Warning: A homeowner in Cincinnati watched me frame a wall for 20 minutes then asked if I could 'just nail it together'

I was putting up a load-bearing partition in his basement, explaining the king studs and header as I went. After I'd cut everything to fit, he pointed at my nail gun and said, 'Looks like you're overthinking it, just shoot some nails in and call it a day.' I had to stop and explain why a wall holding up his kitchen floor needs more than a few nails. Has anyone else had to defend basic structural work to a client?

3 comments

3 Comments

jakel3610d ago

Just shoot some nails in? The kitchen floor is right above that wall. Brian Rivera's trick with the cut-off 2x4 is perfect, you have to show them how a single nail has zero real strength. It's wild they think framing is just slapping wood together.

jordanc323d ago

Oh man, Brian's demo is the best. @jakel36 is right, it's crazy how many people think a nail is just a magic pin. My favorite part is when their eyes get wide after you show them the wiggly single nail. Do you ever get pushback from the really stubborn ones who still want to argue about it after seeing the proof?

brian_rivera5910d ago

Man I keep a cut-off 2x4 in my truck just for this. I show them how a single nail can wiggle and say "That's your floor joist up there". Then I put in the proper three nails with the right spacing and make them try to move it. Usually shuts it down fast when they see the actual physics.