Pro tip: I stopped using a framing square on walls last spring and my layout time dropped by 40%

Switched to a chalk line and speed square for wall framing after a buddy showed me his method - now I have zero square cuts on the bottom plate and way less waste. Anyone else ditch the traditional square for something faster?

3 comments

3 Comments

nina_sullivan611mo ago

Honestly, that's a solid tip. I've found a good chalk line and a speed square save more time than any framing square ever did, especially once you get the hang of marking your plates fast. Ngl, the first couple jobs I did it felt a little sketchy but I'm never going back.

xena_miller311mo ago

Ha, right? It's like once you figure out that the old "right" way is actually just extra steps, you can't unsee it. I've noticed this pattern everywhere, not just on job sites. Like with cooking, I used to measure every single spice, now I just eyeball it and it tastes better. Sometimes the shortcut isn't cutting corners, it's just realizing the old rule was a crutch for someone who hadn't practiced enough.

julia928d ago

Framing squares exist for a reason though, precision matters on load bearing stuff.