Shoutout to the guy who said to always use a story pole for framing

I skipped it on a 24-foot wall last week and had to re-cut three studs. Anyone else ever get burned thinking you can just measure as you go?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ben3d ago

That trapezoid thing is too real. I swear my tape measure grows or shrinks an eighth every time I put it down. Did a simple shed roof last month, and by the fourth rafter I had four different lengths. The story pole doesn't lie, but my brain sure tries to.

juliaa653d ago

Ugh, been there. My brain's like "it's just simple math" and then my hands are like "presenting you with a trapezoid, genius.

the_rose3d ago

Honestly, the worst is when you're marking a bunch of blocks or something and you just KNOW your pencil is getting duller with each line. That little fudge factor adds up so fast. @the_ben is right about the tape playing tricks, but my own lazy marking is a bigger enemy. I once laid out a whole deck post pattern freehand, convinced I could keep it square by eye. Let's just say it had more character than the plans called for. The story pole is basically admitting you don't trust future-you, and future-you is NEVER trustworthy.