Had a chat with a framer last week who made me rethink my layout process

I was on a job site doing trim work and this older framer, like 60 years old, noticed I was marking studs on my own before snapping lines. He told me I was wasting time by not just using his layout as a reference from the get go. He showed me how he staggers his framing at corners and it saves me like 20 minutes per room just on measuring. Made me realize I've been overcomplicating things for years just out of habit. Anyone else had a old timer point out something stupid simple that you missed?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryanj6012d ago

I mean, the thing people overlook is that old school framers like that guy aren't just saving time, they're building in a way that accounts for lumber shrinkage over time. I had a guy in his 70s explain how he leaves certain gaps at corner studs on purpose so when the wood dries out and moves, your drywall still lands on something solid. It's not just a shortcut, it's a whole different mindset about the house settling.

cameron_chen12d ago

Taking that lumber shrinkage point and running with it - dude probably has saved his clients thousands in callbacks over the years just by thinking ahead about how wood moves, which most of us don't do until we get a crack in our own drywall. Have you tried adjusting your layout to account for that yet?