6fe4a8ecddb54b609bac81978d9c86cbwebsitethryv

3 THINGS DEVELOPERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CONSTRUCTION STAKING

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Construction staking is a vital step in seeing your project through from planning to completion. What exactly is construction staking? This short guide includes some facts you should know about the process.

CONSTRUCTION STAKING

HELPS CONTRACTORS

Whether you're developing a property from scratch or adding new infrastructure to an existing facility, construction staking is performed by trained personnel on your property site. Pegs, stakes, and other markers are used to inform contractors about details of the work to be done. The types of construction staking required will vary depending on the type of property under construction.

For a new retail development, construction markers might show the:

Property control points
Boundary markers
Pipeline locations
Utility burial sites
Driveway and parking-area dimensions
Slope of future hills or terraced areas

The outline of the building and other new construction details will also be marked off by construction staking. Marking the precise dimensions of the building helps in the planning of material drop-offs, construction-equipment parking, and measuring of materials on site.
For a project in an active gas or oil field, additional details are staked out. Construction stakes and markers inform workers about accessing wells, ponds and derricks. Stakes show where compressor stations and gas-processing sites are. Construction stakes in gas fields may also indicate the surface disturbance limits and the property boundaries.

CONSTRUCTION STAKING USES SEVERAL TYPES OF MARKERS

Construction markers vary from location to location. Some markers are industry-specific, while others are generic and used in all types of construction and roadwork projects.

Some of the common wooden stakes and markers include:

Long and Short Stakes

These 8-inch- or 16-inch-long stakes measure 1 1/2 inches by 3/4 inch in width. A point at the end makes them easy to drive into the ground. Stakes are placed in the ground next to a key marker (or hub) and facing it. Writing on the stakes conveys vital information about the adjacent hub to workers and contractors.

Hub Marker

This is a 1 1/2-inch square peg with a point at the bottom for driving in the sub-grade or other areas. A hub is one foot long and is used for important control points. Nearby stakes should offer details on the hub. Two or three stakes may be placed near a control point to accent the location.

Guinea Marker

Guinea markers resemble fat pencils. These 3/4-inch round markers are used in 6-inch or 8-inch lengths to show the locations of non-control points. Informational stakes are used to tell workers about the guinea marker.

Wooden stakes may be spray-painted in bright colors to make them stand out on the job site. Ribbons or tape pieces are also attached to stakes. Tape pieces in various colors and color combinations are used to show the location of utilities, reference points, benchmarks, and other key site features. Metal pins, rods, and other markers are used in construction staking as well.

CONSTRUCTION STAKING DEPENDS ON ACCURACY

Contractors, builders, pavers, and others rely on the accuracy of construction staking to perform their jobs. When the staking is reliable, each part of the project comes together and fits with the whole.

In order for the markings on a site to be as accurate as possible, project engineers and managers must provide as much detail as possible to the team doing the construction staking. It's better to give far too much detail in your site plans than to give too little detail.

For construction staking in Nevada, the DOT recommends you compile the following plans as needed for your construction-staking crew:

Construction alignment book
Structure book for bridges and culverts
Grade book for setting grade stakes

You must also provide slope stake data, giving the percent of grade, vertical-curve, shoulder distance and other pertinent data when creating new land contours. In some locations, you can only have utilities staked out after all streets, sidewalks, roads, and other easements are cleared, cut, and finished to subgrade.

Contact Arnett & Associates, Inc. to schedule your construction staking for residential and commercial projects. We also perform boundary surveys and help you qualify for a Building Setback Certificate when necessary.

THE 3 MAIN THREATS TO LAKE TAHOE - AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Lake Tahoe is easily one of the most gorgeous sites along the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Whether you own a cabin in the area or take day trips to the area from your Carson City home, you love and treasure the area.
Unfortunately, Lake Tahoe currently faces several destructive threats. Unless those who care about the area act quickly, the lake won't be around for future generations to love, nurture and enjoy as you have.
Keep reading to learn more about the most dangerous issues facing Lake Tahoe today. With this extra knowledge, you'll be better equipped to do your part to protect this area you've grown to love.

1. NON-NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES

Recreational boating is one of Lake Tahoe's main attractions. Unfortunately, your family members and friends may not be the only ones you take with you for a fun time on the lake. If you frequently boat in the area, sneaky, non-native mussels, clams and more can cling to the underside of your boat and hitchhike from lake to lake.
Unfortunately, these non-native species pose a huge risk to Lake Tahoe's ecosystem. Aquatic hitchhikers can destroy native plants and animals that are central to Lake Tahoe's ecological balance. They also contribute to algae blooms that destroy the lake's clarity and kill plants that need sunshine and oxygen to survive.
To keep non-native species out, always inspect your boat before you put it in the water. This rule applies to kayaks, canoes and other small vessels too. Perform an individual inspection if you own a smaller vessel, and participate in local boat inspections and decontaminations if you own a larger boat.

2. TREE-DESTROYING PESTS AND DISEASES

Lake Tahoe's trees are a crucial part of the wider Sierra Nevada forest. However, human expansion has removed many of the trees and disrupted the balance between native insects and the trees they keep in check.
For instance, native beetles like the mountain pine, red turpentine and fir engraver beetles burrow into trees and weaken or kill them - serving the important function of naturally thinning the forest to reduce fire risks. But human-caused fires, pesticides and forest destruction have thinned the number and strength of trees, rendering them more susceptible to beetles, bugs and diseases.
If you have trees in your backyard, take care of them. Trim them as needed and remove excess branches. Most importantly, create a defensible space around your home to prevent fires from spreading. Bear in mind that you may need a permit before you remove certain types of trees submit a tree removal application before you get to work removing trees from the forest.

3. STORMWATER

Lake Tahoe may be part of a beautiful mountain range, but it also has a high number of human inhabitants who live in urban spaces. When it rains or when snow melts in the area, the water runs through the roads and picks up dirt and debris along the way. The debris is then deposited in the lake itself. This polluted stormwater clouds the lake and harms aquatic species.
To reduce lake pollution, do your part to keep the land around your home clean. If you're constructing new property, ensure you and your building team follow stormwater best practices to keep polluted water out of the lake. Additionally, site surveys can also help you establish the parameters of and potential environmental and construction problems posed by new developments and remodels alike.
You might also consider joining or supporting a group like the Pipe Keepers to update Lake Tahoe's plumbing and infrastructure.

DO YOUR PART TO KEEP LAKE TAHOE CLEAN

Following the recommendations above and in our other blogs helps you do your part to protect Lake Tahoe so you can enjoy the land for years to come.
Planning new property developments? Working to create a defensible area around your home? Turn to Arnett & Associates, Inc. Get in touch anytime.

THOUGHTFUL WAYS TO MAKE YOUR LAKE TAHOE HOME AN ECO-FRIENDLY HAVEN

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Does the process of becoming a more environmentally friendly person appeal to you, but every time you think about how to help the planet you become overwhelmed? It does not have to be that way. You might not realize it, but even the smallest steps you take today can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Lake Tahoe takes great pride in its gorgeous setting and goal of conservation. If you live in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, you want to do all you can to preserve that. This list will help you take actionable steps to make real progress in the quest to create an environmentally friendly Lake Tahoe home.

THINGS YOU CAN DO AROUND THE HOUSE

Dry your clothes outside. Did you know that your dryer takes up a considerable amount of energy? You can help conserve by installing a clothes line and drying outside during the warm months of summer.

Replace your old woodstove. Smoke has contributed to a significant pollution problem in Lake Tahoe for years. Some newer woodstoves are EPA-certified, meaning they are better for the environment because they do not necessarily require the same amount of wood as their older counterparts.

Sign up for paperless billing. Imagine throwing away less junk mail and billing statements. Many companies, from credit cards to hospitals, are opting for paperless billing, meaning that you will receive an email when your bill is due rather than a paper statement.

THINGS YOU CAN DO IN THE KITCHEN

Instead of using coffee pods that go in the trash, buy plastic pods that you can fill with coffee grounds yourself. Pods typically end up in landfills because they are expensive to recycle, but you can reduce the load in your home. In fact, you can actually use the coffee grounds in your very own garden.

Drink out of your cup, not the straw. Can you imagine how many straws end up in landfills each day? A lot. If you eat out two times a week and don't use a straw, you can save more than 100 straws a year.

Use cloth grocery bags. California recently passed a law that encourages residents to use cloth bags rather than plastic bags that are not recyclable. Instead, grocery stores charge 10 cents per bag with each bag being thicker and more likely to be reused. Cloth bags help to prevent landfills from filling up with plastic or your beautiful lake from filling up with garbage.

Buy local fruits and veggies. Farmer's markets are great places to shop for locally grown produce that will taste delicious at the dinner table or for lunch at work.

Eat meat one less time per week. Meatless meals help to reduce your reliance on industries that can negatively impact the environment.

THINGS YOU CAN DO IN THE YARD

Plan landscaping to coincide with natural plants for the area. Native plants will benefit most from the soil without disturbing natural vegetation.

Instead of using pest repellents that may be harmful to local flora and fauna, it is often just as effective to plant vegetation that repels pests on its own. Oregano and sage are two common herbs that may repel pests without being poisonous to other animals.

It is always great to have a passion for the environment. Every step you take today can help to build a better future for Lake Tahoe tomorrow. Arnett & Associates, Inc. offers surveying services that take great pride in Lake Tahoe's beautiful landscape. We perform tasks the best we can to protect the local environment. Contact us to learn more about making your property a safe and eco-friendly place.

PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM FIRE: DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND YOUR PROPERTY

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Although the western coast of the United States contains some of the most magnificent natural features on earth, it also carries a higher risk of wildfires compared to much of the continental US. As a result, it's important for homeowners in California, Nevada and other western states to ensure their homes are adequately protected against fire.

When it comes to fire protection, what should you do to keep your home safe and minimize the risk of total loss? Read on to learn more about some ways you can protect your property from fire.

THE PRINCIPLES OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE

Defensible space involves the creation of a border designed to provide firefighting crews with adequate space to fight your fire. Ideally, this defensible space will also prevent the fire from spreading. There are three primary concepts or principles of defensible space.

Protected Space for Firefighters

Firefighters who are unable to get close to your home won’t be able to implement any fire protection measures to help save the structure. By providing some protected space, you'll be able to allow firefighters to do their job and stop the fire from spreading to surrounding structures.

If your home is already within 100 feet of one or more neighbors, you'll want to take some extra measures to provide firefighters with a safe space, from reducing the vegetation between your home and your neighbor's home to erecting a concrete or block wall that can act as a physical barrier against fire.

If you're more than 100 feet from your neighbors, you'll want to ensure that this protected space has short grass and doesn't contain any other obstacles that could impede the firefighters' ability to extinguish your fire.

Fuel Reduction to Prevent Fire Spread

One of the reasons wildfires spread so rapidly is the proliferation of dry grass and other highly flammable materials in nature. By reducing the amount of natural fuel on your property, you'll be able to further minimize the risk of wildfire spreading to your home.

This can often mean selectively thinning out plants, trees and other vegetation to provide less fuel for the fire. At the end of the growing season, you'll want to pull up any dead or decaying garden plants as quickly as possible to ensure they don't lead to the spread of a wildfire.

Fuel-Ladder Management

The final principle of defensible space involves cutting the "fuel ladder" that can exacerbate the spread of fire. If you imagine your property's vegetation as a type of ladder, with grass on the bottom rung and trees on the top, you can see how quickly and easily fire can spread from one rung to another.

By separating these rungs, whether this means trimming low-lying branches or even digging up shrubs that are too close to a tree's lowest branches, you'll be able to avoid having the fire spread through blown embers or any other means.

In general, you'll want to ensure any distance between "ladder rungs"—like shrubs and trees—is at least three times the height of the lower-level fuel. For example, a bush that is three-feet tall will need to be at least nine-feet from the next closest piece of vegetation.

Keeping these principles in mind can keep you and your family safe during even the most blazing wildfire, while also reducing the risk of damage to your home or personal property.

When it comes to protecting your home and family, you’ll want to take every possible precaution. That’s why you’ll want to have your property surveyed to ensure your home meets defensible space standards. Contact the experienced land-surveying team at Arnett & Associates, Inc. to schedule surveying services.

WHEN TO HAVE YOUR PROPERTY SURVEYED | ARNETT & ASSOCIATES, INC

Sat, 20 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When you buy a piece of real estate, you might be opening yourself up to more possibilities than you've ever previously considered. Whether there's a building already on your property and you want to expand, or you're coming up from raw dirt, one of the only bounds on those possibilities is your imagination. Another, however, is the legal restrictions on your land, so it's important that you develop a thorough understanding of what those are and how they affect your designs.

A real estate survey can be an incredibly important tool in your arsenal if you're looking to develop a parcel, but many people may not be aware of when one is necessary. Below, you'll find a guide to a few times you should be sure to seek one out, guaranteeing that you can confidently move forward with exciting new projects that will allow you to turn a piece of ground into the space you've always imagined owning.

SETTLING DISPUTES

An old adage claims that good fences make good neighbors, and while that's perhaps an oversimplification, it does draw attention the struggle that many property owners have with people nearby. It's always best to settle disputes amicably and without legal entanglements, but if that becomes impossible, it's essential that you act in a way that protects your property rights.
If you have a dispute with a nearby property owner that looks like it may require formal intervention, a land survey is an excellent place to start. Whether there's a complaint about a fence placement, concern over a dying tree, or even a petty dispute over someone walking in someone else's yard, a clear demarcation can settle any outstanding concerns. Relying on a professional survey will also guarantee a neutral opinion and a technical analysis that should avoid any further misunderstandings.

FENCE CONSTRUCTION

As mentioned above, building a fence is a great way to clearly mark off property that belongs to you and secure it for whatever use you have in mind. However, given that there may be concerns about overlapping onto someone else's property, fences are frequently constructed carefully inside the borders of a given real estate parcel. Before that process can be completed, it's obviously essential that the boundaries of that parcel are properly marked.
This boundary drawing isn't only important in the context of removing concerns of your neighbors. It's also vital to make sure your fence is protected. The investment you put into building a new fence is likely to be substantial, and to see money wasted due to the carelessness of someone else is incredibly frustrating. If your fence is fully situated within the bounds of your property, there can be no dispute over the party at fault if any damage were to occur in the future.

WATER ACCESS

Waterfront property can be extremely valuable. The ability to build a dock to service a boat or even just swim and fish from can add a lot to your property, and having unfettered access to a body of water can open up your home to a whole new level of entertaining.
Since there's so much value in getting to the water, it shouldn't be a surprise that there's also often a fair amount of contention. Surveying your land can prove unequivocally that your waterfront access is unimpeded and yours to enjoy however you choose.
Whether you have these situations or any others, Arnett & Associates can be counted on for all of your land survey needs . Utilizing professional experience is the best way to get the results you desire and guarantee that you can enjoy your property without interference for many years to come.

WHAT IS DEFENSIBLE SPACE FOR FIRE PROTECTION?

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

If you live near a forest and there is a wildfire, there is a chance that your property may be damaged by the fire. To protect your home or business from being burned down, it's important to set up a defensible space around it.

ZONE 1

The first space to consider is approximately 30 feet around the building and other structures. To protect this area, there are certain steps you should take. First, all dead plants, leaves and twigs should be removed from this area, since they can easily catch on fire. Also, trees should be kept at a distance from each other, so if one catches on fire, it doesn't spread to the others.

ZONE 2

This space typically extends an additional seventy feet from the first zone. To protect this area from fire, you should take certain protections. It's important that the grass is no higher than 4 inches. Furthermore, any fallen leaves, twig, barks and other such small natural substances should be removed. However, you usually don't need to spend every moment outside removing these items, since there can be about 3 inches of these items on the ground. Additionally, there should be space between shrubs and trees, so the fire does not spread easily.

Defensible spaces can be important, so that your property does not catch on fire. Contact Arnett & Associates Inc. to schedule surveying assistance today.