Property corners come in all shapes sizes.
Plastic Caps Set on Rebar
For the last 30 years or so, many surveyors have been utilizing yellow plastic caps set on top of 1/2" x 24" rebars that have been driven into the ground. While these can last a long time they are also easily damaged, become brittle with exposure to sunlight and are also a favorite snack of animals like racoons that have been known to chew them off leaving only the rebar as evidence. These plastic caps, at a minimum, carry the license number of the surveyor that was responsible for setting the corner. Some caps include the company name or other information. The following is a picture of a typical rebar and plastic cap.
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| Rebar with 3/4" Plastic Cap (with flagging tied to rebar) |
This is our preferred corner monument as it is more permanent and allows the surveyor to punch an accurate mark on the top of the cap after the road and cap have been driven into the ground. Like the plastic caps, these are typically placed on 1/2" x 24" rebars driven into the ground. Given the cost of having a survey done, it only seems right to provide as permanent a marker as possible. The following is a picture of what the aluminum caps we use look like.
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| MXP Consulting - 2" Aluminum Cap |
Many older surveys that were completed prior to the invention of plastic or aluminum caps were monumented with iron pipes. These pipes typically range in size from 3/4" to 1" in diameter. Many pipes were filled with wood plugs after being driven and then had a lead or copper tack placed in the wood to mark the exact property corner. Many of these wood plugs and tacks have since deteriorated, but the iron pipes are still there. Other pipes have a plastic cap driven inside or no plug at all. The following is an example of an iron pipe with a plastic cap set inside. Note how the plastic cap is deteriorating.
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| Iron Pipe with Plastic Cap Driven Inside |
Corners that fall in concrete are often monumented with a tack set in lead in a drill hole in the concrete. A tack in lead is a very common monument in Seattle. Some tacks set in lead also have what surveyors call a "tag" which is a small brass washer that often caries the surveyor's licence number. Very often you will find a tack in lead as an "offset" to the actual property corner - more about that below. The following is a picture of a typical tack in lead.
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| Tack in Lead in Sidewalk |
Like the tack in lead, many surveyors will place masonry nails (known as PK Nails or Mag Nails) in concrete by drilling and hammering. Often surveyors will place thick aluminum or brass discs along with these nails to monument a corner or an offset as described above. These nails are also frequently used when a corner falls in asphalt. The following is a picture of a typical PK Nail and a Mag Nail with Aluminum Washer.
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| PK Nail |
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| MAG Nail with Aluminum Washer |
The important thing to remember when you find a corner is that not all corners are set at the actual property corner. Sometimes a surveyor must set what is known as an "offset". These points are typically set a foot or two from the back of the sidewalk in front of a property but may be any distance and from any corner. Offsets are typically placed at round numbers from the point they are referencing and should be indicated as such on a record of survey that is filed with the County. This is not done to be intentionally confusing - although it may appear that way :). Offsets are more common than many people think and the official record of survey will show any offsets from the actual or calculated corner.
In a follow up blog I will give you some hints for how to look for your corners and also how to find out if a Record of Survey was ever filed on your property or your neighbor's property.
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