The day I learned to stop eyeballing a 90 degree corner

Back when I started, I'd just slap two walls together and call it close enough. That changed after a job in Tempe where we had to frame a brick planter box for a fancy patio. I 'eyeballed' the corner, and after laying 50 bricks, the client's architect came by with his big metal square. He just looked at the gap, then at me, and said, 'Son, that's a 92.' Had to tear out two courses. Now I use a 4 foot aluminum speed square for every single corner, no exceptions. Anyone else have a tool they won't start a job without now?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_cooper1mo ago

That Tempe story is why I check my tire pressure religiously now, same principle.

lily971mo ago

Actually, the Tempe thing was more about the heat making the asphalt fail, not tire pressure. I get what you mean, @jesse_cooper, but it's a different kind of check. Still, being careful with your car is never a bad idea.

amy_foster5620d ago

Amen to that! I swore I could nail a 90 by eye until I framed a pergola that ended up looking like a distorted rhombus from one angle. My partner still brings it up every time we grab the speed square.