"it's worth getting the bones right from the start."
Couldn't agree more. Recently toured a custom home where they opted for engineered lumber throughout—honestly, the difference was night and day. Crisp lines, zero waviness...felt like walking through an architectural magazine. Definitely worth the upfront investment.
Interesting perspective on engineered lumber. I've built a couple of small additions myself, and honestly, I was skeptical at first about the extra cost. But after wrestling with regular dimensional lumber—sorting through piles at the yard just to find a few straight boards—I can definitely see the appeal.
"Crisp lines, zero waviness...felt like walking through an architectural magazine."
Yeah, that's pretty much the opposite of what I ended up with on my first DIY framing job. Walls looked decent enough at first glance, but once drywall went up, every little wave and bow became painfully obvious. Had to spend way too much time shimming and adjusting just to get things looking halfway decent.
Still not totally convinced engineered lumber is always worth it for smaller projects or tight budgets...but if you're aiming for that super clean finish without headaches later on, it's probably money well spent. Next time around, I'll at least price it out and see if it's doable.
Engineered lumber definitely has its perks, but honestly, you can still get pretty clean walls without it if you're careful. The trick is spending extra time during framing—checking alignment constantly and using a good long level or laser line. I've worked on plenty of smaller remodels where the budget just didn't allow for engineered studs, and we still managed to get really sharp lines by being meticulous during the initial framing.
"Had to spend way too much time shimming and adjusting just to get things looking halfway decent."
Yeah, been there...but in my experience, a little extra attention upfront saves you from a ton of headaches later. Another thing that helps is drywall thickness—going with 5/8" drywall instead of the standard 1/2" can hide minor imperfections surprisingly well. Sure, engineered lumber is great, but it's not the only way to achieve a clean finish. Sometimes it's more about patience and technique than material choice.
Totally agree about the drywall thickness—made a noticeable difference when we redid our basement. Did you find using a laser line easier than a traditional level? We stuck with the old-school bubble level, and while it worked fine, I wonder if investing in a laser would've saved us some headaches. Budget was tight, so engineered lumber wasn't even on the table...but patience and double-checking alignment really paid off in the end.
Laser levels are a game changer for speed and convenience, especially if you're working solo. But honestly, nothing beats the reliability of a good bubble level when budget's tight. Curious—did you brace your walls temporarily during framing to help keep things aligned?
