Finding a carpenter who does quality work—at a reasonable price and in a timely fashion—can be a real challenge. For little jobs you can spend more time searching for a carpenter than you would doing the job yourself, if you only had some basic tools and carpentry skills. Over the years, the ability to handle small carpentry jobs can save you a great deal of money. Perhaps more important, you can make small repairs before they turn into big ones. With a set of basic carpentry skills you can also make a lot of little improvements that you might not have if you had to hire someone to do the work. If you would like to develop a basic understanding of carpentry and the tools of the trade, Carpentry For Dummies can help. Whether you have little or no experience with carpentry tools, repairs, or home improvements, this book can show you how to handle a project from the first cut to the final finish. Carpentry For Dummies is divided into four parts to help you easily find the information you need. You’ll start off on the right foot by becoming familiar with structures such as foundations, floors, and roofs. With step-by-step illustrations throughout the book, you’ll also discover how to use a variety of tools and techniques as you take on different projects in and around your house. Carpentry For Dummies also deals with other topics, including: Finding a good lumber or hardware store, and choosing the right materials for the job Mastering the finer points f measuring, marking, and gauging to make sure everything fits perfectly Boning up on sanding, sealing, and staining basics Playing it safe with power tools and potentially toxic chemicals With pointers on choosing the right materials, finding the best way to put them together, and working safely, Carpentry For Dummies is your ideal reference for basic carpentry.