Can we talk about that one Thursday where literally every dimension I called out was wrong

I had this day last month where I was doing a takeoff for a small commercial job in Denver. Nothing crazy, maybe 800 square feet of ceiling grid and some light fixtures. I measured the room three times and every single number was off by at least 2 inches. The contractor called me and said 'your layout doesn't fit, we had to cut every tile.' I went back the next day and realized I had been reading my tape measure from the wrong end on one wall. Who else has had a day where your brain just refuses to do basic math?

3 comments

3 Comments

ellis.leo6d ago

Man that tape measure thing is brutal lol. I had a day where I was laying out a wall and kept getting the same stud spacing wrong. Turned out I was counting from the wrong end of my speed square. Felt like my brain just checked out for the afternoon.

annaw735d ago

lol @ellis.leo "brain just checked out" is such a perfect way to put it. I used to think @amy974 was right and that it was no big deal, like just a little annoying thing that happens. But honestly, after a few days where I messed up the same ceiling grid layout three times, I get it now. It really does feel like your brain just decides to take a nap when you need it most. It's not even about the mistake itself, it's the feeling of your own head letting you down over and over. That just sticks with you in a way that a simple fix doesn't really solve.

amy9746d ago

Honestly @ellis.leo, is it really that serious though? I mean yeah it's annoying but you're acting like it's the end of the world. Tape measure brain fog happens to everyone sometimes, it doesn't mean your whole career is over. You just go back the next day, fix it, and move on. Maybe it's a bigger deal if you're doing something critical like a hospital or school, but a small commercial ceiling grid? Eh, just a learning moment.