Finish Carpenter's Manual

Product Details

Everything you need to know to be a finish carpenter: assessing a job before you begin, and tricks of the trade from a master finish carpenter.

Easy-to-follow instructions for installing doors and windows, ceiling treatments (including fancy beams, corbels, cornices and moldings), wall treatments (including wainscoting and sheet paneling), and the finishing touches of chair, picture, and plate rails. Specialized interior work includes cabinetry and built-ins, stair finish work, and closets. Also covers exterior trims and porches.

Includes manhour tables for finish work, and hundreds of illustrations and photos.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1
Modern Finish Carpentry, 5
Finish Carpentry Skills, 5
The Scope of Modern Carpentry, 6

Chapter 2
Finish Carpentry Hand Tools, 7
Clothing and Safety Equipment, 7
The Tool Belt, 8
Additional Hand Tools, 9
Sharpening Hand Edge Tools, 11

Chapter 3
The Power Tools, 13
Hand Power Tools, 13
Stationary Power Tools, 19

Chapter 4
Site Fixtures, 21
Tool and Fastener Storage, 21
Getting the Power You Need, 23
Work Supports, 24

Chapter 5
Prep Work, 26
Site Inspection, 26
Job Sequencing, 27
Selecting the Materials, 27

Chapter 6
Preparing the Rough Frame, 31
Adding Blocking, 31
Door and Window Frames, 34
Stair Carriages, 37
Manhours for Rough Framing, 38

Chapter 7
Installing Doors, 39
The Door Assembly, 39
The Interior Passage Doors, 40
The Latch Mechanisms, 46
Non-standard Doors, 48
Exterior Doors, 50
Manhours for Door Installation, 52

Chapter 8
Door Trim, 54
Prep Work, 54
Mitered Frames, 55
Butted Frames, 58
Block and Plinth Door Casings, 58
Manhours for Door Trim, 58

Chapter 9
Window Trim, 60
Prep Work, 60
The Full Surround, 61
Installing Extension Jambs with Stools, 63
Stool and Apron Frames, 67
Arched Window Molding, 69
Manhours for Window Trim, 72

Chapter 10
Ceiling Treatments, 73
Scaffolding, 73
Strip Ceilings, 74
Panel Ceilings, 76
Beams, Posts and Corbels, 78
Manhours for Ceiling Treatments, 82

Chapter 11
Cornice Moldings, 83
Prep Work, 83
Crown Moldings Cornice, 84
Sequencing Installation, 88
Manhours for Cornice Moldings, 89

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Additional Details

Chapter 12
Wall Treatments, 90
Tongue and Groove Wainscot, 90
Frame and Panel Wainscot, 93
Chair and Picture Rail, 96
Sheet Paneling, 97
Manhours for Wall Treatments, 100

Chapter 13
Base Molding, 101
Fitting Baseboard, 101
Installing the Baseboard, 104
Dealing with Rounded Wall Corners, 106
Manhours for Base Molding, 107

Chapter 14
Closet Interiors, 108
Clothing Poles and Hat Shelves, 108
Shelving Around Corners, 110
Site-Built Closet Storage Units, 112
Manhours for Closet Interiors, 116

Chapter 15
Installing Cabinet Work, 117
Preparing for Installation, 117
Installing the Base Units, 120
Installing the Upper Units, 122
Installing Cabinet Components, 122
Manhours for Cabinet Work, 124

Chapter 16
Fireplace Surrounds, 125
Surround Moldings, 125
Installing the Mantel, 128
Installing a Prefabricated Unit, 130
Manhours for Fireplace Surrounds, 131

Chapter 17
Flooring, 132
Flooring Types, 132
Preparing for the Job, 133
Laying Out the Floor, 136
Tongue and Groove Flooring, 138
Plank Flooring, 142
Surfacing the Floor, 143
Finishing the Floor, 148
Manhours for Flooring, 150

Chapter 18
Stair Trim-Out, 151
Stair Systems and Components, 131
Preinstallation Procedures, 153
Skirt Boards, 154
Treads and Risers, 158
The Balustrade, 160
Manhours for Stair Trim-out, 171

Chapter 19
Troubleshooting, 172
Door Problems, 172
Fitting New Trim to Existing Trim, 175
Fastening Problems, 177
Joint Closure Problems, 178
Damage Control, 180
Tool Adjustments and Tune-ups, 183
Manhours for Troubleshooting, 188

Chapter 20
Setting Up a Subcontracting Finishwork Business, 189
Establishing a Legal Identity, 189
Finding Work, 194
Bids and Contracts, 195
The Contract Forms, 199
Hiring and Managing a Good Crew, 202