1) It is going to take longer than you planned.
2) It is going to take more money than you planned.
3) Lumber is never truly straight.
4) The toe-nail is your friend.
5) You can cut a board three times and still it can be too short.
6) Measure twice, then measure again.
7) Use the same tape measure.
8) Houses are much more complex than they would seem on the surface.
9) Care in making accurate measurements, squaring, and plumbing surfaces at the beginning will pay off in the end.
10) Care in thinking ahead, and planning backing etc. will pay off in the end.
11) Carpentry is part science, part art.
12) It is going to take longer than you planned.
13) It is going to take more money than you planned.
14) There is at least one solution to every problem you encounter.
15) Some involve hiding your mistake.
16) If I could invent a board stretcher I’d be a very rich man.
17) Even when you think you have insulated enough, insulate some more.
18) Always pay attention to where your fingers are.
19) Cheap materials (such as, oh say, cheap hollow core doors and wimpy jambs) are cheap.
20) Cheap materials are expensive. They will cost you time and more materials in the end.
21) I will never, ever be half the carpenter that Gary is.
22) I really enjoy working with wood, and hardwood rocks.
23) John Brantingham has really wise words, that one would do well to follow.
24) Few things are as frustrating or as satisfying as carpentry.
25) Its going to take longer than you planned.
26) Its going to take more money than you planned.
Things I’ve learned about construction/carpentry
1) It is going to take longer than you planned.2) It is going to take more money than you planned.3) Lumber is never truly straight.4) The toe-nail is your friend.5) …
Comments
2 responses
my hubby is standing over my shoulder nodding his head ‘yes’ to this post. He too loves working with wood, but as you say so well, finding a straight piece is impossible.
I cannot imagine building a home from the ground up… but you can literally say you’ve put your heart into your home and not many can. 🙂
Number 5’s brilliant! Of course, if things really turn to custard, you could claim it as deconstructionist architecture.