My old boss told me to nail 2x4 blocking flat, I started standing it up, who is right here?

Oliver Moore · 2026-09-10T07:50:05.185195+00:00

Helped a guy frame a basement bathroom in Toledo back in March, and the whole job came down to one dumb argument. He wanted blocking laid flat, wide face up, said it gives more surface for the drywall screws. I started standing mine on edge, saying it takes way less of a hit from a screw and holds a towel bar better. He told me flat was code in his head, so we did half the wall his way and half mine. Two weeks later the homeowner hung a heavy mirror on each side. His side, the screws pulled and the whole strip bowed, mine stayed tight at 140 pounds of pull on the stud finder test. Now I am not saying flat is always bad, because for a nailing backer for trim it is fine and uses less wood. But for anything that gets weight, standing it up on edge seems to win, and I want to hear what the rest of you do. Do you keep blocking flat, stand it up, or go with plywood strips instead?

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My old boss told me to nail 2x4 blocking flat, I started standing it up, who is right here? | Carpenters - Opinions Matter