as with any other construction, you cannot do without a building level. Since our site is designed for amateur builders, we venture to offer the following gentleman's set:

1. Hydro level (required);
2. Bubble level (required);
3. Chinese laser level (you can do it).

This entire set can be bought for only 1000 rubles and it will be enough for all types of work, from pouring the foundation to laying the tiles.

Greetings, dear visitors! I've been pondering the topic for the last couple of days, and then I got an email from a reader asking him to talk about building levels. And I thought - a great idea. After all, where in repair without a level?

The choice of levels is epic today. From the simplest water-based to digital with a built-in laser. What level and for what purposes is needed, as well as by what criteria to choose them - we will find out right now.

Building level: types

The simplest constructively is an ordinary water level, it is also a hydro level. It consists of two plastic usually cylindrical flasks with a scale, connected to each other by a flexible long hose. The principle of its operation is simple and should be clear to any high school student. It is based on a well-known physical phenomenon - the water level in communicating vessels is always the same.

With the help of such a device, we can easily mark two points located in the same horizontal plane at a maximum distance equal to the length of the hose. You just need to put marks opposite the boundaries of the water in the flasks.

Such a tool will be indispensable when building a country house, marking ceilings and floors during repairs and similar matters. Hose lengths of such levels are in the range of 7 - 25 meters, which is a lot. The cost of such a tool, of course, is low, in the region of 150 - 300 rubles.

It is more convenient to work with flasks not of a cylindrical shape, but with rectangular in cross-section - it is easier to apply them to the surface. The diameter of the tube - the larger, the faster the same level is established in both flasks. As a rule, water levels are 6 - 8 mm in diameter.

The next class of instruments is bubble levels or spirit levels. Most of them have a length of 40 - 250 cm. The horizontal and vertical lines in them are controlled by the position of an air bubble in alcohol sealed in special transparent flasks. Short spirit levels are needed when laying tiles, installing windows and window sills ...

Long - for installing beacons, checking the vertical / horizontal planes and lines, all kinds of markings. Oddly enough at first glance, spirit levels can differ in many characteristics, which we will discuss in more detail in the next chapter.

Protractors and inclinometers are devices that allow you to measure and set the angles between the planes, and the slopes of the planes from the horizontal and vertical, respectively. Such devices may look different. Protractors are in the form of a flask in a quarter circle and in the form of two "rails" connected by a hinge, or whatever it is.

Basically, protractors and inclinometers are digital devices, that is, they have an LCD display where the angle values \u200b\u200bare displayed. The inclinometer is also often referred to as an electronic or digital level.

It seems to me that goniometers are needed mainly not by builders, but by carpenters. The inclinometers will be more useful to them. In finishing, the inclinometer will be in demand only, perhaps, for tiling works, and even then, more for control. Their highest accuracy (usually 0.05 degrees) does not leave the tiler a chance even for the smallest hack. And you will most likely get mad on the second or third tile))

A colleague of mine, a tiler, recently bought himself a Bosch digital inclinometer and has confirmed this. But, damn, how cool he is, this Bosch.

There are also various avant-garde types of building levels on sale. For example, trumpets. Moreover, they also come in different designs. There are devices in the form of "hairpins" that are put on the pipe, there are ordinary bubble devices with a recess for a pipe on the body, and there are generally avant-garde masterpieces - "sticks" with five eyes, each of which is set to a certain slope - to make it easier to run the sewer, you know whether.

Laser levels. I already have an article about them, so I will be brief. This is their most technologically advanced type (I mean self-leveling). High accuracy, ease of use, huge time savings when marking. Such devices are divided into two large classes: positional and rotary.

Positional do not have any moving mechanisms, as a rule, they give out a classic laser cross, or several points.

Rotary lasers give out one point, but due to the rotating base it moves quickly 360 degrees. Such devices are used, for example, by ceiling masters.

Bubble selection

Of course, the most common home repair tools are bubble ones. So what are the most important criteria when choosing a spirit level?

First you need to decide what kind of work you need it for. The length of the tool will depend on this. If for a tile, then you cannot do with one level, you will need at least two: short (40 or 60 cm) and long (200 cm). The short one is used constantly to check the level between adjacent tiles. Long - to control the entire surface of the cladding.

If you intend to assemble structures from gypsum plasterboard, plaster, fill the screed, you will definitely need a long spirit level, at least two meters.

The next most important criterion is form.

Levels are often encountered, in cross-section representing a rail. This is not the best choice - such a tool bends very much. Much more powerful than the box-type "stick". And if they have a stiffening rib inside, then it's generally great!

The next item is the flask arrangement.

An extremely important feature. In the store you can see levels, for example, with the following flasks:

In which case do you think the meter readings will be more accurate? Of course, in the first. The smaller the distance from the boundaries of the bubble to the divisions of the flask, the more accurately you can determine the deviation. Remember this. Also pay attention to the sensitivity of the bubble, it strongly depends on the radius of curvature of the bulb. It seems to the eye that the flask has the shape of a cylinder, but this is not entirely true, it is slightly curved, otherwise the slightest deviation from the horizon would "carry away" the bubble to the very edge of the flask.

One more thing can be added here. The flask for determining verticality is often inaccessible for a good view, because having attached the building level to the wall, we will not be able to look at the level readings parallel to it - the head is in the way. This means that we will not be able to objectively judge the readings of the device. But there are levels in which a special system of mirrors is built in, and the image of the bulb is "displayed" on the rear end of the level, which is extremely convenient. For example, the Israeli Kapro levels of the Plumbsite series have such a system.

The accuracy of the "sticks" for professional use is no worse than 0.5 mm per 1 meter of length; a simpler tool is also suitable for housework, with an error of 1 mm per 1 meter.

Processing of work areas. Ideally, they should be milled. This can be understood by the rough surface (s).

Having built-in magnets is also a very important addition to any level. Hang it on the profile and adjust it calmly. Another extremely useful feature of spirit levels are slots in the body for easy grip and rubberized pads, which often serve as shock absorbers in the event of a tool falling.

Swivel and adjustable flasks are controversial advantages. Tools for which manual adjustments are available instead of a “dead” mount are likely to knock. Better to take once and for all sealed flasks. The main thing is to carefully check the tool in the store.

The verification procedure is quite simple. Put the level first on a table or counter, look at the readings, remember. Then turn 180 degrees (but keep it in the same place!) And look again. If the position of the bubble is the same, the instrument is not lying. You do the same procedure for the vertical, just apply it to the wall.

In some spirit levels, the horizontal control flask is recessed in the middle. Personally, this decision seems inconvenient to me, and I do not advise you to purchase such a ***. The bulb should be on top, period.

Here's a nice video about bubble levels:

Well, here, he told everything he knew. Do not buy frank cheap stuff, carefully examine the tool before buying. This concludes the article, thanks for your attention! And don't forget to subscribe to updates.

In this section of the Skladom online store you can buy a building level at a low price! Our catalog contains a wide range of models. The assortment includes tools made in Russia and abroad. A wide choice allows you to find the best option for cost and functional purpose, allowing you to solve problems of any complexity.

Types of building levels

You can buy a building level from us:

• Bubble. A special rectangular tool with installed transparent flasks filled with liquid. By the location of the bubble, it is easy to determine whether the surface corresponds to a horizontal or vertical plane. The presence of the third flask makes it possible to measure the degree of deviation from the specified parameters of the horizon. The catalog contains levels of various lengths and body designs: "Profile", "Rail", etc.

• Water is a special construction tool. The level is designed to determine the horizontal location of structures or remote objects. Two graduated flasks at the ends of the hose filled with water allow you to quickly and accurately beat off the horizontal level of the foundation, screed, floor, etc.

The photos accompanying each model, as well as an informative description, will help you choose the right level. It is enough to go to the website page and you can find out everything about the capabilities, advantages and distinctive features of a particular model.

Depending on the type of tool, manufacturer and individual characteristics, the price for the construction level may be different. Along with professional, more expensive products, we also have budget models that compare favorably with affordable cost and high quality.

For accurate and fast measurement, buy building levels from Skladom!

Choosing the right measuring tool significantly improves the quality of work and saves time. By design, there are five main types of building levels: bubble, electronic, pipe, hydraulic, laser. Below we will look at each of them in more detail.

Five types of building levels

Bubble levels received the greatest distribution due to their simplicity, accessibility and versatility. They are called so because their sensitive element is an air bubble floating in the ampoule. The measurement error of these devices is 0.5 ÷ 1 mm / m. Domestic models are produced in accordance with GOST 9416-83, which describes the technical conditions for their manufacture. The tool body is a hollow box-type structure with stiffening ribs. It can be from 30 cm to several meters long. To reduce the weight, the device is made of aluminum alloys. Ampoules with air are closed with protective glass. There is usually a millimeter scale at the base of the case.

Magnetic bubble levels are perfect for working with metal structures. Their distinctive feature is the presence of built-in magnets, which allow the tool to be fixed vertically on metal parts. For bricklayers, there are models with a reinforced cast body. If you have plastering work ahead, pay attention to the rules with the level. They combine two devices at the same time.

Electronic levels with a protractor refer to a professional measuring instrument. They have multiple vials for assessing the vertical and horizontal of building structures. However, unlike conventional levels, such devices have a number of additional features.



One of the main features is the digital display, which clearly shows the deviation in degrees. At the same time, the accuracy of the data provided is high - up to 0.1⁰. It is possible to record the measured slopes. An audible indication is provided that signals the achievement of 0⁰ and 90⁰.

Checking the accuracy of the electronic level is simple and does not take much time. To do this, put the device on a flat surface, take readings. Turning the level 180 degrees, see the new values. If the difference is more than 0.2⁰, the device needs to be calibrated.



Designed to check the horizontal and vertical position of water, gas, sewer pipes. In general, it is convenient to use it to work with beams, round profiles in various building structures. The main features of this tool are the V-shape of the body and the presence of magnets. This makes the device easy to install on a metal pipe or support.

The pipe level, like the bubble level, is equipped with several flasks with an alcoholic liquid. In each of them, an air bubble floats, according to the location of which the deviation from the given direction is determined.



It is used to apply precise horizontal markings on objects that are distant from each other. With its help, floor level beating, foundation installation, brick laying, installation of various building structures in one plane are performed.

The hydrostatic level consists of two vessels connected by a transparent tube. Before operation, the system is filled with water so that it occupies approximately 2/3 of the volume of the flasks. In doing so, make sure that the liquid inside the tube does not contain air bubbles. They must be removed, otherwise the measurements will be inaccurate. Bends and breaks of the tube are not allowed: water should flow freely from one vessel to another. To check the accuracy of the instrument, the flasks are aligned with each other. It is necessary that they have a common boundary of the liquid.

The industry produces hydrostatic levels from 5 to 25 m long. The measurement error of these devices is 2 ÷ 3 mm. It is recommended to make markings from one base mark. This allows for maximum accuracy.



Laser building levels (levels) belong to the group of professional measuring instruments. Despite the relatively high cost compared to other solutions, they provide their owner with a number of advantages. First of all, it is high accuracy of marking. The permissible deviation is only 0.1 ÷ 1 mm / m, depending on the class of the device. The technical capabilities of linear laser levels allow them to build horizontal, vertical, and inclined planes at a distance of up to several tens of meters from the installation site. For home use, this is more than enough. Rotating laser levels, due to the rotation of the emitter, project beams around the entire perimeter of the room, that is, they cover the entire space around them.

What construction work is carried out using laser levels:

• leveling walls or floors;
• installation of attachments;
• pasting walls with wallpaper;
• installation of stretch ceilings;
• facing of premises with tiles;
• installation of partitions, etc.

To carry out repairs efficiently, you should choose a good measuring tool even before starting work. There are now a wide variety of building levels. They differ from each other in purpose, technical characteristics, workmanship and price.

What is your challenge ?! If you need an inexpensive universal tool for all occasions, you should pay attention to bubble levels. They are comfortable, unpretentious, and most importantly, they have good accuracy. Their capabilities are sufficient to lay tiles, windows, doors or furniture evenly. The length of the universal level is 60 ÷ 80 cm.

Electronic levels with a protractor and a magnetic system are suitable for those who decide to take up repairs seriously. They have advanced features. First of all, it is a visual presentation of data on an electronic display with an accurate indication of deviations in degrees, percentages or millimeters. Other distinguishing features are high accuracy, recording function, and electronic calibration.

Whether you need to align beams, poles, water or gas pipes vertically and horizontally, take full advantage of pipe levels. Their indisputable advantage is the ability to accurately center on these elements of building structures.

The water level will be useful when installing a floor screed, installing suspended ceilings, building a foundation. It is useful for marking places for sockets, which will look aesthetically pleasing, being at the same height. With the water level, you can make accurate horizontal markings for adjacent rooms, between which there is no line of sight. This is one of its main advantages. This tool has a low cost, easy to operate. Its length varies from 5 to 25 meters, which is quite enough for domestic use.

The laser level will be an excellent choice for those who have a large amount of construction work. It will significantly save time, while ensuring high accuracy of constructing both horizontal and vertical planes. This is a good tool for cutting the floor level, marking walls for finishing work, installing furniture and communications.

There are three main types of laser levels: point, linear, rotational. As the name suggests, they are used to draw points, lines, and markings around the entire perimeter of the room at the same time.

Before starting work, the lasers must be leveled with the built-in bubble level. Some models have an additional self-leveling function within 2 ÷ 4 degrees. The price of professional laser levels is quite high, but there are affordable options for home use.

What to look for when choosing

Among the large number of manufacturers present on the measuring instrument market, there are those who have already managed to gain an excellent reputation in our country and abroad. The builders have the bubble and electronic levels of Stabila and Kapro in good standing. Known for their quality Bosch laser levels. However, it is best to rely on your own experience in order to purchase a thing with the necessary set of functions for a reasonable price. The main selection criteria: technical characteristics, equipment, build quality and materials.

When purchasing a bubble level, it is necessary to inspect its appearance. Is there any visible damage ?! What is the quality of the materials, is it neatly assembled ?! Particular attention should be paid to ampoules with liquid. They must be securely embedded in the housing.

Place your chosen level on a flat, horizontal surface. It should fit tightly with its base without gaps. Remember the position of the air bubble in the upper ampoule. Then turn the instrument 180⁰ clockwise or counterclockwise and put it in the same place. If the bubble has shifted from its starting position, this level cannot be trusted. Similarly, you can check the vertical accuracy of the readings.

The bubble level is an irreplaceable tool for performing construction and repair work of various types. This device helps to create straight lines in any plane, check the required slope or angles. The ancestors of building levels are plumb lines and spirit levels, the functions of which they, in fact, perform. Levels are indispensable when laying pipes and various surfaces that are demanding on the angle of inclination. They are used during the installation of equipment that vibrates during operation and is demanding on the evenness of the mounting surface. The arrangement of sewer pipes or steps is also not complete without this tool. There are building levels in the arsenal of any master and are a necessary thing in the household, therefore it is important to know how to choose the right building level.

Bubble level design

The building bubble level is a fairly simple but functional design. It is based on a bar made of solid material, into which a number of ampoules with air are mounted. Measuring marks are applied to the ampoule, which determine the position of the air inside it. It is this indicator that is the key to the level's work. When the bubble is located exactly in the middle, it means that the surface is perfectly flat. To check the inclined surfaces, use the air deflection indicator relative to the center of the ampoule.

The main and most important part of the level is an ampoule with a liquid in which air floats. If the integrity of this part is violated, then the entire device is considered unusable. The filling of the ampoule is most often technical alcohol. For ease of use, manufacturers modify the level, some models are equipped with a lens that allows the worker to see the bubble better. For work in the dark, fluorescent additives are added to the liquid, which help to use the device with their glow without additional lighting. In such improved models, the ampoule with all the additives is called the eye.

Shockproof models have become quite popular. During work on a construction site or during transportation of the device, unpleasant incidents often occur - falls, shakes, mechanical damage that disable the level. Longer modifications are especially prone to breakage, as their size increases the likelihood of falling and makes the impact force greater than short frame models. At this level, the construction price is slightly higher than for conventional models. However, buying a shockproof device is still more profitable than regularly replacing damaged ones with new ones.

The base is equally important throughout the design. It consists of wooden, plastic or aluminum strips. Wooden planks are made in one piece, aluminum or plastic hollow. The most common levels are with an aluminum base. When choosing a device, pay attention to its weight, since the heavier the device, the better its readings. Practitioners distinguish among all modifications a cruciform design with rubber handles. They call these levels the most convenient and accurate. It is recommended to use devices equipped with magnets for working with metal surfaces. Another optional but handy addition is the ruler on the long side of the level. Such a modification will help out when carrying out measuring work and eliminate the need to carry a ruler or tape measure.

The simplest and most primitive level model has only one measuring ampoule. But such modifications are quite difficult to find in a modern store. Manufacturers offer a wider range of levels with two or three ampoules. One of the containers is located on the long wide side and is designed to work in the horizontal plane. The second container is located on the narrow short side of the device, perpendicular to the first. It is designed to work in a vertical plane. If there is another container on the bar, then it is also located on the narrow part, but on the reverse side. They fix it at an angle of 45o, and the purpose of this ampoule is to control the operation of the device.

Manufacturers offer bubble levels not only in different modifications, but also in different lengths. The shortest standard model has a length of 20 cm, the longest - 3-4 m. This indicator determines the functional purpose of the level. To install various household appliances and perform simple repair tasks in a private house or apartment, it is enough to use small levels. When laying tiles or working with various finishing materials of this type, a length from 40 cm to 1 m is optimal. Long construction levels are professional, used when carrying out large construction and repair work. Experts note that the longer the level is, the more accurate its readings.

What to look for when buying a bubble level

Building levels are one of the most popular products among manufacturers of cheap and low-quality products. Since this product is used not only by professional builders who know exactly what they need, but also by ordinary people. The manufacturing technology of the building level is not so complicated, but it requires precision and the use of high-quality materials in order for the device to work properly. Unfortunately, manufacturers of fakes and low-quality goods take advantage of the ignorance of people unskilled in construction issues and offer low-quality products, the readings of which are not accurate. Trademarks that have already established themselves as responsible manufacturers of building levels:

• Kapro

• Stabila
• Ermak
• Bosch
• Gross laser
• Shark (Israel)
• Leader

But, even focusing on these names, it is not always possible to buy a high-quality and durable construction level. It is necessary to know some of the nuances of choosing this device, as well as to be able to determine the required model so as not to overpay extra money for a professional level if it is needed only for small household work.

• To begin with, they are determined with the required tool length. To do this, determine the goals and objectives that are set for him. For finishing work and leveling surfaces, you will need a long device. For small decorative work - the installation of hanging furniture, shelves, switches, paintings, a level of small or medium sizes is enough. The most optimal option for domestic use is a level with a length of 50-60 cm.

• During the selection, all glass elements of the device are carefully examined. These are air containers that perform the main function. First of all, they must be intact and not have traces of mechanical stress. Next, the strength of their fastening is checked, these parts are fixed tightly and should not stagger or twist. There are models with the ability to adjust containers, the presence of this function is a very controversial point. On the one hand, the adjustment allows you to adjust the failed level, on the other hand, it makes the device more vulnerable to shocks and mechanical stress. Professional builders recommend purchasing levels with rigid fixation of all containers.
• After examining the fixation of the flask, attention is paid to the air itself and the strips applied to the surface. All these elements should be clearly visible and located close to each other. The best option is to locate the control strips inside the bubble rather than on the outside of the bubble. Since with active use, these marks will quickly be erased.
• The next important factor is the level base material. Whether it's made of wood, plastic or metal, it needs to be heavy and durable. Models with stiffeners located inside are optimal. In general, the design and external construction of the levels differs for each manufacturer, but this aspect does not affect the accuracy of the device itself.
• After external inspection of the level, it must be checked. In specialized stores, there should always be a stand for testing the device, which has a perfectly flat surface. But even if there is no such stand, it is not difficult to check the level in any other place. To do this, it is placed in a horizontal plane and the position of the air bubble is marked. Even if it deviates from the center, it is not scary, since this is not the essence of this test. Then the level is raised, turned 180o and placed in exactly the same place. In this case, the position of the bubble should be at the same mark. If so, then the device is working properly.
• An accurate flat plane reading is impossible without a proven surface. But in this situation, it is enough to save the receipt for the goods and then check the level readings using other devices. For example, for this they use a level or a laser level, or a bubble level, which has already proven its readings. These checks must be carried out even with branded and expensive things, since during transportation the technical characteristics and indications of the device are often violated.

How to adjust the bubble level

The bubble level adjustment is only possible if a model with unfixed containers is available. The level setting process is quite simple:

• The smoothest wall in the room is determined, this section should be at eye level, while the corner is located on the left side.

• Having departed from the corner about 4 cm, they drive in a nail or screw in a self-tapping screw. This is not done until the end, but so that 2-3 cm is not left on the surface.
• The device is placed with one side on a nail and leaned against the wall, and then adjusted so that the air in the container shows a flat surface. A line is drawn along the edge of the level on the wall.
• Turn the device over and repeat the procedure.

The correctness of the setting is checked by the drawn lines, if they do not go beyond each other's boundaries, then the device is functioning properly and its readings are accurate. If, however, the drawn marks have diverged, then proceed as follows:

• On the right side, where the marks end, mark the center point between them.
• The device is put back on the nail, and the other end is applied to the marked point.
• For convenience, another self-tapping screw is screwed into the mark, or simply hold the level with your hand.
• In the fixed position, adjust the container with liquid to the required position.

In the same way, the container is adjusted for working in the vertical plane, only the level is pressed against the nail with the long side.

How to work with a bubble level

When working with a building level, it is important to remember that this device has a working surface, with which it is applied to the control area. This area features a raw edge or magnetic insert. Some models do not differentiate between the work surface and other faces. If you touch the device with the other side during use, it will not harm it, but the measurement accuracy will drop. The level is never placed sideways, all measurements made in this way are not correct, since, in fact, a non-existent surface is measured.

To work in the horizontal plane, they are guided by the container in the long side of the level. The device is applied to the surface and a line is marked in which the air is located exactly in the center of the ampoule. If there is a deviation to the left, then slightly lower the left edge of the frame or raise the right one. They do the same with deviations to the right.

To work in the vertical plane, they are guided by the container in the narrow edge of the device. For example, if it is necessary to control the quality of the wall finish, then the device is applied to it with the container up. If air moves away from the wall, there is a bulging unevenness below. If the air moves towards the wall, then you need to add a little volume below the level.