66
votes
How to block a window with plywood for big wall to project a movie?
I have had great success using a 4x8 foot sheet of white foam board.
It is extremely light weight. I hung it from ceiling on strings attached to three binder clips or bull dog clips like show below.
...
- 4,245
51
votes
Accepted
Should I tilt my DIY self-standing bookshelf backwards to prevent it falling down?
Use Screws Anyway
If it was me, I would quietly ignore "I am not allowed to secure it using screws in the wall." We are talking about a couple of screws here, which would leave ~ 1/4" ...
29
votes
Accepted
How can I bend plywood around a stair riser?
Just about any type of plywood can be bent by cutting slots on the hidden side that leave both clearance for the bend and enough uncut wood on the front to support it. I once made some speaker ...
- 23k
19
votes
Should I tilt my DIY self-standing bookshelf backwards to prevent it falling down?
I haven't built anything into a recess like you describe so this is conjecture.
If you're fitting it into a recess and it is encased on all 5 sides (ceiling, floor, left side, right side, back wall), ...
- 291
19
votes
Should I discard all flooring in a package containing mold?
Contact the seller and tell them about the problem. They should send you a new package and take back the mouldy one.
- 291
18
votes
How can I cut a rectangle out of a piece of plywood?
I've often done this using a jigsaw, with the bookcase face down, or before assembling it. I assumed you want sharp corners - jigsaws can cut fairly tight turns but not sharp. I wouldn't run the saw ...
- 5,443
18
votes
Is 3/4" plywood sufficiently strong to mount an 85" television?
There are "three stud" TV mounts where the backing plate is wide enough that you can connect with at least two studs and then mount the TV exactly where you want, even if it isn't centered ...
- 32.1k
17
votes
Should I tilt my DIY self-standing bookshelf backwards to prevent it falling down?
It is impossible for the bookshelf to rotate forwards and crush anyone, child or not, the way you have drawn it. For it to fall on someone (who pulled on it, or climbed it) it would have to rotate ...
- 431
17
votes
How can I bend plywood around a stair riser?
There are plywood products made for radius situations.
Bendy plywood and Wacky Wood are a few names it goes by. Options are available from several manufacturers like Radius-bending Plywood or Flexi ...
- 4,245
16
votes
How can I shave a sheet of plywood into a wedge shim?
I know from hard experience that it's very challenging to get a flat outcome doing something like this. Your existing floor isn't flat or level, and you need to remedy both of those things. A simple ...
- 126k
14
votes
Accepted
Remove tiles (and plywood underneath) around toilet without removing toilet
Anything is possible, but this falls under the Why On Earth Would You category.
Removing and reinstalling a toilet is a fairly simple job for even a novice DIYer. Don't let that intimidate you into ...
- 126k
14
votes
Accepted
How to block a window with plywood for big wall to project a movie?
Cut a sheet of wood into the dimensions of your window. Screw in L brackets in the four corners of the wall where you want to put the wood. Then just like a picture frame you install four rotating ...
- 164
14
votes
Accepted
Should I discard all flooring in a package containing mold?
Contact the seller to see what can be done with your time line in mind.
If you cannot get replacement before some hard installation deadline, remediating what you have is certainly possible: use the ...
- 15.7k
13
votes
How can I bend plywood around a stair riser?
Take some 1/4 inch plywood, and, with a circular saw, cut vertical slices in the back side ~3/16 inch deep, every half or quarter inch or so in the area where the bend is. This may give you enough ...
- 6,406
13
votes
How can I cut a rectangle out of a piece of plywood?
The almost optimum tool for cutting a hole like this is the oscillating type saw. You can get these into a fairly tight spot and with control of the tool you can avoid damage to the wall or power ...
- 64k
12
votes
Accepted
What is the lifespan of plywood as roof decking?
I would give your business to one of the "is good and stays dry" roofers who are not blatantly trying to fleece you.
Now, the other two may be working from the assumption that if you bothered to call ...
- 192k
12
votes
Accepted
Nail gun and curled nails
Even on a good day, brad nails can curl on you. Through your fingers, if you aren't careful.
However, if you look closely at the pointy end of a strip of nails, you'll see that they're cut at an ...
- 19.2k
11
votes
How to block a window with plywood for big wall to project a movie?
If you're not too attached to your current design, consider getting a pull-down projector screen (example). They hide away almost completely when not in use, and you can install it without ...
- 1,697
10
votes
Is 3/4" plywood sufficiently strong to mount an 85" television?
Yes.
3/4" plywood is very strong, and if you use a sheet of sufficient size will provide very good support. Assuming 16" stud centers I suggest about 52"w by 16"h. This will give ...
- 126k
9
votes
Plywood or MDF for workbench?
One factor to consider: If there is any risk that the work area becomes damp, I recommend avoiding MDF (unless it is thoroughly sealed) -- it swells and warps like crazy. I have recently suffered this ...
- 1,012
8
votes
Accepted
Is 3/4" OSB a better soundproofing material than 5/8" drywall?
3/4” OSB board is better than 5/8” gypsum board.
Sound control is measured in STC ratings (sound transmission coefficient).
Here’s a website that tests various materials: https://www....
- 23k
8
votes
How would you protect a plywood container from moisture and abrasion?
The usual approach is a couple coats of polyurethane varnish. I'd sand it a bit to clean it up and give it a coat on all exposed surfaces. Steel wool between coats. It'll be apparent when you've ...
- 126k
8
votes
Accepted
What are the actual dimensions of a 4x8' subfloor plywood panel
Looking for "sanded" plywood and check the specification for the panel you are looking to purchase. This one is a 4x8x3/4 from Menards. https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/panel-...
- 3,362
7
votes
Accepted
How to secure plywood wall panels with hidden fixings
If you use 3/4" plywood and not a veneered MDF you could drill a small pilot hole for trim head screws.
It will leave a hole about 3/16" in diameter that will need to be filled after the panels are ...
- 33.8k
7
votes
Should I tilt my DIY self-standing bookshelf backwards to prevent it falling down?
In order for a bookshelf to topple forwards, it is necessary to have some force applied to the structure. Typically, that force is gravity. Gravity will not usually push a bookshelf out of plumb, ...
- 10.5k
7
votes
Contact surface between subfloor and joists
Just add (nail, screw, and/or glue) additional framing material to the side face of the joist to provide more bearing area for the subfloor.
- 192k
7
votes
How can I bend plywood around a stair riser?
The problem you have here is you are trying to solve an aesthetics issue. You could tackle this 10 different ways but what can you make look good? This could be done with just plaster or some ...
- 47.7k
7
votes
How can I shave a sheet of plywood into a wedge shim?
Build it up, don't shave it down. Depending on how smooth and level you want to get it, do some or all of the following steps:
Set yourself up with a temporary reference for level down each side of ...
- 7,573
6
votes
What is the lifespan of plywood as roof decking?
It's a mistake for the roofers to say that the plywood will definitely have to be replaced. However, they may be familiar with homes in your area, that were built around the same time. So they may ...
- 131k
6
votes
Accepted
What lag bolts to use when mounting 65" TV to drywall using plywood?
The plywood plan sounds fine.
The lag bolts through the plywood into the studs need to be long enough to go through the plywood, through the drywall, and engage about 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" into the stud ...
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible