Diamonds on my tape measure?

Question

Can anyone tell me why my tape measure has a small diamond mark above every 40cm & more for every 16 inches. Thanks.

Answer 1

this is the distance appart for joists in floor and roofs in houses

Answer 2

The so-called diamond mark is actually positioned at exactly 8/5 of a foot (that's exactly 1.6' or 19.2 inches, which is indeed pretty close to 19" 3/16 ). The diamond marks are also called "black truss" markings, because they correspond to the truss layout which is used with 8-foot sheets of plywood (or other material), namely 5 trusses per sheet. This is to be contrasted with "red stud" markings which appear every 16 inches by showing the corresponding inch number in red instead of black. The black markings and the red markings coincide at 8-foot intervals (96 inches). That is to say: 5 black intervals or 6 red ones in an 8-foot width. 5/8 = 0.625 is a standard slope for a roof, which may thus be built by measuring horizontally as many diamonds as there are vertical feet.

Answer 3

Your diamonds on your tape measure is for cost saving if you wish to go that route. 16 inch centers is the common measurement, BUT your diamonds are at 19 3/16th inch mark which is another number that work into the an 8 foot measurment. You can save a stud in every 8 feet if you want. The draw back is getting insulation that wide but I understand they make it you just have to special order it.

Answer 4

Because in framing a house, the standard is to put a 2X4 every 16 inches. It just gives a carpenter an easy reference point, instead of having to add 16 to each measurement.

Answer 5

It's when you are building stud walls or laying new floor joists and you normally set them at 400mm centres and 16 inches old school

Answer 6

Measure your wall studs in your house. 16?

Answer 7

its a measuring tool