If you need a uniquely sized shim, or spacer, that is rather thin, you should consider some items that you might have laying around and will give you the uniform thickness that you need.
Consider the following to use as a uniform thickness shim. They are inexpensvie items and things that you might have around your garage, workshop, basement or attic.
- Formica
- Laminate Flooring
- Pegboard or Hardboard
- Paneling
- Vinyl Tile
One of my favorites is Linoleum or vinyl tile (the 12″ x 12″ stick on variety). If you have a couple of peel and sticks around, you can cut them to size and layer as needed. The best part here is that you can use the peel and stick backing to hold it in place.
Hey, a 10% Lowe’s discount.
Ok, I have blasted Lowe’s in the past, but that had to do with a rebate that wasn’t processed efficiently. The Lowe’s website won me back with some great information and articles. In fact, “Lowe’s creative ideas” is a free publication with some great projects and tips. Obviously, they are trying to sell you product, but the shopping list feature within the projects makes the process of purchasing all of your materials in one fell swoop pretty easy.
Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine (off site link)
Here is where the discount comes from. When I subscribed to the free Lowe’s creative ideas magazine they asked if I would be moving soon. Well, I just purchased a property, so I answered that I would. After subscribing, they e-mailed me a 10% off coupon (same day). Pretty nice discount, especailly if you are working on a good size project.
Very nice Lowe’s.
When working on any home improvement project, you should make a list of all of the work that needs to be accomplished to complete the project. Keep this list handy during the job. Add to it, cross of the jobs that are done, and continually reference it to stay on task.
It is very easy to veer from the list especially when the next task in line is a difficult or messy one. We all have a tendency to take the path of least resistance from time to time. I sometimes find myself doing a small project that can be done by any person with no home improvement skills at all.
These jobs are generally the punch list items that come at, or near, the end of a project. Obviously they have to get done, but if they don’t move the project along and it doesn’t take any level of skill to complete, you should really question the need for that project… at that time.
If your improvement, or handyman project, is at the stage that all of the jobs are the easy ones, well then congratulations, you are obviously near the end. However, if you are working on this job when there is a door to frame, sanding to be done, a ceiling to repair, etc… your resources are probably not being utilized properly.
Make your list, Stick to it.
