Carpentry

Cedar siding is one of the thinnest sidings available for a home, but, as paradoxical as this seems, it is more resilient than other materials, as well. Because of its thin construction, though,...

Remove and reuse existing interior wood trim for a number of reasons. Reusing the wood trim, instead of buying it new, shaves a lot of money off the budget for the entire project. Retaining the...

Door molding provides a decorative frame to a door and conceals the join between the door and the wall, according to "Collins Complete DIY Manual" (Reference 1). Moldings have no load bearing...

Most of the time, when you need to keep a door shut, it is as simple as turning a deadbolt, twisting a lock or using a door chain. When a door needs to be held shut, but locking the door is not an...

Moldings serve multiple purposes. To the average home owner they appear to be decorative elements. Ask any carpenter, and he will tell you their primary function is to cover ugly gaps and hold...

If you have ever done carpentry work that involved hammering nails into lumber, you probably know the frustration of seeing the wood split as you drive the nail. This is costly both in terms of...

Leveling a door jamb is necessary for the door to function properly. An out-of-level door jamb forces a door to "stick" when closed, stops the door from closing all the way or latching, and can...

Planning on installing new baseboards yourself? Installing baseboards can be a fun project for any do-it-yourselfer. It's a relatively simple job that only requires basic carpentry skills. Here is...

Brad nails are small fasteners used in a wide range of woodworking projects. A nailer speeds the process of driving in nails immeasurably and makes it more accurate. Brad nailers are powered by...

The 16-gauge nail gun has not completely made the hand nail obsolete, but it has become the primary choice for contractors nailing casing, baseboard, crown, and other moldings. The benefits of...

T-111 siding is a durable and heavy-duty siding that comes in 4-by-8-ft. sheets. It is almost always used on the exterior of a home or building, and must be painted after its installation. If you...

The best nail size for framing depends on the size and relationship of the lumber parts being fastened. For most framing, use "common" nails, which are thicker and stronger than "box" or "sinker"...

Water damage to the subfloor is an important problem that needs repair. The rotted subfloor will be weak and possibly dangerous. Modern subfloors are built using 3/4-inch plywood or OSB, and when...

When replacing damaged wood siding, the section that needs to be removed is usually locked in by other pieces. Getting to it may seem difficult at first, but it is a fairly simple process if you...

Metal doors are popular because of the many styles and because they are energy efficient. When you decide to replace your door, replace the jamb also. Replacing a door without replacing the jamb...

A recycled pallet can be used for all sorts of projects, from bookshelves, to boot stands and even as firewood kindling. If you are a do-it-yourselfer and find yourself in possession of a pallet,...

A door sill is the cross piece that is attached to the floor on the underside of a door opening that serves as a base and diverts water away from the door and house. Over time, it can become worn...

Sawhorses are indispensable tools for woodworking projects at home or on a job site. In most cases, they're quickly built and used until they fall apart. In the following example, the plan uses...

A door jamb is the wooden trim inside the door opening. It is to the jamb that the door is attached. When you install flooring, you may find it necessary to cut the bottoms of the door jambs so as...

Garage doors accentuate your home's appearance, but rotting trim work around the garage door is not pleasant to look at. The trim work can be replaced with a perimeter weather seal that not only...

Update the look of your house by replacing old slab doors with stained, six-panel ones or update your office by replacing your six-panel door with a glass door. Replacing interior doors is not...

Nails are less like big pins and more like small chisels, and hammering a nail into a piece of pine or similar soft wood without splitting it is easy once you understand how nails are made. Nails...

Cement, silica and wood fibers are used to manufacture fiber cement siding. This type of siding is a very hardy material that is resistant to insects, moisture and fire damage. The life...

How to use a nail gun safely goes beyond reading the instruction manual that comes with it, although that's a good start. New users and seasoned carpenters are hurt every day by improper use of...

A finish nailer is also called a brad nailer. This is a tool that makes applying finish nails to moldings much easier. It leaves a clean, dent-free finish on the molding and will not leave a mark...

Removing concrete nails can be a frustrating task. There are two types of nails that can be hard to remove: the concrete nail and the masonry nail. Concrete nails are heavy-duty, rigid and...

Weatherboards have been used throughout the centuries to cover the exterior of many dwellings. They serve to keep the walls watertight while allowing air circulation beneath the surface. Sometimes...

Installing wood windows can be difficult if you are not sure what to do or how to do it. The process is straightforward and methodical in its application. By following these steps, you can finish...

Most doors are installed in homes pre-hung. Pre-hung doors come assembled, complete with the door, jambs, hinges and threshold. You can replace the threshold of a pre-hung door using a...

Do you want more airflow through your house in the summertime and don't want to pay a fortune for it? Follow these three easy steps to putting your own vent system on your house.

Nail guns are common on both construction sites and in the garages of everyday people who like to work on their homes. Nail guns can dramatically cut down the time it takes to complete a task, and...

Using the right tool for the job will always save you time and frustration. Nail guns are designed for various functions and should not be used for jobs they were not made for.

When a roof collapses, it often is because there was not enough support underneath it, either from rot or failure to build correctly. When the weight above the roof becomes too much, the structure...

Whether you are replacing your windows or painting the walls surrounding them, there may be times when removal of the window moldings is necessary. If the moldings are in relatively good...

A finishing nail is used in construction and building trades to join two materials, typically wood or lumber. The head, or top, is flat and small, so it won't be easily seen after use. The...

Exterior door trim can show wear and tear due to being exposed to all types of weather. Because of this, your trim will need to be replaced from time to time. Even if the existing trim is still...

Replacing an old or damaged window frame in a garage is a task that can be completed by anyone with the correct tools and a little carpentry know-how. If your home needs a new garage window,...

Using a circular saw for a table saw is an innovative way to perform straight-line cutting whether on the job site or for the home do-it-your-selfer. You will need some materials to set up the...

After swinging a hammer over a million times in my life I can tell you that it does matter on the size of the hammer. Here are some tips that can help you choose the right hammer for you.

Many of us spent way too much money paying contractors to do jobs that are not terribly difficult. I learned how to put on a roof when I was a young child, and it is quite simple. I have made...

A nail drill is a tool that is used to quickly and effectively drive nails into building materials. The key to getting desired results from your use of a nail drill is consistent spacing of the...

Nail guns can be very dangerous if you don't develop safe work habits. According to the Work Safe Bulletin, accidents with nail guns are on the rise. While most of the reported injuries are to the...

Nails are so common and we use them so frequently—that most of us never think about them. Sure, if we're building something, we want to get a nail that's close to the right size—but after that...

Are you tired of smashing your fingers while trying to hammer nails? This handy solution makes it easy to avoid the risk, particularly when hammering nails into tight corners and other areas where...

If you want to reuse a piece of molding you’ve pulled off don’t just hammer the nails from the backside pushing them through the face of the molding. If you do this the wood will more then likely...

When you're installing base molding, you must make sure that all of your nails are sunk in the base molding. This allows you to putty your nail holes. Putty in nail holes makes the base mold look...

Removal of nails can sometimes be tricky, especially if you want to make certain the wood remains undamaged. Fear not; there's a few tricks you can pull out your tool belt. This eHow will show you...