Carpentry

Corrugated fasteners are metal fasteners that are made from sheet metal and have alternating ridges and grooves. The fastener is common in woodworking projects and ideal for use with miter joints....

If you are replacing a hot tub frame, then your old one is likely damaged, either from water, termites or some other force--be it natural or human. When you replace your hot tub frame, ensure that...

Installing trim on interior windows can add style and dimension to any room. When considering such a project, first determine the styling; the desired style will determine the type of molding you...

If you need to hide screws in a piece of furniture that you plan to paint, you can use dowel rods or purchase ready-made plugs at your home improvement store. Paint will usually hide the...

A variety of construction and carpentry jobs require you to tear down a wood structure. In the process, you will need to remove nails. You could do it with a hammer, but a better option is to use...

Wood screws and lag bolts have a lot in common. In fact, a lag bolt is often, and more accurately, called a lag screw, and it behaves much more like a wood screw than any type of standard bolt.

Do-it-yourself wood decks and balconies are some of the most popular home projects throughout the United States. With a little preparation, the average do-it-yourself homeowner can tackle simple...

Making repairs to the wood fixtures in your home requires a delicate hand and a skillful eye in pinpointing and dealing with problems. Wood can be very difficult to work with and when damaged is...

Wood paneling gives a great, rustic look to any room in your home. Wood paneling is easy to install, but it is flimsy. If you pick up a long sheet or try to pry the paneling too hard, you may...

Many people don't consider refinishing their wood furniture after it becomes old, scratched and damaged. They usually throw it way and purchase a new piece. Refinishing wood is not overly...

Latex caulk provides good protection from moisture in joints for up to 10 years, but as it ages the protection lessens, which can lead to damage of the wood surface below. In order to best apply a...

Wood is wonderful surface to have in any home or office, but it not properly stained or protected when it is installed, it will wear down or rot, depending on how it is used. However, treating and...

Gel stains are a relatively new alternative to the stains that have traditionally been used to color and protect wood surfaces. They have the benefit of having a much thicker consistency, so they...

Basements are a traditional place to store excess household goods. Dampness and unfinished walls are the biggest obstacles to hanging shelves in basements. Dampness is a problem because high...

A great innovation in woodworking products is the paintable and stainable wood filler. The wood filler is made with different wood species so that it will stain to shades similar to those of the...

Wood trim is milled from several different wood types, such as pine, poplar and oak, and each type of wood will receive stain differently. Failure to apply stain to your wood trim correctly can...

The piston-like motion of a reciprocating saw's blade cuts aggressively through wood. It's ideal for carpenters, framers, demolition crews and electricians and plumbers who have to cut through...

Corners of wood picture frames sometime need reinforcing after being damaged by falling off the wall, being generally mishandled or having their glue joints dry out. Any of these things can cause...

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...

A wood jig helps to control the movement of a power tool. There are a variety of jig shapes, depending on your woodworking requirements, but there a few basic wood jigs that will assist you in...

Kitchen drawers are not very complicated structures. They are aggravating, however, when they don't work correctly. This happens for a number of reasons. The metal ledge on which a drawer is often...

The easiest way to finish interior wood trim is to do so before you hang it. Painting or staining small pieces of wood is much easier when they are sitting on a flat surface, like a floor, than...

Restoring interior wood trim is a great way to save money by not having to go out and buy new trim. If you have an older home, some of the wood used from the trim back when the house was built is...

Many people find woodworking projects to be relaxing and rewarding. From building doll houses and toy animals to wood boxes, all woodworking projects have one thing in common---wood glue. Also...

Whether it's been pulled out by gravity or a great tug or it's become stripped from too much retightening, repairing a screw that's lost its grip in wood is an easy fix. In most cases the repair...

Protect wood by applying a clear-coat sealant, especially if the wood resides outside, such as decking or outdoor patio furniture. A clear water-repellent sealer will waterproof your wood and...

Nail holes is mouldings around doors and windows can prove unsightly. Repair them quickly and easily using a few supplies readily available at most home improvement stores. The repair itself...

Siding is a key part of every home. Siding not only is the main visual of your entire home, but it also is one more layer of insulation to protect you from the elements on the outside. There is a...

Contoured wood is most often found in crown molding and other types of wood trim. But over time, the finish on contoured wood can start looking old, dirty and in need of repair. Forget using...

Several factors can damage the wood in your home. In addition to termites and mold, you also have to worry about dry rot, which can completely destroy a piece of wood if left too long. If you...

Exterior stair railings can be as varied, if not more varied, as their interior counterparts. In residential settings, people use exterior stair railings on decks, porches, cellar entrances,...

Drill bits come in various sizes, from 1/16 inch or smaller, all the way up to 1 inch. When manufactured, the bits are gauged by measuring the outside edges, also known as the outside diameter....

A board foot is a unit used for measuring the volume of lumber. A single board foot is equal to the volume of a piece of wood that measures one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick. This...

The craft of carpentry requires much concentration, planning and attention to detail. Carpentry requires the use of wood planes, chisels, saws, tape measures, hand levels, drills and joinery...

Smoke is serious business. Whether cigarette smoke, cooking smoke or smoke from a house fire, it leaves a thick residue that easily stains wood and other household items. If you have smoke-stained...

There are many applications where sandpaper is needed to complete a home or automotive project. The problem is that regular sandpaper may not be available in your time of need or you do not have...

You can improve the security of your house by installing deadbolts or sliding locks to all your exterior doors. These types of locking mechanisms anchor the door by sliding a bolt through a latch...

Trex is a wood-plastic composite made of recycled plastic and wood waste. A primary use for this material is to make outdoor decks, but it is also good for railings, fences and trim. All exterior...

Wood windows are unrivaled when it comes to beauty and authenticity. They help add to the value of any home--even more than does vinyl or metal windows--and they function more smoothly under...

Using wood glue to bond two pieces of wood together needs to be done properly or the bond will fail. Many people become frustrated with using wood glue, feeling that it is not effective, when in...

It's important to understand safety guidelines for your compound miter saw to avoid serious injury. One mistake can sever a finger or damage an eye. If you have a miter saw or you are purchasing...

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...

Particle board is a composite product. It is manufactured by mixing waste-wood products, such as sawdust, wood chips or sawmill shavings, with a synthetic resin or another type of binder.

Installing basement stairs may not top your list of home remodeling priorities. But a brand new set of basement stairs can improve the look of the room, especially if it is unfinished. Choose...

Teak oil is commonly used to finish outdoor furniture because it waterproofs it. It is also used on indoor furniture in high- humidity climates, to keep it from warping. It is durable and does its...

Depending on when your home or apartment was built, you may have wood trim along the sides of the walls. You also may choose not to paint the trim. If you are leaving the wood unpainted and bare,...

Some homeowners prefer the rustic look of nail heads protruding from interior wood trim. Others prefer a more finished appearance in wood trim. If you prefer a smooth finish in wood trim, you will...

Wood sheds have many uses. Because they are easy to build and provide ample storage space at a cheap price, they are popular around the world. If you are planning on building your own wood shed...

Wood glue can be the carpenter's best friend. When placed in the right joints it can hold a piece of furniture together for a century or more. On the face of a wooden cabinet, however, it bodes...

Door jambs occasionally suffer damage because of a mishap or break-in and can lend a shoddy appearance to your home if not repaired promptly. If you are handy with tools, you can replace this unit...