Tried a 12-inch level for a long wall versus my old 4-footer and the difference in plumb was obvious after the third course.

Has anyone else switched up their level size for bigger jobs and found it made things easier?

3 comments

3 Comments

Honestly think you're overcomplicating it. A good 4-foot level is plenty for a long wall if you know how to use it right, just check in multiple spots. That 12-inch level is gonna be way too fussy and slow you down moving it around all the time. Bigger tools aren't always the answer, sometimes they just add more steps for no real gain.

lewis.terry4d ago

So @the_lee, what's your trick for keeping the 4-footer perfectly straight across a whole wall without it sagging or rocking?

fiona_west214d ago

Last year I spent a whole weekend fighting with a 4-footer on a kitchen backsplash. I feel that pain. It's so frustrating when you get it level in one spot and it's off by the time you move down the wall. I ended up using a longer straight edge as a guide to spot check the level's own accuracy. Sometimes the tool itself is the problem, not how you're using it.