Plumb-Level-Square: Three Rules in Carpentry to live by

Whether you are framing walls, hanging sheet rock, laying flooring, or installing a door, every carpenter must ensure projects are plumb, level and/or square. Plumb can be established with a level, preferably the longest available, to give you the most accurate reading. You can also use a plumb bob to ensure your project is perfectly upright; if you are outdoors and bobbing more than 10 feet, I suggest using a heavier bob to help steady it from the elements.

Level can be determined by- you guessed it-a Level! Make sure to keep the bubble in the middle of the two black lines and you are good to go.

Square is the most difficult measurement to achieve. It can take two people to square a big project, one person to measure while the other person stabilizes it. There are a couple of different ways to achieve square. You can either build a jig that is square and use it against the edges of your project, or you can hook your tape measure at one corner of the project and pull to the other end, giving you a diagonal measurement. Do the same diagonal measurement from the other corner to the opposite side, and the two measurements should be the same. If they are not identical, adjust the sides until they are the same.