Have you ever wondered what the hash marks, black diamonds, and red squares on a tape measure mean? We'll help crack the code—and show you how to use the tool.

The tape measure is a simple but essential tool.On the face of things, it seems easy enough to use—pull the tape out, take a measurement, or make a mark for a cut.But there are some specific ...

Kiprim Laser Tape Measure, $11 (was $22) at Amazon. Source: Courtesy of Amazon. ... “Fantastic to use for inside measurements — saves time measuring from center point to both corners.

Not all tape measure brands are ... you can wash and reuse the tape over and over. The Center-Finder is also neat in that it ... it'll also be marked as 7.5 inches since that's the halfway point.