The next job is to locate the house within the lot. The first step is to sketch the configuration of the house within the lot previously drawn on the graph paper. As can be seen from the photographs in Figures 5—12 and 5—13 from the previous chapter, the house configuration can be estimated easily. It is not necessary to draw in the doors and windows during this step; draw only the walls. Make sure that all house walls are shown in their correct direction. Next, label each principal corner of the house with a capital letter of the alphabet (Figure 6—24). The fireplace located on the east wall between corners D and E is not labeled because the fireplace corners are not major house corners.
Once the house is sketched on the paper, triangulation is used to accurately locate the house in relation to the property corners. First, select two corners of the house that are easily accessed and have a direct, open line to two nearby lot corners. Next, take measurements from one of these house corners to two different lot corners. Repeat the process from a second corner of the house. For the Duncan residence, measurements were taken from Pt. G on the house to property corners Pt. III and Pt. IV and noted on the sketch (Figure 6—25). Likewise, measurements were taken from Pt. J on the house to property corners Pt. III and Pt. IV. These measurements located the two front corners of the house in relation to the front property line. With two house corners located, the entire house is accurately positioned on the lot.
In a similar fashion, the back side of the house can be located in relation to the back property line by measuring from house corners Pt. A and Pt. D to property corners Pt. I and Pt. II. Any two corners of the house can be used with any two nearby
and easily measured property corners. However, it is not necessary to measure from every corner of the house to every property corner.
