Questions tagged [wood]
For questions involving wood as a construction material, either as lumber or finished features of a home.
85
questions
38
votes
8answers
108k views
Should I use steel or wood studs for basement exterior walls?
Related: When should you use metal studs?
I'm planning on finishing my basement. (assuming all water issues are resolved)
I'll be putting up a water barrier (tar paper) on all exterior walls, ...
30
votes
9answers
314k views
How much load can a (wood) board support, if it is supported only at the ends?
How much load can a board support, if it is supported only at the ends?
At the moment my specific problem is hanging a tire swing between two trees, and depending on which trees I choose they could ...
23
votes
3answers
16k views
Why are 2“x4”'s really 1.5“x3.5”?
Just curious as to the reasoning, is it a spec, or is it simply 'backwards compatibility'?
8
votes
5answers
121k views
How do I vertically connect two 4x4s on a deck to build a roof?
I have a deck I am going to put a roof over. It has 4x4s for vertical supports that I need to extend upward to attach my trusses to. What is the best way to connect two vertical 4x4s?
7
votes
3answers
4k views
How can I drill a hole in a small stick of wood?
I need to make a few arrow shafts hollow, they're about 1/2" thick.
Example:
There would have to be enough space in the middle to put iron wire in it (the thickness of an old coat hanger)
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Floating wall mounted office desk
I'm currently about to embark on redeveloping my home office.
We have a room with a small alcove and want to mount a desk top inside it. The approx size is 220cm x 80cm
We can source the wood we ...
1
vote
4answers
7k views
Remove cured Danish oil from tiles
My worktops are treated with Danish oil, and I appear to have got some on the tiled splashbacks and not noticed until it's cured (it's not very obvious except in daylight, I oiled by artifical light).
...
30
votes
14answers
158k views
What are cheap ways to build strong shelves with a large span?
I have removed several old and moisture damaged built in storage units from my house. I would like to replace them with shelving. There are a number of different sized gaps (width and depth to fill).
...
4
votes
5answers
8k views
What do I need to do to fix stripped door hinge screw holes?
The door to my basement broke. The bottom hinge has three screws; the top and bottom one turn endlessly. You can see the pictures here.
I understand that there's a matchstick/toothpick trick, where ...
10
votes
9answers
23k views
How do I take apart a wooden pallet without cracking the wood?
I'm trying to save the wood from some wooden pallets and have been unsuccessful. I have been hammering close to where the nails are and then pry the nails out; however, before the wood comes out far ...
4
votes
1answer
502 views
How to paint a wood house?
I'm looking for good resources for painting a wood house. I'm looking for the proper tools and techniques.
I don't want to hire somebody to do the job, I would like to do it myself. I just need to ...
2
votes
2answers
982 views
What type of Drill should I go for?
I am planning to build a new Computer table and a book shelf by myself.
I will require a drill machine that can drill a hole into wood and that can also drive a screw into this hole (using the drill, ...
12
votes
10answers
7k views
Was my approach to repairing stripped holes in a door jamb appropriate?
Two of the screw holes on the doorframe of a bedroom in my house are completely stripped out, to fill them in I soaked small strips of paper towel in wood glue and carefully stuffed them deep until ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
How would you fix this wooden cottage's leaky walls?
I have an old prefab cottage made of wood.
its walls have become leaky. When it rains sideways (happens a lot because we're so close to the sea), water seeps in from in between the beams, and ...
3
votes
1answer
9k views
How can I repair water damage under the kitchen sink?
I found out that our kitchen water connection had somehow loosened up and was leaking water on the floor underneath the sink. Now the particle board cabinet floor is warped quite a bit. I was thinking ...
3
votes
3answers
183 views
Is wood flooring in bathroom a right decision? [closed]
We have decided to install wood flooring in bathroom. Is it a right decision??
3
votes
1answer
21k views
Is this swing beam safe?
Please help. I made a swing for my kids and now am wondering how safe it is. The swing beam is pressure treated yellow pine 4x6 and 16 feet long. The swing hangers are attached to the 4 inch side of ...
1
vote
1answer
130 views
Cause of white rot on floor joist
The structural floor system on the 4th and top floor of a house in Rotterdam that was built in 1906 consists of 20cm x 7.5cm wooden joists which are spaced at 67cm center to center. There is nothing ...
1
vote
4answers
311 views
Bevel a 2x6 long ways
I need to make a bevel plate (of 10 degrees) to support wooden I-joists on a single slope (shed) roof assembly. I'm working with 2x6s, and I'd really like to cut the ten degree bevel across the 5.5'' ...
49
votes
6answers
334k views
When pre-drilling for screws, how do you determine the correct bit diameter?
Suppose I want to pre-drill for, say, a 5/16 screw. How do I determine the correct drill bit diameter?
25
votes
13answers
214k views
What grit sandpaper should I use between coats of polyurethane?
I'm planning on applying polyurethane to a pine bench I've finished staining. I decided on foam brushes for application, but I wasn't sure what grit sandpaper I should use between coats. Is 400 good ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
What are some tips for finishing wood?
I'm kind of embarrassed to ask, but I'm looking for a good how-to guide for finishing pine furniture. (Could also apply to baseboards and trim, so I'm hoping for an on-topic pass here.) I watched my ...
26
votes
4answers
9k views
What is the best tool for cutting up scrap wood?
I have some wood left over from building a patio, mainly some planks. Normally when I'm creating firewood, I just use an axe a split the wood, but these are too long for that. I really don't want to ...
20
votes
7answers
56k views
What's the best way to account for saw blade width (kerf) when cutting boards?
In theory, to cut a 350mm piece out of a longer board, I would have to mark the line at 350mm + half of blade width. So if I have a 2mm hand saw, the line would be drawn at 351mm. How does that work ...
9
votes
1answer
22k views
How can I fix a hairline crack in a thin wood panel of an exterior door?
My 100-year-old house has a wooden front door made of thick wood ribs interspersed with 8 wood panels, each about 10" high, 8" wide, but only 1/8" or 3/16" thick. Perhaps the door originally had ...
8
votes
5answers
40k views
Is there a way to remove the warp in plywood?
I just bought some 1/2" plywood from HD for a project, and the best piece I could find was still pretty warped. Is there a way to fix this? Currently, it's sitting flat on my garage floor with a sheet ...
4
votes
5answers
44k views
How do I stain pine without streaks or blotches?
I did some test staining on pine scraps, and I ended up with a cross grain arc that's darker than everything else. Where did I go wrong? (Or is it just the pine?)
(Related to this question, as a ...
2
votes
2answers
27k views
How do I ensure my wood screws have a minimum of 120 lbs pull out or shear strength?
Some assembly instructions for a project I am doing requires that I use fasteners (screws) with a minimum of 120 lbs pull out or shear strength. What I plan to use is #8 2 1/2" coarse thread wood ...
18
votes
2answers
30k views
What is causing/caused these brown circular stains in my cabinetry?
Recently moved into a 1950s-built home and have unearthed a number of brown, circular stains on the wood inside various closets. These rings don't appear on the plaster walls, but rather on the wood ...
15
votes
3answers
57k views
What size dowels to use for joints?
I'm comfortable with the process of creating and joining wood with dowels, but I'm not sure what size dowels to use in which cases? Specifically, I'm working with 1" thick stock (3/4" actual), what ...
10
votes
1answer
6k views
What is the recommended number of teeth for making finish cuts with a miter saw?
I'm going to be cutting 1x6 oak planks with a miter saw, but I'm not sure what blade to use. I currently have a 24T blade in the saw (which I know for sure I don't want to use), since I usually use it ...
7
votes
2answers
88k views
Plans for building a simple swing set out of wood
I would like to build a simple A-frame style swing set, which obviously has to be safe while also accommodating up to two swings.
Where can I find plans for building such a swing set?
7
votes
4answers
3k views
How to prepare & paint a porch that has existing lead paint?
I'd like to repaint my 100-year-old wooden front porch. It almost certainly had lead paint at some point. I would very much like to avoid stripping it, or any other procedure that might mobilize the ...
7
votes
4answers
6k views
Why should I use advanced nails instead of wood screws for strength?
Recently I found that there're some superior nails for constructing hurricane-resistant houses - with very clever design for preventing pulling the nails out and tearing the boards off when the ...
7
votes
5answers
53k views
How can I mount a desk on a wall with L-brackets?
I'm currently planning a new wall-mounted computer desk and intend to use something similar to this as the top:
However, my end goal is for a wall-mounted desk, using L-Bracket mounts. I've never ...
7
votes
3answers
16k views
What tools do I need to make a straight cut in laminated chipboard?
It's 38mm thick.
Next week I will need to cut it along a straight line, and I would like the cut to be as straight and clean as possible.
What tools do I need to do this ?
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Do lag bolts need to be centered?
I'm putting a 56lb TV on a 20lb wall mount and attaching it to two studs with 5 screws (3 on one stud, 2 on the other). Installing the plate so it is off center would make the rest of the installation ...
5
votes
3answers
9k views
Should I choose MDF or plywood for my false stair treads?
I'm looking to install false stair treads and risers on my basement stairs. Generally, we're talking about a kit like this:
Which is installed with adhesive and finishing nails like this:
The ...
5
votes
1answer
8k views
What is the difference between various wood sealers?
I've recently become aware of the existence of various seals for wood. I'm lead to believe that they are necessary, but I am unclear on the differences between the types of sealers you can find:
...
4
votes
3answers
6k views
Should I be concerned that the sill plate is not lined up with the foundation?
I am in the process of building a one level home in PA. After the formed concrete walls were poured and the framing began, I noticed that on one side of the house that the sill plate was flush with ...
3
votes
4answers
23k views
What primer and paint should I used for a solid-core wooden front door?
I recently purchased a new pre-hung exterior door for my house. We opted for a solid-core Douglas Fir instead of the fiberglass models as the wooden door was substantially cheaper. We want to paint ...
3
votes
2answers
48k views
How can I prevent a wooden bed frame from creaking?
Our wooden bed frame is three years old. At first it was perfectly solid and silent. But lately it's started creaking whenever we get in or out of it, and it's become unbearably loud.
The noise comes ...
2
votes
2answers
909 views
Danny Lipford Workbench Questions
How to Build a Built-in Garage Workbench
By: Danny Lipford on Today's Homeowner
I would like to build a built-in workbench in the garage, attached to the beans of the structure.
This is the only ...
2
votes
2answers
5k views
What header joist sizes do I need for a loft bed?
I've decided to design and build a king-sized loft bed for our bedroom. Basically, I've got an 80" x 89" frame, 54" off the floor, covered with slats instead of plywood (see image, below).
I'm sure I'...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
How to repair or replace rotted wood below the frame of large windows?
The wood below a few of our large windows (windows are 96"x36") is rotting. It's soft to the touch, and a mouse or rat took a couple chunks out of it last night. I called a siding company, who ...
1
vote
1answer
707 views
Replace a cross brace with knee braces?
I'm currently in the process of designing a watch tower and was wondering if i can replace my cross braces in my current design with simple knee braces.
Cross brace:
Knee brace:
This saves some ...
0
votes
1answer
10k views
How do I attach a wooden post to existing concrete steps?
Background
At the front of my house I have concrete steps leading up to the porch. Having just rebuilt the porch, I've discovered that they are actually concrete veneer over brick. It appears that the ...
11
votes
9answers
72k views
Is it safe to use an angle grinder with wood cutting blades?
Being a newbie to DIY and trying to get more and more jobs done myself, safety is a concern to me. I recently bought a Makita 5" angle grinder to cut some metal balustrades, job done. I considered ...
10
votes
5answers
13k views
How can I attach two pieces of wood in an invisible way?
I would like to attach a thin tree trunk to a flat smooth piece of wood, in order to create support for a very heavy shelf. Any suggestions on how to do it, while leaving a minimal outside marks?
...
7
votes
4answers
16k views
How do I install this knee brace to my pergola post?
I have built a 7' x 13' pergola over my deck and have a slight wobble, so I intend to install some knee braces. Each post has two pairs of perpendicular beams stretching to the adjacent posts. For ...
