X-Tape blog
Layout, framing and faster builds.
Practical guides for framers and builders: stud layout, plates, joists and the jobs where X-Tape saves the most time.
November 4, 2026
How to Recognize a Good Framing Supplies Company in Québec
You recognize a good framing supplies company in Québec by checking four things: clear technical documentation, consistent quality from batch to batch, real stock availability for crews and stores, and products built…
Read the articleNovember 1, 2026
Metal Stud Layout Marking at 16 Inches On Center
Metal stud layout marking at 16 inches on center speeds up plate and track marking for framers and crews who repeat the same spacing all day. The 16-inch Stud Layout Tape (3″ roll), made by X-Tape in Blainville, Québec…
Read the articleOctober 30, 2026
Bulk Stud Layout Tape Orders for Contractors and Building Supply Stores
Bulk stud layout tape orders let framing crews and building supply stores buy the 16-inch Stud Layout Tape (3″ roll) by the case instead of one roll at a time. X-Tape, based in Blainville, takes these orders by email.
Read the articleOctober 27, 2026
Metal Stud Layout Marking Tape for Wall Plates and Mud Sills
Metal stud layout marking tape is a printed kraft tape that marks every 16-inch stud or joist position directly on wall plates and mud sills, replacing a tape measure, pencil and square. The 16-inch Stud Layout Tape, 3″…
Read the articleOctober 24, 2026
Stud Layout Tape vs Tape Measure: What Changes on a Framing Job Site
When you compare stud layout tape vs tape measure on a real wall plate, the tape measure still finds rough openings and odd dimensions, but it no longer does the repetitive marking. A pre-printed 16-inch on center tape…
Read the articleOctober 22, 2026
Cutting Plates for Studs, Jacks, and Cripples: A Faster Way to Mark Them All at Once
Cutting plates for studs, jacks, and cripples still means marking every piece by hand, unless you lay out the plate first. The 16-inch Stud Layout Tape, 3″ × 164′ roll (stud layout on wall plates), marks every stud at…
Read the articleOctober 19, 2026
Plate Layout for Load-Bearing Walls: Why Pre-Marked 16-Inch Spacing Saves Hours
Plate layout is the step where a framer marks every stud position on the top and bottom plates before standing a wall. For load-bearing walls in Québec, pre-marked 16-inch spacing with stud layout tape removes the tape…
Read the articleOctober 12, 2026
Wall Plate Layout: Positioning the First Stud
Wall plate layout starts with the first stud at the outside corner of the plate, then every stud after that falls 16 inches on centre unless the plans say otherwise. X-Tape speeds up this step with the 16-inch Stud Layout Tape, a 3-inch roll that marks every stud position before you pick up a pencil.
Read the articleOctober 12, 2026
Floor Joist Layout 16 On Centre: Step-By-Step Guide
Floor joist layout 16 on centre means marking joist centrelines every 16 inches, about 400 mm, along the plate or sill, measured axis to axis, not face to face. It works with common subfloor panels and typical spans…
Read the articleOctober 12, 2026
Wall Plate Layout at Corners and Partition Intersections
Wall plate layout means marking every stud location on the top and bottom plates before you stand the wall. At corners and partition intersections, you add extra marks for backing, not just the plain 16-inch pattern…
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