My neighbor said he never uses a level for deck posts, just his eye and a string line

We were talking about my new deck project in my backyard, and he told me he's built over twenty decks and hasn't touched a level in years, saying 'if the string is tight and looks right, it is right.' I always thought that was a sure way to get a wobbly frame, but his decks look solid. Is trusting your eye over a tool really a good idea for something that needs to last?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_ray12d ago

That whole "trust your eye" thing is a perfect example of how experience can replace tools, but only up to a point. You see it everywhere, from cooking to hanging pictures, where someone who's done it a thousand times develops a feel for what's right. The problem is when beginners try to copy that shortcut without the years of mistakes that built the instinct. Your neighbor probably can eyeball it correctly now, but that's because his brain remembers all the times a level proved him wrong.

kim.stella12d ago

So how do you know when you've actually earned the shortcut? Like, is there a specific moment the training wheels come off?