Flat or sloping surface, the ground elevation, upon which a building is built.
Grade line
The point at which the ground rests against the foundation wall.
Grade mark or stamp
Stamp, or other marking, which shows the classification of the quality of the material.
Grade pin
Steel pin, which hold the measuring string over the area that an excavation is being dug.
Grade ring
Cylinder sections used are used to bring the top of a manhole close to grade so the manhole casting on the top is level with grade.
Grade rod
Surveyor's rod with feet and decimal feet marked for measuring. A surveyor can ascertain the vertical change in grade, between his transit, from which he is viewing and the location of the grade rod.
Grade stake
Stake that marks the correct height of a finished footing when they are cut to the proper elevation, and set into the footing excavation, which uses no forms. The tops mark the proper height.
Grade stick
Measuring stick for the distance from an overhead structure to the wanted level of the top of a concrete surface. The grade stick is used to check the measurement as the concrete is poured to the proper depth and the slab is floated. Often using a grade stick is the only way to determine if a pour surface is level because there is no reference point.
Grade, percent
To evaluate the proposed slope of a driveway, road, etc. a calculation is done by dividing the rise and fall of the grade by the distance over which the rise and fall is measured. This decimal figure is then multiplied by 100 to obtain the percent grade.
Graded tax
Increasing tax rates as levels of taxable income rise.
