Measuring Tapes Seattle WA

Tape measures are used variably in various fields, most notably dressmaking or tailoring, carpentry and construction. Tape measure units can be found in imperial or metric units. Imperial units are British while the metric or SI (International System of Units or Le Système International d'Unités) units are more international. Most tapes are metric measuring tapes.

Surveyors to determine acreage use tape measures for measuring tracts of land. They use tape measures with length on the order of hectometers due to the vastness of their work. For construction and carpentry, a stiff metallic ribbon type of tape measure is used. The stiffness and straight manner of this tape measure allows for extremely accurate measuring. The metallic ribbon remains stiff and straight when the coil is extended but retracts on its own when released for storage. It has a floating tang that holds on to one end of the object being measured allowing even one person to make accurate measurements.

This metallic type of measuring tape can be used for both inside and outside accurate measurements. They can range from 25 to 1000 feet which easily wind into small easily portable containers making them extremely efficient in use and storage. A little-known feature of this and most other types of tape measures is a small black marking in the shape of a diamond appearing after every 19.2 inches. These equidistant markings are called ‘black truss’ markings and they are used for marking 5 equal trusses for each 8-foot standard sheet of material for building. That is 8 feet which equals 96 inches, is divided into 5 equal 19.2” inch parts.

Tailors and dressmakers mainly use these for measuring material lengths and hems and human dimensions for cloth making purposes. They are also widely used in many homes as a measuring tool for general purposes like people’s height, clothing size and even room length and width, by running the tape measures over a couple of times.

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