Carpentry

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An Exterior Wood Tune-up

With over 50 years of experience in the trades, I offer a wide range of carpentry builds and trade-specific repairs tailored for homeowners.

Take the exterior carpentry project shown below, for example—the owner requested a tune-up on the timber trim surrounding their garage doors and porch posts with Y-braces to enhance the home’s appearance.

This re-scribing operation was highly successful, bringing a refined, refreshed look to the exterior. Looking back, I wish I had captured more before-and-after photos to showcase the transformation!

Large Timber Trim: Scribing & Reinforcement

The header (top horizontal piece) was only secured down into the trimmers—the vertical trim pieces flanking each side of the door—leaving room for improvement in stability as well as appearance.

Across all three openings, warping had caused the center sections to press against the wall unevenly, requiring material to be removed for a proper fit. This adjustment not only improved alignment but also ensured a stronger, more secure attachment for lasting durability.

Closing Up Large Gaps

The noticeable gaps are clearly evident, with the header expected to shift back toward the wall once the trimmers are carved out further. The dark shadowed line highlights the separation, emphasizing the need for proper fitting.

Though the trim pieces appear to be solid square members (as seen on the left), they are actually rabbeted to the brick corners, forming an L-shaped profile designed to wrap around the corner and create the illusion of a solid timber piece. This thoughtful construction method ensures both structural integrity and a refined appearance once fully adjusted.

Refining the Fit for a Classier Look

Closing these visible gaps dramatically improves the overall look, transforming the work from rough and unfinished to precise and polished. With tighter joinery, the rich texture of the wood is accentuated, adding a refined elegance to the final product.

For a clear comparison, observe the contrast between the completed section on the left, which showcases a seamless fit, and the poor-fitting section on the right, where gaps still remain.

Brace Adjusted for a Quality Finish

To achieve a cleaner, more polished appearance, the piece had to shrink slightly in size to properly close the gaps. This subtle adjustment becomes evident when comparing the sharply pointed bottom edge of the gapped piece in the photo at left—where it sits lower than the opposite side—to its higher placement after resizing, as seen from the other side in the photo above.

Additionally, the white strip along the bottom—where the stain and finish coating were absent—further highlights this change in location, confirming how the re-sizing helped eliminate the previously visible imperfections.

A New Butcher Block Countertop

These homeowners are passionate about gourmet cooking, and this new butcher block countertop provides the perfect workspace for crafting delicious dishes. The natural wood grain not only enhances the kitchen’s warmth but also offers a durable and functional surface for meal preparation.

A Small Breakfast Bar Overhang

To complete the upgrade, they added a custom overhanging bar, an ideal setup for this retired couple to enjoy a freshly made omelet in the abundant morning light streaming through their large kitchen windows. This thoughtful addition enhances both comfort and functionality, creating a welcoming space for everyday meals.

Steel Stud-Framed Pizza Oven

With my extensive experience in steel stud framing, I was the natural choice to construct the framework for this commercial pizza oven in a Big Sky home.

The cross pieces had to be precisely positioned to meet clearance requirements while ensuring a solid fastening surface around the oven’s various functional features. Additionally, every component had to be fabricated using standard-width materials, requiring careful planning and execution.

Steel stud framing is an excellent solution in areas exposed to intense heat, as it provides exceptional durability, stability, and fire resistance, making it the ideal choice for this high-performance installation.

Door Fit Height Problem Solved

The images below highlight the heavy-duty nature of certain fixes and the precise methods required to achieve the desired outcome—even when the original framing was not properly executed. With the right approach, even complex structural adjustments can be made sturdy, functional, and visually seamless.

Above left: In this opening, non-load bearing double trimmers were necessary—set apart from the load-bearing trimmers—to provide adequate backing for the casing. Proper installation ensures a firm, well-supported foundation for the finished trim

I always make sure these components are tight, perfectly plumb, straight, and square to the wall line, guaranteeing a solid attachment that results in a clean, professional finish.

Above middle and right: The massive header was initially installed too low, and at this stage, reframing with different materials was no longer a viable option. To resolve the issue efficiently, the decision was made to cut the header to the required rough opening height and reinforce it with moment bracing plates.

This approach provided the necessary structural support while avoiding the extensive labor and material costs associated with a full rebuild, ensuring a strong and properly aligned final installation.

Above left: The builder initially marked the beam incorrectly, but this was corrected by adjusting the depth measurement to ensure a proper door installation. Despite the modification, the remaining beam depth was still sufficient to support the framing above, maintaining the necessary load-bearing capacity without compromising structural integrity.

Above middle: The sides were carefully marked in alignment with the trimmers to ensure a precise fit before being cut to the correct dimensions.

Above right: The horizontal cut is completed using a two-step method to ensure accuracy and control. First, all cuts are made to circular saw blade depth, establishing a clean, uniform starting point. Then, a reciprocating saw is used to finish the cuts, allowing for precise adjustments and ensuring a reasonably smooth final edge.

At left: View of the framing moment plate installed within the interior framing of the house.

At right: This view showcases the framing moment plate recessed into the sheathing, ensuring direct contact with the framing. This approach prevents the plate and screws from protruding into the sheetrock, eliminating the need for cutting or extensive filling of the sheetrock—resulting in a cleaner, easier seamless installation.

Owner Customizes Apartment at 5 West Mendenhall in Downtown Bozeman

Breakfast Bar Fill-In Begins

The owner wanted to eliminate the unused breakfast bar and enclose the open space beneath it, opting for a design that would resemble the cabinetry while effectively concealing its previous use. Without a specific design or material preferences, I developed a custom solution using solid 2x4 framing, spaced for structural integrity, and ½" fiber board paneling, which, once painted, integrated well with the cabinet design.

Since future flexibility was key, I ensured the fill-in could be removed should the owner decide to sell the property down the line. For precise alignment, I relied on line and dot lasers, which provide superior accuracy compared to a conventional spirit level.

To secure the framing to the marble, I used an easily removable adhesive—strong enough for a solid hold, yet cleanly scrapes off when needed, preserving the original counter. Additionally, the bottom plate required minimal screws for stabilization—remarkably, only six—while still maintaining firm structural support.

This version keeps it clear, professional, and engaging, while enhancing readability and flow. Let me know if you'd like any refinements!

Installing the Upper Plate

The top and bottom plates are carefully cut to fit snugly—ensuring stability without applying excess pressure that could damage the marble side walls. These are marked on a 16" layout when laying side-by-side just like full height framing.

To guarantee perfect alignment with the marble countertop edge, plenty of soft clamps are used. These remain in place overnight, allowing the glue to set properly for a secure hold.

The short studs are then precisely measured and cut to provide solid support for the countertop, ensuring it remains stable and resistant to sagging under the weight of placed objects.

The Framing Begins

This photo captures the initial stages of framing, with an end stud and another stud being installed. The very end stud is also secured with glue for added stability.

Spacer blocks are carefully fitted to hold the bottom plate in place. While screws secure the bottom plate, only two thin finish screws are used in the center one of the three blocks (the other two are spacers)—fastened to the bottom of the center trim piece and the bottom edge of the paneling. This approach minimizes the impact of the framing on existing materials, ensuring a clean finish.

Since only small holes are left by the screws, they can be easily filled with putty to restore the finish materials to their original appearance. Notably, no screws are used directly through the bottom plate into the floor to hold it in position.

The Studs Get Installed

The remaining studs are securely installed, with the end studs glued for added stability. These are clamped in place and left overnight to ensure a strong bond.

To prevent any shifting, additional top plate clamps are applied, and the entire assembly is left for an extra night, making certain that nothing pops loose during the drying process.

The center stud is rotated to create a wider surface area, reducing the risk of splitting at the joint between the two fiber board panels.

For maximum floor protection and dust control, a new white tarp—measuring 25' x 40'—was introduced for this project. It extends far to the right in the photo, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the workspace with a single protective layer.

Paintable Panels Tightly Fitted & Ready for Pine Trim

To ensure maximum rigidity, the panels are tightly fitted, reinforcing the stability of the framing. Careful selection of framing members at the lumber yard is crucial—any crooked, twisted, or bowed studs or plates will telegraph through the paneling, compromising the smooth, flat appearance of the finished surface.

This precision in fitting and material selection guarantees a clean, professional result, creating an ideal foundation for the upcoming pine trim installation.

Precision in Paneling Attachment

The spacing and centering of the paneling attachment screws is carefully executed to ensure the edges remain firm and flat, preventing any warping or misalignment.

For the field areas (the open areas, not the edges where the screws do the work), micro-pinning allows for quick and easy puttying, ensuring a smooth surface before the trim installation. To maintain future flexibility, no adhesive was used in this phase, allowing for easier disassembly and removal if needed at a later date.

Final Trim Installation

The trim pieces are carefully cut for a tight fit, ensuring a clean, seamless appearance. Once positioned, the micro-pinner is used again to secure the trim with minimal impact on the surface.

To achieve a flush fit, the screws were countersunk, allowing the trim to sit perfectly flat against the panel. The fine hairlines observed at the trim’s outer edges were subtle enough to be easily filled with a fine bead of caulk, completing the installation with a smooth, polished finish

Final Preparations Before Painting

With all the trim installed, the project is now ready for wood filler to be applied to the panel field and trim areas, ensuring a smooth, even surface.

To achieve a seamless finish, a thin bead of caulk will be used at the joints between the trim and panels, as well as the trim and marble, eliminating any fine gaps. Once this step is complete, everything will be refined with sanding pads, bringing the surface to paint-ready condition.

Final Touches Complete!

With a few coats of paint perfectly matched to the wall color, the transformation is complete. The finished product seamlessly integrates into the space, appearing as though it was part of the original build—just as intended.

A clean, professional result that enhances both functionality and aesthetics!

Smaller Project Ideas

Open Wall-Mounted Closet Rod & Shelf

This versatile storage solution fits just about anywhere—whether in the mudroom, garage, or main entry for guests. It’s also a great fix for overflow storage in a kid’s bedroom, adding functional space without needing a full closet expansion.

With its sleek design and practical setup, this addition complements the remodel project above, seamlessly blending into the updated space while enhancing organization.

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