BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
Funny you mention the expanding spray—I tried that once and ended up with a hatch that wouldn’t close at all. Lesson learned: shortcuts just make more work down the line. I’m with you on the “one solid hatch” idea. Fewer drafts, less fiddling, and honestly, it’s just less to worry about when winter hits. If I ever start over, I’m triple-checking for flatness before anything else... warped wood is a nightmare for air sealing.
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
I hear you on the warped wood—had a custom wine cellar door that never sealed right because the frame was just a hair off. Drove me nuts every winter. Honestly, I’d rather spend extra on engineered lumber up front than deal with those headaches again. Sometimes the “luxury” is just not having to fix things twice...
ENGINEERED LUMBER VS. SOLID WOOD—IS IT WORTH IT?
Man, warped wood is the bane of my existence. Had a similar thing happen with some custom closet doors—looked perfect at install, then winter hit and they started sticking every time I tried to open them. I get the appeal of engineered lumber, but sometimes I wonder if it loses a bit of that “feel” you get from solid wood, y’know? Still, not having to deal with endless repairs is tempting... Maybe it’s just one of those trade-offs you make for sanity.
I get the appeal of engineered lumber, but sometimes I wonder if it loses a bit of that “feel” you get from solid wood, y’know? Still, not having to deal with endless repairs is tempting... Maybe it’s just one of those trade-offs you make for sanity.
Honestly, I’m right there with you on the trade-off thing. I used to be all about solid wood—thought it was the “real deal” and worth every penny. But after dealing with a bowed floorboard in my last place (that thing creaked like crazy every time someone walked by), I started looking at engineered stuff a little differently.
It’s true, you don’t quite get that same warmth or character as solid wood, but man, not having to shell out for repairs or replacements every couple years is a big plus when you’re watching your budget. Plus, some of the newer engineered options look pretty convincing unless you’re really up close.
If I had to start over, I’d probably mix it up—engineered for the base structure and maybe splurge on solid wood for the visible bits where it really matters. Just feels like a smarter way to stretch your dollars without sacrificing too much on looks or durability.
Mixing it up makes sense, but I’m still a bit wary of engineered stuff for anything load-bearing. Maybe I’m old school, but I’ve seen some of those beams delaminate over time if moisture sneaks in. For floors and visible trim, though, I get the appeal—less fuss, looks decent, and you don’t have to baby it. I guess it comes down to where you’re willing to compromise. If I had to do it again, I’d probably stick with solid for the bones and use engineered where it’s just for show.
