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12 reasons you need a laser distance meter.
- Reduce measuring
time.
It’s much faster to hold a laser against a wall, aim the red dot to the opposite
wall, and hit a button, than to extend, read, and retract a tape measure. The
longer the measurement, the more time you save. On average measurements in a
residential environment, time savings of 50% to 75 % can be expected.
- Increase measuring
accuracy.
Most laser measuring devices are accurate to within 1/8”. Some are within
1/16”. They automatically adjust for the length of the unit, and there is no
bow in the tape to throw off your results.
- One-person measuring.
With a laser, there is no need for a second person to hold the end of the tape,
so one person can easily perform most measuring tasks. If there is no target to
aim at, such as on the corner of a brick house, a post-it note can be attached
for a temporary target, or the triangulation method can be used. (see #8)
- One-handed operation.
Unlike tape measures, laser measuring devices can easily be operated with one
hand, eliminating the need to set down your notebook, take the measurement,
remember it, pick up the notebook and write down the measurement. (I often
have to re-measure, especially if someone asks a question) The laser fits in a
convenient belt holster, allowing you to hold your notebook, take a measurement,
replace the laser in the holster, and record the measurement. If someone
interrupts, the measurement is still on the laser for you to view.
- Safety.
A
laser measuring device allows you to measure areas you may not be able to safely
access. Rather than extending a tape measure, you simply aim the laser dot.
This is helpful in situations where the structural integrity of a building may
be in question, on steep or wet surfaces, and in areas where there are
unfriendly pets.
- Cleanliness.
Tape measures drag along the ground or floor, and eventually get wet, dirty,
rusty, and laden with potentially harmful bacteria. Laser measuring devices
reduce this contact and protect both the user and the items being measured.
7. Ability to obtain difficult measurements.
Measuring a 25 foot cathedral ceiling can be difficult, even with a very stiff
tape measure. Add in a chandelier and some fancy vases, and it can also get
expensive. Simply place a laser distance meter on the floor, aim the red dot
at the ceiling, and press the button. Taking a measurement across a pond,
creek, canal or ditch is much easier with a laser. Need to know how high some
electrical wires are?
8. Ability to take indirect measurements.
Many laser distance meters, such as the Leica Disto A5 and Disto A6, allow a user to
triangulate measurements. Simply put, the user can stand on the sidewalk, aim
at the corners of the house, and determine the width of the house. While this
is not as accurate as measuring directly from one corner to the other, when
properly utilized it provides a very good estimate, and can also be used to
determine heights of buildings.
9. Check for squareness and parallel.
Most laser distance meters, including the Disto A3, Disto A5 and Disto A6 will perform
continuous measurements, (the distance displayed changes as you move the dot)
and display the maximum and minimum distance measured while in this mode. This
allows the user to stand in one corner of a room, scan the dot diagonally across
the opposite corner and observe the largest measurement. Comparing the two
diagonal measurements in a room determines how square that room is. Comparing
the minimum distances obtained when scanning two parallel walls at several
points will give the user a measure of how parallel the two walls are.
10.
Determine square footage and volume.
All laser measuring devices include automatic calculation of square footage and
volume. The user simply inputs the width, length, and height if required, and
the device calculates and displays the square or cubic footage, as requested.
The Disto A5 also includes a room calculation feature that calculates linear
feet of wall and square footage of the walls in a room.
11.
Lighted display
Rather than trying to extend your tape measure across the insulation and rafters
in a hot, dark attic, simply turn on the lighted display, aim the laser and
press the distance button. The measurement is displayed on a backlit screen,
visible in the dark. Also works well outdoors at night.
12.
Measuring distances over 100 feet.
Measuring longer distances is much easier, and more accurate than with a tape
measure. Indoor measurements of up to 300-400 feet are attainable without a
target plate, and outdoor measurement range to most surfaces is 200-300 feet,
when using the newer PowerRange technology. Measurements of up to 650 feet,
indoors or outdoors, are possible with the use of a reflective target.
There are many more reasons
to have a laser distance meter. Top end models such as the Leica Disto A6
have features such as Bluetooth data transfer to send measurements directly to
the users software program. But whether you choose the Disto A6 or a basic
homeowner version such as the Stanley TLM 100, a laser measuring device will
make measuring easier and more enjoyable.
