How to Build a Soffit

After picture: What a professional job!

The soffit in William's room looks great! a professional job done by Michael & me. William's room had hot & cold water pipes running through it, because the shortest distance between 2 points (water heater to kitchen & laundry room) was a straight line. I guess the previous owners didn't use it as a bedroom. And when we moved in, I didn't want to bother Will with construction. But once he went off to college, Michael & I went to work.

Before picture: William's room had hot & cold pipes running through it.

1. Step 1 Measure and Mark
Clear the room of everything. Trust me, it makes life easier. Carefully measure the size you will need to conceal the pipes. Mark the wall & ceiling with a pencil. Now is also a good time to mark the stud locations.

2. Step 2 Build the Frame
Build the soffit frame out of lumber glued together with handy right angle clamps. 

Angle clamps help assure that the frame is square.

3. Step 2 Install the Box Frame

Screwed the frames up to the walls & ceiling studs for a secure installation. The soffit will get very heavy when the drywall & joint compound are added.

Screw the box frame into the wall and ceiling joists.

4. Step 4 Cut and Hang Drywall
Screw the drywall onto the frame with drywall screws. Screw deep enough to leave a dimple. You can fill that in in the next step.

Drywall is attached to the frame. It's starting to look finished.

5. Step  5 Apply Joint Compound
Next comes the mudding, or joint compounding. Don't skimp on this step. I did 3 layers of joint compound. I used ready made joint compound, which takes 24 hours to dry. The kind you mix yourself drys faster. Each layer covered slightly more territory. Getting the corners neat is tricky. I used a corner trowel for the inside corners and corner beading for outside corners, and paper tape for seams. I watched youtube videos on how to do corners. 

While you have the joint compound out, fill in any wall holes.

I'm getting to be a good mudder!

On the left is corner bead. On the right a corner trowel.

6. Step 6 Prime & Paint
New drywall has to be primed before it can be painted. First sand the joint compound smooth. Then prep the room. Paint the ceiling first, then the walls, and finally the trim.

Build a Rolling Bar Cart with Removable Tray

The rolling bar cart (or BBQ cart) with removable tray is the latest addition to my suite of DIY patio furniture. I followed the instructions from Ana White. Her site has become a bit of a building obsession with me. I pour over what projects she's made, as well as the brag post by others from all over the country. Ana really breaks the projects down to a buy list, cut list, step-by-step instructions, and even sketches. And even with the detailed instructions, I still found ways to make this project my own: I added a 3/4" dowel and plastic wheels, instead of wood rounds. I painted all the pieces with primer and exterior paint before assembling it, because it's hard to get paint between the slats, unless you have a spray painter. The white slat design of the bar cart, park bench and matching side tables goes with the white siding of the house for my own patio picnic.

Wood working kept my hands busy on vacation. I got very sweaty cutting all those pieces of wood, and the sawdust was sticking to my body. Then came all the painting, gluing and screwing. But, I got the bar cart done in time for a 4th of July cookout, and pushed my cart for a victory lap around the patio slab.

#GetBuilding2015 #AnaWhite #GetBuidingCaren #DIYHallofFame

Build End Tables

I built 2 end tables to go with my park bench. I had a lot of trouble with splitting wood, because the 1x2s where so thin. I'm used to more robust lumber. I tried something new. I drilled pocket holes, sanded, primed and painted everything before I assembled. I don't like painting as much, because I love using power tools. I psyched myself out by thinking I was giving it an elegant finish. Sounds so much nicer than slapping some paint on wood.

 My son made some tic-tac-toe pieces from scrap treated lumber, by painting black X's on one side and white O's on the other.

Here's a link to the plans I got from the wonderful Ana White site.
That site has downloadable, step-by-step shopping list, cut list and instructions.

#GetBuilding2015 #AnaWhite #GetBuidingCaren #DIYHallofFame

Raised Square Foot Garden

Jersey is guarding my vegetable garden against all the rabbits! (big rabbit problem in my yard)  Making a raised garden was a lot of work, and a team effort with my kids. The 4x4' box is made from 2x10" boards, topped with 1 foot high removable fencing to discourages rabbits, since Jersey can't stand guard all the time. The fence was made from furring strip that was laying around the attic, and welded wire fence that was there before I built that picket fence. (see previous blog Picket Fence and Gate)

Here's a great link to a beginner's guide to square foot gardening. They say it costs about $50, but mine was probably double that. I also learned a lot from My Square Foot Garden. 

Here's my soil mix:
Pearlite 10 x 8-qt
4 cu ft. peat moss (expands when you unpack it)
5 x 40-lb bags of cow compost

The plants are the cheapest purchase. Here's a little plan of my plants:

‪#‎GetBuilding2015‬ and ‪#‎BuildGrowLove‬   #AnaWhite #GetBuidingCaren #DIYHallofFame

Build a Modern Park Bench

I built this lovely, modern park bench from plans I found at Ana White. The only adjustment I made was to make the legs out of 4x4s. I like this plan because it's all straight, right angle cuts, a one day project, which I tackled by myself. I'm definitely getting more comfortable with the miter saw. The wood cost under $50. I plan to paint it with primer, then white exterior paint, both of which I have around the house. Stain would be beautiful, too. If I had to do it over again, I would paint all the pieces before assembling. And I wish I had a brad nailer; it would make attaching all the slats go much faster, and would have to fill as many screw holes.

The bench measures 72" wide, 31" tall and 27" deep. It's huge! William and Jersey tested the bench out, and found it very comfortable.

Tools: miter saw, electric drill, Kreg pocket hole jig, palm sander

#GetBuilding2015 #AnaWhite #GetBuidingCaren #DIYHallofFame

Sturdy work table and tool box

The first project I tackled from Ana White's wonderful plans was a building a sturdy work table for my miter saw that I bought at a garage sale for $25. I was using cinder blocks and plywood as a makeshift work table, and wanted an improvement on that as my first project. So, let the fun begin!
I started the project on Saturday after lunch, going to the lumber yard and picking up wood and screws for about $50. It's about the lumber limit I can haul in my Honda Civic, in the back seat, with the window open.

I followed the instructions, but found that the supports for the top were 13" not 12", and I had 3 2x4s left over (for future projects). I had some plywood in the shed, which I cut 16x40 to make a shelf. I only filled the screw holes on top with wood filler, so sawdust doesn't accumulate.
I finished the table before dinner time. The kids are getting me a bench vise for Mother's Day. Thanks kids!

On Sunday I started my second project, a tool box made out of a dowel and a 1x6 (see it on the ground in the second pic?). I cut the pieces first, then rounded the sides with the jig saw I bought at another garage sale for $3.

#GetBuilding2015 #AnaWhite #GetBuidingCaren #DIYHallofFame

Sturdy Work Bench

Give the Gift of Building

Picket Fence & Gate

This is the area that needs a gate. Currently welded wire fence. I open and close by wrapping the wire around the post, not a secure closure, and the dog gets out sometimes.

Building materials delivered

Showing off my double gate

I finished my fence & gate! It was a lot of work, not much money, and a fun family project. Altogether I spent $175, including treated lumber, concrete, hardware, screws, and posthole diggers. It was fun teaching my youngest son how to use power tools!

1. Plan, plan, plan
2. dig post holes down 2', below frost line (we needed 3)
3. place 4x4 posts, measure for height, & cut down to size
4. place 4x4 posts, cut side down in holes, level & plumb, align all posts squarely
5. put in dry concrete, add water, check level, plumb, & alignment again
6. let concrete cure 2-3 days (I waited a week, because I'm a weekend builder)
7. cut fence panel to size, drill pocket holes top & bottom rails, screw into posts
8. cut the second fence panel to make double gates (mark rails where hinges will go)
9. carefully measure, cut, & screw diagonal braces from spare pickets. This will keep the gate square
10. add hinges & latch
11. temporarily screw gate panels together with a 2x4x8, leaving 1/2" gaps for hardware
12. temporarily screw the 2x4x8 to the posts
13. screw hinges to post
14. remove 2x4x8
15. all done! 

#GetBuilding2015 #AnaWhite #GetBuidingCaren #DIYHallofFame

I used the cut pieces of 4x4 posts to raise up the whiskey barrel planter & pump.