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My husband and I bought a little cabin that was always a get away cabin until we moved in. The work done to it is typical of "bare minimum, this is just our get away to the woods cabin" kind of work. It looks nice, but if you look closely things are off.
My husband ripped away the trim around the door to find that on one side, the door jamb is flush with the wall at the bottom, but juts out at the top. He checked with the level and both the board in the door jamb that juts out, and the wall are level. How can they both be level, but not flush? We're both perplexed, but not super versed in construction so it's not really surprising that we would be lost. We want to make it right before we install the new storm door.
The door jamb and/or the wall could be slightly bowed, or your level could be off. How long a level are you using? Anything less than 4 ft. won't give you a true idea of what's going on. If in doubt, check it with a plumb bob.
Oooh. I had no idea the length of the level could be a factor. Duh. haha. The level we are using is probably 2.5-3ft. I'm gonna have to let him know. I honestly didn't know a level could be off. How do you calibrate a bubble in fluid? Stupid question? Google is probably my friend here.
Most cheaper levels can't be calibrated. You can check it pretty easily by putting it on a horizontal surface and looking at where the bubble is in between the lines on the glass vial. Flip it around end for end and see if it's in the same relative place (accuracy matters!). Also turn it upside down and then end for end again. The bubble should be exactly the same for all 4 sides.
For plumb (vertical), hold it flat against the wall so the bubble is exactly centered and draw a line. Flip the level around and compare to the line.
I did a google search because you made me curious and found that exact advice. Thank you! I do know the level is old as dirt. I think it was my husbands grandfathers, who was a carpenter.
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