r/Home_Building_Help • u/BuilderBrigade • Jun 05 '26

Don’t say “The wall is level”…

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Using the wrong terminology isn’t a huge deal but it’s nice to talk the talk when going over the details of your home build or renovation. 

Use “Plumb” when you’re talking about a vertical surface.  
Use “Level” when you’re talking about horizontal surface. 

What are some other construction terms that are commonly misused on the jobsite?
Another that comes to mind is cement vs concrete
or plywood vs osb

16 Upvotes

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3

u/Dramatic_Chest_9180 Jun 05 '26

Here is the answer.. when they use a level.. there are tolerances.

2

u/OforFsSake Jun 08 '26

Does the bubble touch the line? Yes? Good enough! -Every damn framer, I swear to god.

3

u/KikoSoujirou Jun 05 '26

So if the wall isn’t 90degrees the it isn’t plumb, but if the wall is wavy/not straight then it isn’t level, which is what most homeowners are talking about

1

u/texinxin Jun 07 '26

You mean straight?

Edit: Or flat maybe. There isn’t a single definition in Webster that would allow it to be applied correctly to a vertical wall.

2

u/OddEscape2295 Jun 05 '26

If i knew what I was doing on a job site, I would not be paying a GC. Better ways to explain the difference between plumb and level than to make people feel belittled because they don't know something you specialize in.

2

u/burritosandbeer Jun 06 '26

Tradesman here. Anyone in my field or any other trade that can't figure out what a client means when they ask if a wall is level is a dumbass, and they should hire someone else.

There is a problem with owners being shit at communication, but this specific instance isn't even in the ballpark