Saw a timber frame barn in Vermont that fixed my layout approach

Stopped by an old dairy barn outside Montpelier last weekend, built around 1840 with zero metal fasteners. The joinery still fit tight after nearly 200 years, and the sills were sitting on granite blocks. Got to talking with the owner, he said the builder marked everything with Roman numerals and dry fit each joint twice before final assembly. It hit me that I spend way too much time relying on my tape and not enough laying out in the air before I cut. Tried doing a dry fit on my last shed project last Wednesday, took an extra 40 minutes but saved me from recutting two rafters. Anyone else switched to full dry fit before any glue or screws on their frames?

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