How-To

We don’t expect you to know how to read a blueprint, or a to follow a cut guide, or even to hammer a nail! Nobody starts off knowing this stuff, so here are some handy how-to guides.

How to: Read a Cut Guide

The cut guide tables show the materials needed to build a structure and their dimensions. Each row of a cut guide corresponds to a particular panel; each column corresponds to a length of 2x4 or a thickness of plywood:

When cutting lumber for a structure, especially if you’re using a chop saw, it’s faster to cut all of the same length of stud at once. Read the total line at the bottom of the table for the total numbers of each length.

When assembling lumber for panels, read across the row for that panel.

When purchasing lumber, remember that you can get two pieces of stud from one stick of lumber for all pieces 48” or shorter.