Is there any particular trying available for using the zip- level tool
Do I have to be certified to use the tool to check the leveling of the floor
First, why are you leveling floors and to what extent?
And welcome to the Forums!
This is one of my carry-everywhere tools. There is no certification associated with using this tool.
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I guess my question is; “When do you use this and why?”
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They are great for characterizing the extent of floor and foundation settlement. Also good for getting topos for retaining wall design.
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I use my ZipLevel for floor level surveys, which I convert to a colored contour map I overlay on the floor plan to visually show the high and low areas for my clients. I only do this for structural inspections. I will use it on occasion during a normal home inspection just to quantify how much floor sag I have in a room.
You don’t need a certification as long as your not providing structural repairs based on your findings. Just be careful when explaining what causes the sagging. It’s common in 100 year old houses to have some floor sag due to age and long term creep. Wood rot and termite damage can be a factor as well as foundation settlement.
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That’s an awful expensve tool for something you can do with a $50 self leveling cross-line laser. I’ve used the laser in quite a few older houses with floor sag. Careful measurement can help determine where the problem originates. Little over the top for most inspections but nowhere near as costly as a ziplevel.
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Like so many things in this business the tool is great and all but you can find the problem with your eyes (or feet in this instance). Meaning, you should be able to pickup on off-level floors without a tool. If someone wants to quantify how bad the problem is this is a nice add-on service.
I purposely walk houses with only my socks on so I can easily find sloping floors. I can guarantee you those of you stomping around in work boots with booties are missing them. And your buyers won’t be wearing work boots when they move in.
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I’ve been thinking about getting one of these to use on my new home inspections, as an add on service, and then suggesting I come back and do the 11th month warranty again, and see if anything changed
Agreed.
The way you do it is set up the laser level on a shelf or countertop, point it at some blank spot on a far wall, then measure vertically using a tape measure from the laser dot to areas on the floor.
It’s slower than the ZipLevel, but easier to carry, and good enough for an inspection.
And for @mfellman , socks are great.