Just changed my mind about using a laser level for big tile jobs

I did a 400 square foot kitchen in a Portland remodel last month and used my old chalk line method, which took me about two hours just to get the grid set. The homeowner had a Dewalt laser level in his garage and told me to try it, so I did on the next bathroom floor. I had the whole layout done in maybe 20 minutes, and the lines were perfect. Anyone else make a switch like that and find it saves way more time than you thought?

3 comments

3 Comments

parkerbrown15d ago

Total game changer" is exactly right. I read a forum post a while back where a guy said he fought using one because he thought it was just a fancy toy. He finally used it to line up cabinets in a whole kitchen and said he saved half a day on just that one step. It's one of those tools that seems extra until you actually use it.

mary_west15d ago

That part about "the time you save on setup alone pays for the tool" is so true. I used to mess with a water level and a chalk line for hanging a long shelf, it took forever. First time I used a laser for that, I was done in like ten minutes. You don't realize how much fiddling you're doing until you don't have to do it anymore.

the_lee15d ago

Yeah, that sounds about right. I held out on getting a laser level for years, told myself my old ways were fine. Finally broke down for a shower install and it was a total game changer. The time you save on setup alone pays for the tool, and the lines are just dead straight every time. It's one of those things you don't realize is slowing you down until you try the new way.