Carpentry

[Tom Bender]

My basement shop is great for a wide variety of woodworking but not so good for carpentry. That's ok since I make furniture but it's finally time to build that porch roof. I am not good at carpentry so there is a lot of planning and measuring twice. I am not good at driving nails or using a circular saw. I have no chop saw. Only a few pieces of lumber will fit in my small shop. I can't seem to do anything without making a couple of trips to the shop and my legs are getting tired.

Break's over, back to work!

[Lee Schierer]

Get a speed square and your life with your circular saw will get much better. Use the speed square as a guide for your saw or at least to draw a nice perpendicular line. It can draw angles too.

With regard to driving nails, you can get a stronger assembly with construction grade screws.

[lowell holmes]

I went to Lowe's the other day and saw a 12" speed square. That and a 8" skill saw would cut up the world.

[Dave Zellers]

I am not good at carpentry.

I am not good at driving nails or using a circular saw.

I have no chop saw.

Only a few pieces of lumber will fit in my small shop.

I can't seem to do anything without making a couple of trips to the shop

And yet you're going to build a roof? Why? Perhaps your post is tongue in cheek? If not, hire someone who knows what they are doing.

[lowell holmes]

Get a book on carpentry skills, take a class, help someone that is skilled build something. That's how some of us learned.
I had building sites available to me and built houses many years ago and developed skills. I learned from experienced
carpenters that I had working for me.

[Rich Engelhardt]

but it's finally time to build that porch roof

Hire this out to someone that's got both the tools and the know how.
Since you live in Michigan, the threat of snow loading the roof beyond it's limits is a very real danger.

Since it's structural, you'll probably need to have an architect get involved and pull permits for it.

[Tom Bender]

I like to learn something new every day. Google is showing me how but only by doing does it become skill

And of course the exercise is good.

[Rich Engelhardt]

As do I - however - there are times when it's just not practical or advisable.

[Bradley Gray]

+1 on hiring a carpenter. You may slow him(or her) down by asking questions but you will learn a lot and be back to doing what you like in a couple days.

[Joe Adams]

Maybe it's different where you live but that sort of work on a house is generally permitted and inspected. When the house is sold someday there is a question on the homeowner disclosure about un-permitted work.

Regardless of where you are it's subject to building code. By the way, building code is the minimum standard as in "Congratulations, you got a D." When I was in the remodeling business, we built to "code plus" which is not in any book.

Most of the "Reality TV" DIY shows are completely unrealistic if not downright dangerous. Even Chip & Joanna Gaines got fined by the EPA for not following lead abatement rules on 30 something houses they televised. A pro contractor would have known that you can't work in houses built prior to 1978 without getting certified and taking special precautions.

I'm all for learning new skills but this is not the sort of thing where you just fake it until you make it. Especially if you're having trouble driving nails and using a circular saw. I would suggest hiring someone qualified that will let you help.

Good luck and be safe!

[Al Launier]

And yet you're going to build a roof? Why? Perhaps your post is tongue in cheek? If not, hire someone who knows what they are doing.

Occurred to me as well. Totally agree!

[Osvaldo Cristo]

Tom, it is a great project. I think you will like the challenge... be aware it is a more physical demanding job than usual furniture making. Take the time you need. No hurry.

With some planning it is not rocket science. Carpentry is much more forgiver than furniture making both for precision and correction for eventual mistakes.

Good luck and please let us know how it is going.

All the best.

[lowell holmes]

Go get the saw and the square, some 2X4"s, nails, hammer, and then make two saw horses. That will get you started, it did me.

[scott vroom]

By the way, building code is the minimum standard as in "Congratulations, you got a D." When I was in the remodeling business, we built to "code plus" which is not in any book.

I haven't found that to be true. IRC load and span tables for walls and roofs are proven and reliable and, if anything, are over engineered to a high sigma. Same for NEC & UPC.

[Joe Adams]

I haven't found that to be true. IRC load and span tables for walls and roofs are proven and reliable and, if anything, are over engineered to a high sigma. Same for NEC & UPC.

I don't know how things are done in Oregon but based on my experience in Texas, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree.

Tract homes here are built to just meet code and are not built particularly well. What passes inspections is scandalous.

Custom homes like I worked on tend to have rebar in the foundations instead of mesh or cables, Doug Fir studs instead of Southern Yellow Pine, 2x6 walls rather than 2x4, 2x10 ceiling joists instead of 2x8 or even 2x6, and 2x12 rafters instead of 2x10 or smaller, 12d nails instead of 10d, plywood sheathing instead of OSB, spray foam insulation rather than batt or chopped fiberglass, 12ga Romex instead of 14ga, and the list goes on.

All of these building practices are "code plus" versus code minimum. My point to the OP is it's hard to know what you don't know. This isn't rocket science and a whole lot of contractors are hacks but that doesn't change the importance of doing it right when it comes to homebuilding.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. I apologize if I stepped on any toes. Carry on.