Monday, October 12, 2009

Build A Cedar Clothes Closet

Cedar produces a pleasant natural scent.


Cedar has natural properties that prevent fabric eating moths from reproducing. Cedar also produces a strong natural scent that keeps clothing smelling fresh, which is particularly important in areas of high humidity or where the person using the clothing is a smoker. Some clothing is not designed to be laundered or cleaned daily, but you still want it to smell fresh. For these and many other reasons, cedar is a good choice for a closet liner. Does this Spark an idea?


Instructions


1. Remove everything from your closet. Caulk any holes between the baseboard and wall, between the baseboard and floor and around any trim. Locate your wall studs using a stud finder, and mark them with a pencil. Use a level to draw long vertical lines at these stud marks.


2. Replace your closet door with an inexpensive exterior door that has weatherstrip. It's important to keep the cedar fresh and sealed.


3. Select Eastern red cedar tongue and groove planks. Measure and cut your first plank to length using a table saw. Position your plank groove-side down along the top edge of your baseboard or floor. Mark the tongue of the plank at the stud locations.


4. Drill pilot holes through the top corner above the tongue of the plank at a 45-degree angle (similar to how hardwood floor is nailed). Apply a bead of construction adhesive to the back of the plank. Place your plank back on the wall, and use a finish nailer gun to nail through the pilot holes into the studs. The pilot holes keep the wood from splitting.


5. Cut your next plank to fit. Position the groove snug over the tongue of the first plank. Mark, drill and nail. Continue around the entire room. You may wish to cover the ceiling as well. The process is the same as that for wall installation.

Tags: pilot holes, baseboard floor, between baseboard, first plank, natural scent