Easy Construction Projects while you #StayAtHome: Surfaces

With the uncertain lockdown condition we have in the Philippines, most of us who hold office jobs are working from home(WFH). While it’s environmentally different from being in the office, WFH setups are still sedentary life. In this series, we try to explore building object from simple construction materials that are easily available in the Philippines. We tackle only guiding principles so you can experiment and situationally adjust with what you have a home. We start of this series with surfaces.



Surfaces are very basic in that they are anything that you put something else. They come in many shapes and sizes like countertops, shelves, and tables of sizes and purposes.

Materials

You want surfaces to properly carry the weight you put on them. Choose materials that are right for the job. If you will be using lightweight materials, best to install them as surfaces that are permanently affixed like a book or display shelf or a kitchen rack. Otherwise, go for strong and sturdy materials, preferably hard wood. There are a lot of nice hard wood endemic in the Philippines making so you can easily find a construction material that’s perfect for what you want. If it’s moveable, chances are it will be mounted by someone once or twice so pick materials accordingly.

Tools

If you have a saw, a tape measure, and connectors such as nails, you can start building a surface however, your end result might be rough around the edges. To make good clean cuts and if you want tapered legs, you can use a circular saw. For cleaner binds, you can use drills and screws or carve the wood into pegged parts that mate. Wood glue is also important for added hold. If you’re really after precision, you can use a level to make sure the surface is completely flat.



Tables and other surfaces are a good start if you want to try your hand at building something. After a couple of projects, you might even find yourself getting good at it. Who knows; with the right tools and construction materials, this is a hobby that could end up being a business for you in the Philippines!