For construction purposes, in lieu of a framing square tool to make a corner square, use your tape measure and a bit of geometry to achieve a perfectly square corner every time.


In a classic example of classroom mathematics meets real-world application, the Pythagorean theorem can be used when building a shed or any structure that requires exact corners. The Pythagorean theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. This is shown as A squared + B squared = C squared and is known as the 3-4-5 rule in construction.

As shown in the video above, use your tape measure to measure and mark one board at 3 feet and the other board at 4 feet and then place a board directly across both marks. The third board should equal 5 feet and give you an square corner. Works every time.


Tricks with Construction Tools | Ethan Ewing (YouTube)