• Construction Knowledge Home
• Construction Knowledge Database
• Ned's Blog
• Best Phone Apps
• Our Construction Phone Apps
• About Us

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE  >> CARPENTRY >>

ROUGH CARPENTRY
 

1.   If I Know Little about Carpentry, Where Should I Start?
2.   What are the Basics of Floor and Wall Framing?
3.   What are the Basics of Roof Framing?
4.   What are the Basics of Finishing Roofs?
5.   What are the Basics of Finishing Exterior Walls?
6.   What are the Basics of Layout and Foundations?
7.   What are the Basics of Building Forms for Concrete?
8.   What Do the Different Wood Terms Mean?
9.   What Public Domain Documents are Available for Further Study?
10. Tricks of the Trade & Rules of Thumb for Rough Carpentry Basics:

If I Know Little about Carpentry, Where Should I Start?

When we bought our little fixer-upper house in 1981, we built a daylight basement solar greenhouse addition. This was my first hands-on construction project. I knew lots of theory from engineering school, but the theory didn't help much when it came to things like, "How do we actually form the footings or lay the block in a straight line?"

I found the US Navy Manual for basic construction techniques to be incredibly helpful. I still remember my even less experienced friend and I stopping work as I'd run upstairs to re-read the proper technique in the Navy Manual. So I'm including several of the chapters from that resource here, as well as the entire US Navy Carpentry course and the US Army Carpentry Field Manual.

What are the Basics of Floor and Wall Framing?

The linked section of the US Navy Builder course for Floor and Wall Framing gives you the basics. The linked section of the US Army Carpentry Field Manual for Rough Framing also provides excellent information.

What are the Basics of Roof Framing?

The linked section of the US Navy Builder course for Roof Framing provides the basics. The linked section of the US Army Carpentry Field Manual for Roof Framing gives you a somewhat different set of basics.

What are the Basics of Finishing Roofs?

The linked section of the US Navy Builder course for Finishing Roofs shows you many techniques.

What are the Basics of Finishing Exterior Walls?

The linked section of the US Navy Builder course for Finishing Exterior Walls illustrates those concepts.

What are the Basics of Layout and Foundations?

The linked section of the US Army Carpentry Field Manual for Layout and Foundations shows some simple techniques that a Carpenter should know.

What are the Basics of Building Forms for Concrete?

The linked section of the US Army Carpentry Field Manual for Building Forms for Concrete also shows simple form building that should be understood by a Carpenter.

What Do the Different Wood Terms Mean?

The linked section of the USDA Wood Handbook provides a Wood Glossary for many terms, some common and some obscure.

What Public Domain Documents are Available for Further Study?

The US Department of Army Carpentry Field Manual does a great job explaining carpentry basics. It's 223 pages of basic explanations and instructions of how to do the work. If you are somewhat new to construction, take some time and review this excellent resource. The official name is US Army FM 5-426.

The US Navy Builder courses show you the basics of construction. The 332 page Volume 1 NAVEDTRA 14043 illustrates plans, woodworking, concrete, masonry, rigging and lots of other helpful information. The 354 page Volume 2 NAVEDTRA 14044 shows all the basics of carpentry and interior finishes.

Another great all around resource regarding wood products and their uses is the 486 page, USDA Wood Handbook.

Tricks of the Trade & Rules of Thumb for Rough Carpentry Basics:

1. Learn the species of wood and what they are used for.
2. Measure twice and cut once.
3. Board measure equals nominal width (inches) x nominal thickness (inches) x length (feet) / 12.
4. Long span wood trusses are very dangerous to erect, brace them more than you think you need to.