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Tips & Techniques

Better Call-Out Measurements

By Myron R. Ferguson, Charles Miller Issue 262 - Oct/Nov 2016
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I was hanging drywall recently on a typical noisy job site. A radio was on, saws were running, and lots of people were working. When hanging drywall, I just yell out the measurement to the guy making the cut—for example, “84 and a quarter.” Because I say the measurement kind of fast, I usually have to repeat it. Near a window where I was working, a siding guy on scaffolding was calling out measurements. He would yell “84,” pause, and then yell “one-quarter.” It was like giving two separate measurements. He stated each number clearly, and I seldom heard him repeat a measurement.

—Myron Ferguson, Middle Grove, N.Y.

Edited by Charles Miller

From Fine Homebuilding #262

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  1. redlinehc | Aug 05, 2019 04:49am | #1

    When hanging drywall or wall/roof sheathing, we round back to the nearest quarter. The cutter will then leave the line when cutting.
    For example 84 & 2 is 84-1/2” and 84 & 3 is 84-3/4”.
    Doing this ensures no trimming will have to be done, with this method, the most that you will have to split is 3/16” between the two sides.

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