Field & trade terms
Plumb, level and square
Plumb, level and square are the field's shorthand for whether the geometry is right. Plumb is dead vertical, level is dead horizontal, and square is a true right angle at the corners. They sound simple, but almost every trade inherits them: a wall that's out of plumb, a floor that's out of level, or an opening that's out of square passes the error along to cabinets, tile, doors, glazing and every finish that has to meet it. Catching it early is the difference between a shim and a tear-out.
Run it with the Photo Gate
Framing inspection checklist
13 items · 27 photos required
Why it matters
Errors in these three compound. A frame that's slightly out of plumb and square becomes drywall that won't sit flat, casework that won't align, and reveals that grow across a run until the eye catches them. The trade that installs out of tolerance rarely pays for it; the finish trades downstream do.
What an inspector looks at
The check is measured, not eyeballed: walls and columns plumb, slabs and plates level, openings and layouts square, all within the tolerance the work calls for. It's a running check through framing and layout, since these are the reference lines everything after them trusts.
RTI is photo gated, so the condition is documented with the level, laser or measurement in frame: the reading shown against the work, a record that the geometry was verified and not just declared close enough.
Checklists that put plumb, level and square to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- ToleranceThe allowable amount a dimension or condition can vary from the target and still be acceptable: the plus-or-minus on a spec.
- Rough openingThe framed hole left for a window or door, sized a bit oversize so the unit can be set, shimmed plumb and square, and flashed.
- FormworkThe temporary molds and bracing that hold wet concrete in shape and position until it's strong enough to stand on its own.
- Damp-proofingA coating on the outside of a below-grade wall that resists soil moisture: enough for damp ground, but not a waterproof barrier.
- Sealant jointA joint filled with elastic sealant to keep water and air out while still flexing as the two sides move apart and together.
- SlumpA measure of fresh concrete's consistency (how far a molded cone of concrete sags when the cone is lifted), used to check the mix at delivery.
Knowing the term is step one. Proving it is the job.
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.
30-day trial · No card required