Building Measurement – How to Locate a Line Parallel to Adjacent Building for a New Building

buildingmeasuring

I want to build a new building next to an existing building. The new building must be parallel to the old building, but shifted forward, as shown below. What is the best way to find a parallel line to the existing building in order to mark and set the footers for the new building?

For example, an existing building is here:

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I want to add another building a few feet away, shifted halfway to the right but maintaining parallel walls with existing building:

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What's the best way to find the parallel line?

Best Answer

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[*]-------------------------[-]---------------------[*] <-- stake with nail   
 ^-- stake with nail at      ^-- stake at roughly           set under extended
     arbitrary distance          the same distance,         carpenter's line
     from bldg                   with mark at exact
                                 distance

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Set a reference line as shown, then just take measurements from that as needed.

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