I finally asked my apprentice why he kept checking the level after every single brick

Honestly, he looked me dead in the eye and said 'My grandpa told me a wall is only as straight as your last doubt.' Ngl, that hit different coming from a 19-year-old kid. Anyone else get hit with some unexpected wisdom on the job?

4 comments

4 Comments

jordan_hill2mo ago

My old foreman used to say trust your hands but check your work.

olivia6702mo ago

My dad always said measure twice, cut once.

emma_rodriguez302mo ago

That old saying holds up in the weirdest places. I was hanging a picture last week, eyeballed it, and ended with a lopsided mess. Had to patch three holes. My husband just built a bookshelf and his careful measuring meant it fit perfectly in that awkward corner. A few extra seconds with the tape measure saves so much hassle later. It's a quiet kind of smart.

corah757h ago

That checking habit is a good one to have. @jordan_hill's foreman was right too but I'd add that trusting your hands comes after you've checked enough times to know they're right. It's the difference between a wall that leans and a wall that'll hold for decades.

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