Building base structures—what if you had to start over?

one warped board in your base and suddenly everything else is out of whack.

Couldn’t agree more—one bad board and you’re chasing problems for the rest of the build. I’ve learned to bring a 4’ level and a chalk line when I’m picking lumber, even at the pricier yards. It’s a pain, but it saves so much rework. If I had to start over, I’d also pre-sort and stack boards at home for a few days to see if any twist or cup shows up before cutting. Sometimes even the “good” ones move after a night in the garage. That extra step’s saved me from a few headaches, especially on bigger projects.