Most Common Household Carpentry Projects
Carpentry is at the core of the entire structure of your home. Here are a few of the most common household carpentry projects:
1) Replacing Doors: If you are thinking of replacing your door because of a draft, you should first check your weatherstripping and/or door sweep; both can wear over time and are much easier to replace than an entire door. However, if the door or frame is warped or if the door was poorly installed from the beginning, you may need a reinstallation of the unit or total replacement. When talking about door replacement there is a difference between a slab door, which is just the door, and a pre-hung door, which includes both the door and the frame that supports it. Replacing just the door might not improve your entranceway as much as replacing the entire unit. Your existing door frame could have wood rot or may not seal as well as an updated door system. If your door is more than 25 years old, you should use a pre-hung door system to ensure a sealed frame.
2) Replacing Rotten Window Sills: Oftentimes the first part of a wood window to rot is the sill nosing. The sill is the ledge that juts out at the bottom of the window. Luckily this nosing is a removable and replaceable part of the window. When replacing window sill nosing on wood windows, use 2×4 cedar. Cedar is well known for its insect and rot repelling abilities.
3) Repairing Decks: Rotten deck boards are a common issue in New England. You should always try to keep your deck clean and apply the recommended products to enhance its longevity. But no matter how regularly you inspect or maintain your deck by staining and sealing, its surface is going to need periodic replacement. If you’ve already reached that point, then you may want to consider replacing the deck’s surface with composite decking that looks like real wood but resists the elements better than wood does. If you do remove the surface of your deck, this is an ideal time to inspect the deck’s substructure. Damage in the substructure is a major issue, and if it is significant enough, it may be wise to replace the entire deck.
4) Trim & Molding Installation: Baseboard and crown molding can give a basic drywall and painting project character and appeal. For the best results, purchase pre-primed boards whenever possible and paint them before nailing them to the wall. Trimwork that is not sized correctly in proportion to a wall’s height can have a negative effect on the overall decor. Here are the suggested optimal sizes for the crown molding drop (distance from the ceiling to the lower edge of the crown) on various wall heights:
8-ft. ceiling: 3- to 5-in. drop
9-ft. ceiling: 5- to 10-in. drop
10- to 12-ft. ceiling: 10-to 20-in. drop
16-ft. ceiling: 18- to 25-in. drop
For baseboards, use the 7-percent Rule as a guideline. So, if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard that’s about 7” tall (96” x .07 = 6.72”). The baseboard size should also work visually with the size of the door casing and other associated trim throughout the room.
Whether your carpentry job is large or small, residential or commercial, Cobb Brothers Company is your trusted carpentry partner. Call today- 508-655-7910.