A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler used to measure length or distance. THOUGH THE SDSAB DOES ITS BEST, THESE COLUMNS ARE EDITED BY ED ZOTTI, NOT CECIL, SO ACCURACYWISE YOU'D BETTER KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. Plastic tape measure (cm) Manually reeled tape measure Self-retracting metal tape measure (US customary) Measuring tape capable of measuring down to 1 32 in (0.794 mm) Diagram showing fractions of an inch on a standard sixteenth measuring tape. And as it turns out, the small diamond-shaped black mark on your tape measure actually has a very important purpose that’ll help you in your quest to DIY No more faffing and fighting to create a beautifully decorated home Yay If you’ve found the video below insightful and helpful, be sure to share it with your family and friends. Span tables for these lumber products provide ratings for spacing of 12in., 16in., 19-3/16in., and 24in. Several wood product manufacturers offer Engineered Lumber as a substitute for conventional lumber. Send questions to Cecil via REPORTS ARE WRITTEN BY THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD, CECIL'S ONLINE AUXILIARY. Here’s Stanley’s answer: The black diamond marks every 19.2' on our tape rule blades are for spacing Engineered Lumber joists and studs. Not that you need to remember that very often, but who knows, maybe this is all the impetus you need to go out and get that contractor’s license.

Those little diamonds are there so you can remember quickly what one-fifth of 96 is. They take advantage of its strength by using fewer joists or studs where codes allow. Engineered Lumber is usually specified by the architects and engineers who draw the plans.

If you multiply these dimensions by 8, 6, 5 and 4, respectively, you’ll notice that you come up with 96in., the length of the panels that will be used for sub-flooring or sheathing. These diamonds are placed to the 96-inch marking (or the eight-foot mark).

The next diamond is then placed 19.2 inches away from the first stud, which is 38.4 inches from the start point of the measuring tape. Several wood product manufacturers offer Engineered Lumber as a substitute for conventional lumber. Beginning at the 19.2-inch mark, the black diamond aids in finding the first stud. The black diamond marks every 19.2' on our tape rule blades are for spacing Engineered Lumber joists and studs.

Diamond on measuring tape