Your Go-To Resource for Woodworking Tips, Wood Types & Finishing Guides
From choosing the right wood to applying the perfect finish — The Wood Carpenter has expert guides for every skill level.
Explore by Topic
Latest Guides
-
Deck Framing: How to Build a Strong, Square Frame That Lasts
I have built decks for over the years. I have framed small decks and big decks. I have also fixed a lot of bad frames built by other people. Quick answer: Deck framing is the wood skeleton under your decking boards. It is made of a ledger board, posts, beams, and joists. A good frame…
-
Deck Railings: A Complete Guide
I have installed simple wood railings and fancy cable railings, and I have fixed more than a few wobbly posts that were never blocked correctly in the first place. Quick answer: Deck railings are the guardrail system around the edge of an elevated deck. They keep people from falling off the side, and they need…
-
Deck Footings Guide: Depth, Digging & Pouring
I have dug footings in soft sandy soil, hard clay, and half-frozen ground, and I have fixed decks that heaved and shifted because the footings were never done right in the first place. Quick answer: Deck footings are the concrete foundations underground that hold up your posts. They spread the weight of the whole deck…
Meet Sam Wood Worker
Sam has spent years working with wood — from furniture building to fine finishing. The Wood Carpenter was built to share real, practical woodworking knowledge you can actually use in your workshop.