Common Uses of Scrap Sheathing and Framing Lumber

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.