The issues & fixes library
Every problem we've hit across every build, in one place — each with the exact fix, cost, and time. Learn from our mistakes for free.
Thin cedar and pine boards cup within days of sun exposure when fastened only at the ends. The wide face dries faster than the back.
Add a center fastening point (screw into a back cleat). For new builds, always fasten thin boards at three points minimum. Full walkthrough in Cedar Slat Privacy Screen with Built-In Planter Trough.
Planter boxes without drainage hold water against the wood. Rot starts at the bottom seam and is invisible until the box fails.
Drill ½" holes every 8", line with landscape fabric, and raise the box on two scrap-wood feet so the bottom can dry.
Pavers laid on bare soil settle after the first heavy rain, opening gaps and tilting the top ring.
Lift the ring, dig 3" down, compact 2" of paver base plus 1" of leveled sand. Never skip the base. Full walkthrough in Round Paver Fire Pit — the Under-$150 Version.
Direct-tied string lights stretch and sag within weeks; the wire itself isn’t structural.
Run a stainless guide cable with a turnbuckle between posts first, then clip the lights to the cable every 18". Full walkthrough in String Light Posts That Don’t Lean (Planter Base Method).
Mill glaze (a shiny planing residue) repels oil finishes unpredictably board-to-board.
Scuff-sand with 120-grit before finishing, and test the finish on each board’s offcut. Full walkthrough in Cedar Slat Privacy Screen with Built-In Planter Trough.