Just realized my whole crew thinks a 4-foot level is fine for door frames

We were doing a big trim job in a new build last week and I saw three guys just using a 4-footer on a 7-foot door, saying it's 'close enough' and saves time. I had to stop the whole line and show them how the middle was bowing out almost a quarter inch, which would've wrecked the reveal. Am I the only one who still insists on an 8-foot level for anything over 6 feet tall?

4 comments

4 Comments

schmidt.iris3mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, that quarter inch would show up big time after paint. Gotta use the right tool for the job.

kimblack1mo agoMost Upvoted

That quarter inch shows up like a sore thumb once the light hits it right. This is the same kinda thing I see at the hardware store where people grab the first tool off the rack instead of thinking about what they actually need. Like @thompson.julia said about that garage door header, it never ends well when you shortcut the right tool for the job. People do it everywhere - using a butter knife as a screwdriver or a penny as a fuse. But on trim work, the reveal is the whole thing, and a 4-foot level on a 7-foot door is just asking for trouble.

mila_murphy3mo ago

Okay but "wrecked the reveal" feels a little dramatic. A quarter inch over 7 feet? Most eyes won't catch that, especially after caulk and paint. I've seen guys use a string line for stuff like that and it turns out fine. Sometimes the perfect is the enemy of the good, you know? If the door opens and closes and looks straight to the client, maybe the 4-footer is enough.

thompson.julia3mo ago

Oh man, that's brutal. I watched a guy try to check a garage door header with a torpedo level once. The whole thing looked like a roller coaster.