Some people go through their days not questioning the things they see and hear around them. Perhaps they don’t even notice the little details at all!
Other people, though, not only notice everything but are curious about the why and how behind what they observe, too.
If you clicked on this article you probably fall into the latter category, so welcome!
Image Credit: YouTube
And more to the point, here’s why you’ll see diamonds every so often on your measuring tape – and why learning about them is actually super helpful. More and more people are doing heavy DIY lifting at home, so make sure you’re ready to take some notes.
YouTuber Tom Hintz, a professional woodworker and owner of NewWoodworker.com, posted a video on why.
He also throws out some handy tips on how to use them to your best advantage while building, too.
Image Credit: YouTube
The black diamond among the hash marks is meant to measure the center between studs in your walls. They should be around 19.2 inches apart, assuming the person using them understands the “8-foot rule.”
“Many tape measures add red numbers (or some other graphical standout) every 16-inches, a very common spacing for studs in house framing. This spacing allows for six supports in each 8-foot length.”
Instead of having to measure the placement of studs or use a stud-finder, you can rely on the black diamonds that are already there.
Image Credit: YouTube
“If you divide the 8-foot space we have been using by 5 we get a spacing of 19.2.” The black diamonds on the tape measure represent that spacing.
The first black diamond is at 19.2″ and after that black diamonds appear at 38.4″, 57.6″, 76.8″, or 8-feet. That is one less stud for every 8-feet of wall, counting the beginning and end studs.”
Most houses and even commercial buildings will follow these standard stud placements, and all you should need to navigate them is your measuring tape.
Pretty cool, right?
If you’re curious what else your measuring tape might be able to tell you, Tom Hintz has some additional videos, as well as in-depth tutorials, on his channel.
It definitely sounds as if you should subscribe to his channel if you’re into doing projects around the house – I know I’m going to!
