"laying everything flat on the ground first, squaring it up corner-to-corner, and then temporarily bracing diagonally before lifting it into place."
That's exactly how I learned to do it too—though I admit, it took me a couple crooked walls before that trick sunk in. One time, I was helping a buddy build a small cabin and we skipped the diagonal bracing step (rookie mistake, I know). We ended up spending half the day tweaking and nudging walls to straighten them out. Lesson learned... shortcuts rarely save time in the long run. Sounds like you're already ahead of where we were!
You're definitely on the right track with the diagonal bracing—it's a small step that pays off big-time. I've seen experienced crews skip it thinking they'll save time, only to spend hours later nudging walls into alignment. Good call figuring this out early...
Diagonal bracing definitely helps, but I've run into situations where even good bracing didn't keep things perfectly straight. One thing I've wondered about is moisture content—do you guys check lumber moisture levels before framing? I had a project last year where some studs twisted badly after installation, and someone suggested it might've been due to moisture differences. Curious if anyone else has noticed this or found a reliable way to handle it...
"I had a project last year where some studs twisted badly after installation, and someone suggested it might've been due to moisture differences."
Moisture definitely plays a role, but I'm not convinced it's always the main culprit. I've seen lumber twist even after careful moisture checks—especially if it's stored improperly on-site or exposed to sudden weather changes during framing. Have you considered the quality or species of lumber you're using? I've found that certain types (like Douglas fir vs. pine) behave quite differently in terms of stability...
Moisture's tricky, for sure, but honestly I've had lumber twist even when stored perfectly dry. Had a batch of premium Douglas fir studs last summer—they were pricey and supposedly kiln-dried—but still ended up twisting like crazy once installed. Made me wonder if milling practices or growth conditions played a bigger role than moisture alone. Maybe there's more going on at the lumberyard or during production...?
