Wood working, Layout and Measurement

Hi Everybody,

DON'T buy anything until you have completed your layout. Once you have decided to do a project in your, let's say, den or living room and you have planned it right down to the final step of completion, you are ready to, physically, lay out your idea. This step will allow you to; better anticipate problems, visualize the finished project, do a materials take-off and estimate cost. You will need; a chalk straight line, a 4 foot level, a pocket level, a speed square, a framing square, a pencil, a utility knife, a ladder ( 4 foot will work for up to 9 foot ceiling height, you just need to be able to comfortably reach the ceiling) a tool belt and a construction calculator, unless, you are very good with math or you are already familiar with converting a 1/10 scale to a to a 1/12 scale to a 1/16 scale. The layout step is the step in which you physically mark the locations of vertical features, horizontal wall treatments and horizontal moldings. First locate and mark all vertical features but consider the verticals contained within a horizontal treatment, such as wainscoting, to be a part of a horizontal treatment not a vertical member. Do not locate and mark them at this time. After laying out all the verticals. lay out the horizontals. Tip: Use the squares and levels as little as possible. Use them only to check existing conditions or when you have a mid-wall stand alone feature. Wherever possible, pull equal distances from a fixed plane like a wall, the floor or the ceiling. This will keep your reveals (margins) consistent. Now that you have marked everything, pop your lines and go to the store. If you plan to paint, buy 110% of your total measurements. If you plan to stain your project, purchase 120% of your total measurements. For a painted project, buy finger joint wood. For a stained project, you must buy clear wood. Please respond in the comments section with any questions you have.

Thanks,
Randy McArthur