Common Uses of Scrap Sheathing and Framing Lumber
Scraps of lumber and sheathing don't belong in the dumpster. Here's a list of house parts that put these leftovers to good use.
I rarely ever put a Dumpster on a jobsite. Like the adage: ‘Out of sight-Out of mind,’ as soon as something is tossed in a dumpster, its value is overlooked. Instead I make semi-organized piles of wood-be scraps and make sure everyone on the jobsite knows where they are. Even small pieces of sheathing — say a 1 in. by 48 in. strip of 7/16 Zip — can be useful.
Here are just a few examples of how we use the leftovers:
- Blocking electric boxes off king studs so there’s plenty of room for door casing.
- Blocking for partition backing studs
- Drywall cleats at intersecting walls
- Bracing supports for plumbing drains
- Story poles made from narrow strips of sheathing
- Light block padding over the Roxul insulation.
- Corner padding for siding and trim
- Spacers to dial in the garage door rough opening
- Padding to set a ceiling light box at the right level
- Cabinet blocking
- Shims between mudsill and wall plates to account for out-of-level foundation.
- Blocks to stack lumber on
- Scuttle hole shaft framing
- Ceiling furring nailers
- Fire-stop blocking
I also put a pile of leftovers along the street for neighbors to take. Here are a few uses neighbors have put them to use:
- LVL and PSL blocks to rest trailer tongues on and chock wheels
- Dismantled pallet wood used for art projects
- Firewood — of course
- Kindling — even the tiniest lumber rips are prized for starting fires.
![leftover-products-1](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07145857/leftover-product-1.png)
![leftover product 2](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07150221/leftover-product-2.png)
![leftover products nailed to top plate](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07150412/leftover-product-3.png)
![](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07150947/leftover-products-4.png)
![leftover products 5](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07151059/leftover-products-5.png)
![leftover product](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07151408/leftover-6-1.jpg)
![leftover product piece](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07152004/leftover-product-pieces-.png)
![leftover product piece](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07152253/product-piece-.png)
![product piece](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07152501/product-pieces-3-2.png)
![leftover pieces from project](https://images.finehomebuilding.com/app/uploads/2016/10/07145104/leftover-pieces.png)
View Comments
over 50 years ago, my boss/contractor/teacher would tell us newbies that there was no scrap until the job was done. I have tried to follow that idea since.