If you don’t have the right measurements for your project, there’s no way you can successfully complete it.
Take, for instance, installing flooring. You need to get the right inside-corner measurements so you can purchase the exact amount of flooring plus trim you need — and not waste a trip back to the store for more.
And what about installing new kitchen cabinets? What could be worse than not getting the right inside-corner measurements and having those brand new cabinets sticking slightly too far out or in?
Of course, the go-to instrument for measuring is the tape measure. But to get into those corners, you have to bend the tool. And the problem is, once it’s bent, it’s hard to tell where the ticker marks for the exact edge of the surface lie.
Don’t be so quick to grab your calculator and start computing measurements for angles. Try this quick trick to ensure the accuracy of your measurement and eliminate any guesswork.
1. Join the tape measure and the card. Clamp a plastic card onto the measuring tape with a binder clip. You can use an old credit card or a retail store rewards card, just as long as the card is nice and rigid.
2. Adjust the card. Take the measurement and slide the card up against the inside vertical surface. Make sure both ends of the tape are against both surfaces.
3. Read the accurate measurement. Straighten the tape measure and read the number where it crosses along the edge of the credit card.
Now that you have your accurate measurement, be sure to write it down.
