Started using a 4-foot level for my deck posts instead of a 2-footer

I was framing a deck in my backyard and kept having a slight wobble on my 6x6 posts, even though my 2-foot level showed them plumb. I switched to a 4-foot level for the final three posts and the difference in overall squareness after hanging the joists was night and day. Anyone have a favorite long level brand, or is a laser level just better for this now?

2 comments

2 Comments

troystone17d ago

Honestly, is a deck post wobble that big of a deal? It's a deck, not a skyscraper. The 2-foot level got you close enough for government work, as they say. Spending extra on a giant level or a laser seems like overkill unless you're building something that needs to be perfect.

eva_carr17d ago

Close enough for government work" is how you get a deck that feels like a boat in a storm, @troystone. That wobble turns into a real shimmy when people are on it.