I've learned, in my almost 20 years of construction experience across multiple trades, that plumb and square are often just relative terms. Are these window frames plumb? I have no idea. They measure the same offset all the way around from the brick face, or the framing, or whatever place the architect wants. If I make them plumb instead, it only makes me look bad. Nobody sees that the framer, or bricklayer, or whoever is the one that's off. They see the crooked window. So you have to live in whatever world the framer gives you plumb or not. With floor tile or ceiling grid, if you go to the main entrance to whatever room you are in, meaning the most common place people will first see that room, and you make either a joint or a full tile be right down the center everybody will love it. It's what your eye wants to see. A nice straight line. It doesn't matter at all if it's in the middle of the room or not.
Yellowcitybombers t1_je3h5t5 wrote
Reply to ELI5: How is a high level of precision maintained during the construction of a building to make sure its built square, level all around? by phenols
I've learned, in my almost 20 years of construction experience across multiple trades, that plumb and square are often just relative terms. Are these window frames plumb? I have no idea. They measure the same offset all the way around from the brick face, or the framing, or whatever place the architect wants. If I make them plumb instead, it only makes me look bad. Nobody sees that the framer, or bricklayer, or whoever is the one that's off. They see the crooked window. So you have to live in whatever world the framer gives you plumb or not. With floor tile or ceiling grid, if you go to the main entrance to whatever room you are in, meaning the most common place people will first see that room, and you make either a joint or a full tile be right down the center everybody will love it. It's what your eye wants to see. A nice straight line. It doesn't matter at all if it's in the middle of the room or not.