Appreciation post: A journeyman in my local union hall argued that using a 12-inch level for conduit runs is a waste of time compared to just eyeballing it with a 3-foot level and a string line.

After watching him bang out a 200-foot run in half the time it would've taken me, I'm starting to think the 'perfectly level every 4 feet' method we all learn is overkill for most commercial jobs where the ceiling grid hides minor imperfections.

4 comments

4 Comments

angela_harris2mo ago

Guess they don't give out trophies for most level checks.

lily1672mo ago

Heard about a guy who skipped checks and had to redo a whole wall.

skyler_jackson272mo agoTop Commenter

Seriously? That shortcut is just lazy work.

emmaclark2mo ago

That journeyman has a point about production speed. Honestly, the real issue is spec books, not the level itself. Some engineers demand level checks every four feet on paper, so you gotta cover yourself. Angela Harris is right that no one gets a trophy, but they do write you up if it's not to print. For a drop ceiling, his method gets the job done just fine as long as your string line is true.