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The most daunting part of using engineered beams may be the wide selection. Fortunately, lumberyard staff can usually explain the merits of each type and help you determine correct size. Glulams, or glue-laminated timbers, are the granddaddy of engineered beams. They’ve been used in Europe since the early 1900s. In North America, they’re fabricated from […]

Like any natural product, standard lumber is quirky. It has knots, holes, and splits. And it twists, cups, and shrinks. As mature old-growth timber was replaced by smaller, inferior trees, lumber quality became less reliable—much to the dismay of builders. In response, the lumber industry combined wood fiber and strong glues to create engineered lumber […]

Each day, a mature living tree can pump a ton of water into the atmosphere, so it’s no surprise that logs arrive at the mill with moisture contents of 30 percent to 55 percent. Consequently, a sawmill will rough-cut logs into lumber, air dry or kiln dry it, and then grade the lumber’s moisture con­tent […]

This chapter of the materials needed to frame and sheath a house. Materials include standard lumber; engineered lumber; sheet materials, such as plywood and particleboard; and fasteners, including nails, screws, and construction adhesives. There’s never been a wider choice of building materials or more readily available information on using them, whether you need to size […]

A 10-in. sliding compound-miter saw is the ulti­mate tool for a wide range of finish work. The extended crosscut length, combined with adjustable angle and bevel settings, allows com­plicated cuts in larger materials such as 6-in. by 6-in. deck posts, 10-in.-wide siding boards, and large crown molding. POWER PLANERS Moderately priced and incredibly useful, a […]

© Disconnect plumbing pipes and electrical cables in areas about to be demolished—and check with a voltage tester to be sure the power’s off. Be methodical and work slowly. Wrecking bars have differing lengths and end configurations. Most are crowbars with crooked ends for better leverage. The longer the bar, the better the leverage. L-bars […]

Magnetic bit holders magnetize drill bits so screws don’t fall off the bit. Some types also have a collet that keeps the screw centered as you drive them in. Extension bit holders enable you to drive screws where drill/drivers won’t fit. Flexible bit holders drive screws at angles drill/drivers can’t reach. Drill bit extensions enable […]

Power tools can do a lot, but you often need a hand tool to finish the job. Chisels clean up the corners of a hinge mortise that a router can’t reach and quickly notch plates so washers sit flush. Be sure to sheathe cutting edges so they stay sharp and don’t cut you when you […]

The following inexpensive handsaws are handy to have: Coping saws cut curves into any thin stock, although their primary use is coping trim so intersecting pieces fit snugly. They take both metal — and wood-cutting blades. A hacksaw is most often used to cut metal, espe­cially bolts or nails. Sawblades will last longer if you […]

A plumb bob takes patience to use, but it’s a compact, accurate tool. The plumbed string is also a useful reference line you can measure out from. The Gammon Reel® shown in the photo on the next page automatically reels in the string so it can’t tangle up in a tool pouch. A 4-ft. spirit […]