Odd Small Jobs

09/24/2025

Trex Composite Stair Replacement:

Replacing Old Pressure-Treated Back Steps

This project involved removing and replacing an aging set of pressure-treated stairs located at the rear of the property. The wood had weathered significantly over the years, becoming both unsightly and unsafe. The homeowner wanted a more durable and low-maintenance solution, so Trex composite materials were selected for the rebuild.

Framed Stair Structure with Joist Tape

Applied for Moisture ProtectionFully Installed Composite Trex Stairs with Finished Treads and Risers

Design and Planning with SketchUp

Before construction began, 3D drawings were created using SketchUp to verify measurements and ensure proper alignment with the existing structure. These renderings helped clarify the ledger board placement, tread spacing, and riser height while also identifying potential framing and finishing conflicts ahead of time.

09/24/2025

Garden Landscape Retaining Wall Relpacement:

The customer’s garden featured a variety of beautiful plants, but the original timber retaining wall at the entrance had severely rotted and become an eyesore. We opted to replace the wall using 4x4 pressure-treated lumber instead of rounded landscape timbers, which made precision angle cuts much easier during installation.

While the removal of the old wall initially appeared straightforward, the reality proved much more labor-intensive. The original timbers were embedded deeply in the soil and badly deteriorated, making extraction slow and difficult. It took nearly a full day to remove the timbers and level the area enough to begin new construction.

The new wall consists of four sections of 4x4 pressure-treated lumber, each stacked three timbers high. Most sections are roughly 8 feet long, with the final section shortened to fit the space. Each bottom timber was anchored into the ground with multiple 16-inch spikes, and upper layers secured using 6-inch decking screws. Precise angle cuts were critical to ensure a seamless transition between sections. Only one section required fine-tuning with a saw and block plane to match heights. The left end of the wall was tapered and chamfered to provide a clean, intentional finish.

09/24/2025

Bamboo Tiki Bar Design and Build:

Why a Bamboo Tiki Bar? Part of my income is from affiliate sales of non-alcoholic mix ingredients from various sources.
I’ve always been drawn to the style and atmosphere of Polynesian-inspired tiki design. With limited space to work with, I set out to create a compact, lightweight tiki bar suitable for an apartment or smaller setting. Simplicity and portability were key — the final result is a bar that can be lifted by one person, though it’s more easily transported with two, especially once the bar top is attached. This build served as my prototype, with the intention of developing a design that could be easily replicated.

09/24/2025

Replacing the Original Garden Bed with a New, Durable Raised Bed:

The existing garden bed was falling apart due to age and construction using only nails. A new raised garden bed was built offsite at our shop using sturdy pressure-treated timbers, joined securely with 6-inch deck screws for long-term durability. By building offsite, we were able to work more efficiently and pass savings on to the client.

09/24/2025

Weighted Cat Feeder Shelters – Keeps your feeders safe from feline food hacks!

This project began with a Facebook post in a local Southern New Hampshire community group from a pet owner seeking a creative solution to a relatable problem: their enthusiastic cats, Bear and Pepper, were ramming into his automatic feeders to knock food loose. The request was for two simple plywood boxes with a roof-style top to prevent tampering — one for each feeder.

While I was initially provided with a basic plan, I decided to take a more thoughtful design approach. Using durable, cabinet grade, ¾” plywood, I created two custom enclosures with added stability and weight to prevent tipping or sliding. As an added touch, I incorporated dollhouse-style windows so the customer could easily see the feeder’s internal lights and monitor operation without removing the cover.

The end result was a pair of sturdy, functional, and visually appealing Cat Chow Cabins — tailored specifically to protect the automatic feeders while blending into the home environment.

09/24/2025

Replacing a 40-Year-Old Deck Surface:
Originally built in the 1980s and well-maintained over the years, this deck began to show signs of decay due to prolonged exposure under outdoor carpeting and heavy use. The project scope involved removing all the existing decking boards and replacing them with new pressure-treated lumber. The homeowner opted to keep the original framing and flashing intact.

04/07/2025

Here I built this electric fireplace platform for myself and someone else at the same time. I used a trim router to give the edges a nice look and also used the Shou Sugi Ban (焼杉板) technique to burn, brush, sand, stain and wipe the wood, using a red stain to match to the fireplace. These platforms bring the stove up to a more visible and usable height.

04/07/2025

This is a wooden keyboard stand that I built that has survived many years and supported multiple electronic keyboards. The music stand is attached and adjustable for different heights.

04/07/2025

This is an addition I built, featuring a pine ceiling, boxed in beams (collar ties), birch plywood upper walls, 7 windows, 2 doors and an octagonal window with custom made divider slats.

04/07/2025

This is the rail of a deck I built, along with a custom fence made from pressure-treated lumber, featuring built-in plant shelves all the way around.

04/07/2025

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Practical, low-risk handyman projects done right. Custom builds, light repairs, shelving, and creative woodwork. Serving New England, based in Merrimack, NH.