Frequently Asked Questions
Wood Questions
What kind of wood should I use?
Most of our plans use standard construction lumber like pine or fir. It's affordable, easy to work with, and easy to find. It's also rapidly renewing and biodegradable, so a great eco friendly choice!
Can I use hardwoods instead?
Yes—just keep in mind they're heavier, cost more, and can be tougher on tools and harder to join together and finish. I recommend not tackling a hardwood project until after you have built several softwood projects.
What if my boards are warped?
Choose the straightest boards at the store. You can often work around slight warps by cutting them into shorter pieces.
What wood should I use for outdoor furniture?
Use red-toned or pressure-treated 2x lumber for framing, and cedar or cedar fence pickets for the decking. Outdoor furniture should be built like a deck—your local home center can help recommend the right wood for your climate.
Will my wood move or warp after I build?
Potentially, especially in humid climates. Let your wood acclimate indoors before building. Once acclimated and kept in a stable environment, movement should be minimal. Remember, most houses are built using framing lumber - it's all about keeping moisture down indoors.
Cutting Questions
Do I need a miter saw?
A miter saw is great, creating fast, safe, and precise cuts, even for beginners. But most plans can be built with a circular saw and a straight edge. If using a circular saw to cut, take time to practice, and get good at making cuts, before cutting your project boards.
How do I get clean cuts with a circular saw?
Clamp your board, measure twice, cut slow, and use a sharp blade. This takes practice, so spend some time making cuts. I go through becoming proficient at freehand cutting in my course, it is worth taking if you want to master this skill.
Will the store cut my wood?
Yes—most stores will do rough cuts to help you transport your materials home. But from store to store, the quality of cuts could greatly vary.
Joinery Questions
What screws should I use?
We recommend star-head self tapping screws for framing, most common sizes are 2-1/2", 1-3/4". Pre-drill if close to the edge or you find your wood is splitting.
Do I have to use pocket holes?
Pocket holes are the cheapest, easiest and fastest way to do some joints - like edge to edge or a hidden fastener joint. There are other methods, but these can be time consuming and expensive. We recommend using pocket holes as indicated in plans for best results.
How do I keep things square?
Use a speed square and measure diagonals after each step. Always clamp joints before screwing to keep them tight and flush.
Finishing Questions
Stain or paint before or after building?
A quick sand before and a full finish after gives the best results. Pre-finish if you're doing two-tone or detailed finishes.
What type of finish?
Use oil-based or water-based stain. For paint, cabinet-grade latex or enamel works great. High use surfaces on indoor projects should get a coat of polyurethane, I recommend a Helsman or Spar or other flexible poly that won't crack or peel with wood movement. For exterior projects, use a finish suitable for exterior fences.
How to get a smooth finish?
Start with a well sanded project. Sand between coats (220 grit), wipe clean, and apply light coats with a foam brush or roller.
Plan Questions
Can I change the size?
Many people do, and that's the great thing about building your own furniture! But do keep in mind going bigger might mean more supports are required, and often plans are optimized for minimal material waste.
Are these beginner-friendly?
Yes—plans are written with simple tools and clear steps in mind, with every effort to make plans as simple as possible.
Can I sell what I build?
Absolutely! Just don’t resell or repost the plans themselves.
General Questions
What tools do I really need?
A drill, circular saw, tape measure, square, and a few clamps will get you through most projects.
Do I need a workshop?
Nope! A driveway or small patio is plenty to get started, just make sure you have a level place to work. If you find you are building several projects a year, creating a small workbench is a great way to store tools and have a dedicated workspace.
What if I mess up?
Wood filler, sanding, or flipping boards goes a long way. Mistakes are part of the process!
What can I do to make my projects look more professional?
Start with straight boards, make accurate cuts, clamp all joints, and line up everything neatly. Sand thoroughly, use a neutral finish, and apply it in light coats for a clean look.
I've never built anything before. Where should I start?
Start with a few smaller softwood projects to get hands-on experience. Or if you're tackling a big project, buy a little extra lumber and practice your cuts and joints first. If possible, work with someone who has a bit of experience.
Care & Maintenance
How long will my furniture last?
With good joinery and regular care, your DIY furniture can last for decades. I have pieces in my own home that are over 20 years old and still going strong! One of the best parts about DIY furniture is that it’s easy to repaint, refinish, or repair—so your projects can grow and adapt with you.
How should I care for outdoor furniture?
Lightly pressure wash or hose it down once or twice a year. Tighten screws and reapply finish as needed to protect it—just like a deck or fence. A little upkeep goes a long way in extending the life of your furniture.
How about indoor furniture?
Regularly dust or wipe with a damp cloth. If it starts to look worn, a light sanding and touch-up paint or stain can refresh it in no time. DIY pieces are meant to be durable and fixable—so don’t be afraid to give them some love now and then.
Want to Build with Confidence?
Check out my ebook: 12 Skills to Build Your Own Furniture
It walks you through the core skills every builder needs—measuring, cutting, joinery, and finishing—so you can build beautiful furniture that lasts.
Still Have Questions?
Email us anytime at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help!
Comments
Pursuit of Handyness
Sun, 06/16/2013 - 21:55
Making this table for outdoor use
Hello, I'm in the middle of making this table now. I've cut all my boards and squared all of the lumber. Im making this table for outdoor use. As far as the table top goes, Should I not use pocket holes to assemble the top? Don't I need space between the boards to allow water to drain?
rhonit
Tue, 06/25/2013 - 10:21
spacers for table top
you can use just about anything for spacers, 16 penny nails, washers and even quarters. it all depends on the width of the space you want.
Jacob
Fri, 07/19/2013 - 06:15
What type of species of wood was used here?
This table almost looks like it was done with a softwood (SPF)? If that is the case, will you be painting it?
In reply to What type of species of wood was used here? by Jacob
JenWoodhouse.com
Thu, 07/25/2013 - 06:03
2x4s and 2x6s
Hi Jacob,
Yes, the wood is a softwood species. The 2x6s are douglas fir and the 2x4s are spruce. I'll be posting the full finishing tutorial soon... it was a 10-step process to get that beautiful Restoration Hardware-inspired look! Stay tuned...
mollanma
Thu, 07/25/2013 - 13:05
Matching Bench
Amazing table and detailed instructions! Any details or similar instructions on making matching benches for the table?
jthommarson
Wed, 03/12/2014 - 06:51
Smaller size?
I would love to make this table, but I need it smaller. Could I just take a foot or so off of all the table top dimensions and cross supports?
joelt
Sun, 05/18/2014 - 21:12
Step 1 and Step 3
Hi,
Thanks for posting this. Working on doing something similar here. Two questions: On step one, roughly how many pocket screws are needed to attach the table top boards to each other (as opposed to the breadboards)?
On step 3, how is the curved edge board attached to the underside of the table top? Via counter-sunk screws coming down from table top?
Thanks!
KatieN
Mon, 07/21/2014 - 20:03
.pdf plans
I love all the tables for this site! I finally chose this one but have noticed that every single one ive looked at have .pdf links that are not working. Did they possibly get moved?
KatieN
Tue, 07/22/2014 - 09:50
and after digging on the FB
and after digging on the FB page, I've just read you're in the middle of a site upgrade. My apologies!
KatieN
Tue, 07/22/2014 - 09:50
and after digging on the FB
and after digging on the FB page, I've just read you're in the middle of a site upgrade. My apologies!
Jarrett Darrah
Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:11
Breaking it down
I love the table, but I need to be able to disassemble the top from the legs/frame (I move a lot.) I'm thinking of adding threaded inserts to the 2x4's on the underside of the table top, then running bolts through the top horizontal 2x4 of the leg frame, into the threaded insert. I think this way, the table could be separated into two pieces with just an Alan wrench. Am I right in thinking this, or can you think of a better way to accomplish it?
Thank,
ENS Jarrett Darrah, USN
cstephens3
Sat, 02/14/2015 - 19:43
X Part
Is putting the X on the table required? Or would I be able to skip that step? Thank you!!
Ana White Admin
Sun, 02/15/2015 - 12:22
Concerning the "X"
The "x" will definitely help but tables of this size are normally fine without the additional support
joemagrino
Fri, 03/06/2015 - 14:04
Lip After Angle Cuts For Center X
So I miter cut the wood for the center X. The 2x4s are 1.5" thick, but after the angle cut, the face of that cut is larger. How do you properly attach it to the leg 2x4s without having a bit of a lip. I have run into this on other projects here as well and it never seems to be mentioned.
janetp4
Fri, 07/31/2015 - 18:45
Same plan but smaller size
Hi, I love this table, but am looking for a size no larger than 32" wide by 54" long. Can these plans be made smaller, and if so, how can I request them. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Janet P.
stephaniesmith1214
Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:31
Wood Type?
Hello! What kind of wood did you use to make this table? Looks awesome! :)
Ana White Admin
Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:45
Wood?
http://jenwoodhouse.com/diy-dining-table/
She mentions poplar in this post in the comments section. Hope this helps!
brittwheeler
Wed, 09/30/2015 - 14:08
Can I make this table smaller???
I am hoping to take a foot off of each side. Can I just shorten the sides or would that mess up the plans??
Mary Lembo
Thu, 04/28/2016 - 14:04
How difficult would this be
How difficult would this be to make to a slightly smaller scale??
jkvols7
Tue, 03/13/2018 - 09:22
Table legs
Love the table and getting ready to build!
Couple of questions...For the legs...Is there a reason you went with 2 2x4s glued/screwed together as opposed to a 4x4 for the vertical supports? Think it should work either way but want to make sure I'm not mising something!
mooyacooya
Tue, 01/21/2020 - 10:49
longer table
How difficult would this be to make longer? Would like it to accommodate 3 chairs on each side as opposed to two.
desteele
Sat, 07/11/2020 - 08:04
Downloads?
I realize I'm a dense male, but I can't find a link for a .pdf for this planset. I can save the page by printing to .pdf, but figured your downloadable would be a bit more slimmed-down. Am I missing something? I did try to read pages I thought would give me an answer. Thanks much, I appreciate the free plans regardless.
Des
bchild87
Fri, 07/17/2020 - 22:46
6 Foot Please!!!!!!!
This table is beautifully done and I cant wait to built one for my family. Unfortunately the measurements are a bit, too long. Do you happen to measurements for this as a 6 Foot table? Thank you!!!