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Framing a house using engineered wood has many advantages. Glue laminated beams are stronger than their conventional solid sawn counterparts. (Laminated veneer lumber comes in smaller dimensions for headers and ridge beams.) Engineered I-joists span greater distances and their stiffness prevents squeaky floors. Oriented strand board sheathing prevents racking and provides good nailer for siding.

For added strength when you're butting two boards together, use the carpenter's trick of splining. Using a router, cut a quarter inch by half inch deep rabbet in each of the pieces to be joined. Apply two beads of glue to each rabbet. Rip a piece of clear stock to one inch by one quarter, sandwich this "spline" between the pieces, and clamp for about an hour.

If you have an old house, some paint stripping projects require extra care. Antique woodwork can include applied details made of an animal glue compound that will melt if you use a heat gun. Instead, gently apply a chemical stripper and use suction and dental tools to carefully remove layers of old paint.

Here's how to install window casings. After the window stool and apron are in place, start with the top casing and nail with brads. Glue the joints of the side casings and tack nail the miters. Pipe clamp the molding to get a tight fit (on the joints). Finish nailing the casing with brads to the premarked reveal line. Then use finish nails to secure the casing to the studs.

With a little help from your local framing shop, you can assemble your own custom frame. Have the shop cut the styles of your choice, the glass, and the mat to size; glue the corners and fasten; insert the glass; secure your art to the mat; add a backing sheet and secure with glazing points. Craft paper will keep the dust out.

Here's how to streamline a job that requires a lot of hand-sawing. First cut a block of scrap wood to accommodate about a third of a sheet of sandpaper. Then recycle a supermarket plastic foam tray and cut a piece the size of the block. Glue these together and wrap the sandpaper around them. You'll get a smoother surface and your sandpaper will last longer.

Interior designer Leslie Curtis shows off another of her decorating ideas in the dining room. She's chosen to frame a sample of an historic wallpaper pattern. The frames were created by Ron and Tracy Lindholm from Cape Cod Picture Framing. Bob joins Ron and his daughter Tracy in the garage workshop to learn about the process. The first step is to choose moldings that will allow the creation of a rabbet that will hold the glass and the picture. Ron selected a few examples from a local lumberyard. Next, he combines two of the pieces using wood glue and a few nails. After cutting the moldings, he uses a corner clamp to hold the pieces together at a 45 degree angle. To secure the pieces, Ron applies carpenter's glue and a few nails. Once the frame is assembled, Tracy applies an antique finish. After priming the bare wood, she applies two or three coats of gold spray paint. Next, she mixes a combination of paste wax and pigment, such as Japan paint, to age the newly painted surface. Using a damp brush, she stipples a thin layer of the finish on the frame and then wipes away the excess to create highlights.