Canadian Construction Question - measurements

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Sparky617

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I see a number of Canadian HGTV produced shows here in the states and I know our friends to the north use the metric system. But on these shows the host/builder will usually talk in feet and inches for measurements. Given the proximity to the US and our shared manufactures of building supplies do Canadian builders use feet and inches when building? Are your dimensional building supplies (2x wood, plywood, drywall, etc) all measured out in feet and inches? Mike Holmes will talk about kilos for weight, but that seems to be about it.

After Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast I did a couple of trips down to do volunteer rebuilding efforts. We got some German made drywall for one of the project and it was 1/2" thick and in 4x8 and 4x12 sheets like the domestic stuff. Thankfully, we didn't get any of the Chinese stuff they were importing for a while there. That stuff out-gassed some nasty stuff causing damage to copper electrical wires and copper plumbing. I assume given the large export market they just adjusted the equipment to make US spec drywall. I do see some imported sheet goods that appear to be metric in size, though they list them in US measurements. At least I assume that is why they are slightly larger than 4x8, but this is typically for cabinet grade plywood so it wouldn't need to be cut down for use in building.
 
Construction up here is mostly still in feet and inches. A few things like concrete and rebar.
Metric usually comes up a bit shorter.
1.2 M= 47 1/4" Distance to property line is in metric.
liquid is confusing because the imperial gal, is already different than the US gal so converting to litres can be confusing.
 
Thanks Neal. So for liquid measurements you use imperial gallons instead of US gallons? Interesting. Can't get away from the motherland. When I lived in the UK they were still very much using imperial measures. I think a Imperial gallon is almost 5 US quarts. I think their pints were about 20 US ounces. When I watch the UK version of Top Gear they still talk about MPG and Naught to 60 times.
 
Thanks Neal. So for liquid measurements you use imperial gallons instead of US gallons? Interesting. Can't get away from the motherland. When I lived in the UK they were still very much using imperial measures. I think a Imperial gallon is almost 5 US quarts. I think their pints were about 20 US ounces. When I watch the UK version of Top Gear they still talk about MPG and Naught to 60 times.
We can only imagine who made the money when they convinced Americans that a quart was only 32 ounces. I am sure the Colonies used imperial, most were from England.
 
The thing in construction is always to use the best materials. The biggest problem is that it is hard to find high-quality screws.
Your comment doesn't really have anything to do with my original post. Welcome to HouseRepairTalk though.
 
In the US a bottle of whiskey is still called a fifth by most but it is 750 ml (about 7 ml shy of a fifth).
 
I had a couple of Sears folding sawhorse kits made in the 60's but when I tried to use them in the 70s I had to add shims to thicken my 2x4s.
 
I had a couple of Sears folding sawhorse kits made in the 60's but when I tried to use them in the 70s I had to add shims to thicken my 2x4s.
Yep they went from 2x4 to 1.75x3.75 to 1.62X3.62 to 1.5x3.5 if i remember correctly. The house we live i has some of each. If you buy hemlock framing from the Amish here it is still 2x4 but rough cut.
 
2x3s seem to have disappeared. They were around in the 50s, I guess the 2x4s of today became the compromise when people rejected a direct move to 2x3s.
 
A 2x3 is of pretty limited value in construction. You certainly couldn't use it for exterior walls as you would have to go with spray foam insulation to meet even the minimum standards for wall insulation. For interior walls in the days of pre-hung doors you couldn't use them in a wall with a door. I've seen them in repairing old mobile homes with Appalachian Service Project but I doubt they even use them in new mobile homes.
 
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