Or do you break it down to smaller units like “125 3/8 inches” or “1003 1/8 inches”?
This. Building a house, wall studs are on 16" (sixteen inch) centers, not 1’4" (one foot four inch), even though those are the same length. Roof joists are usually on 24" centers, not 2’, even though those are the same.
Most of your lumber is going to be 120" or less, so most of the measurements you’re going to be making are less than that.
If I’m measuring a room in feet, it is to give a rough estimate. It’s easy to compare two different bedrooms by saying one is 8x10 and the other is 10x12. The actual dimensions might differ by up to 6", but they are close enough for a reasonable comparison.
Would it not be better to just use accurate numbers?
There is just so much unnecesary mental gymnastics. You are using a lot words like “usually” or “most”.
Would it not be better to just use accurate numbers?
“Accuracy” depends on the task. The framing guy needs about 1/8th inch precision. Drywall guy needs about 1/4". Baseboards, 1/16th or tighter. The buyer needs to the nearest foot to compare. The painter can skip the foot and go straight to the nearest yard.
I challenge the value and necessity of unit conversion, and you throw in the towel? As though this trivial, boring feature of the metric system is the only value it brings to the table?
I haven’t done anything to defend US Customary Units (not Imperial. Imperial units are what the UK uses when they aren’t using Metric, and they don’t always match US units even though they have the same names).
The only point I’ve presented is that “unit conversion” is not a particularly interesting feature. When I use metric, it is not with the idea that I’ll be bouncing decimal points back and forth with reckless abandon.
The real value of metric is that everyone uses it.
This. Building a house, wall studs are on 16" (sixteen inch) centers, not 1’4" (one foot four inch), even though those are the same length. Roof joists are usually on 24" centers, not 2’, even though those are the same.
Most of your lumber is going to be 120" or less, so most of the measurements you’re going to be making are less than that.
If I’m measuring a room in feet, it is to give a rough estimate. It’s easy to compare two different bedrooms by saying one is 8x10 and the other is 10x12. The actual dimensions might differ by up to 6", but they are close enough for a reasonable comparison.
Would it not be better to just use accurate numbers? There is just so much unnecesary mental gymnastics. You are using a lot words like “usually” or “most”.
“Accuracy” depends on the task. The framing guy needs about 1/8th inch precision. Drywall guy needs about 1/4". Baseboards, 1/16th or tighter. The buyer needs to the nearest foot to compare. The painter can skip the foot and go straight to the nearest yard.
I give up. If you really think that is better way than using metric you truly deserve the imperial system you have.
Where are you getting this?
I challenge the value and necessity of unit conversion, and you throw in the towel? As though this trivial, boring feature of the metric system is the only value it brings to the table?
I haven’t done anything to defend US Customary Units (not Imperial. Imperial units are what the UK uses when they aren’t using Metric, and they don’t always match US units even though they have the same names).
The only point I’ve presented is that “unit conversion” is not a particularly interesting feature. When I use metric, it is not with the idea that I’ll be bouncing decimal points back and forth with reckless abandon.
The real value of metric is that everyone uses it.