When it comes to home improvement, you need information you can trust. Inside each issue of The Family Handyman, you’ll find see-and-solve expert repair techniques, a variety of projects for every room and step-by-step, do-it-yourself photos.
editors@thefamilyhandyman.com SAVE YOUR ELECTRONICS My wife and I bought a new washer and dryer a few years ago. A year later, a big thunderstorm rolled through the area and left our dryer dead. We called the repair technician. His diagnosis: The circuit board was fried by a voltage spike, most likely from a nearby lightning strike. The repair would have cost almost $500. The dryer wasn’t worth fixing. Ouch. After doing some research, I learned that voltage spikes are relatively common. And every time there’s a spike, circuit boards take a hit. Eventually they fail. The only way to prevent that kind of damage is to install a whole-house surge protector in the main electrical panel. It acts like a traffic cop, diverting electrical surges to ground. So I bought…
FROM OUR READERS handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com BLADE STORAGE TUBES My reciprocating saw gets used a lot, and the tool case becomes a mess. To keep my blades in order, I made storage tubes from 1-1/4-in. PVC waste pipe and end caps. I just cut the pipe to length, glue one end and then label and store my blades. The open end gets friction-fitted with the cap. Now I can find the right blade at a glance! Phil Streit Nonslip ladder I use my multi-position ladder for repairs during Montana winters, and I used to have trouble getting good footing. My solution was to apply anti-slip tape to the rungs. Its heavy-duty grit really helps grip my boots. I cleaned the rungs and then just cut the tape to size with a utility…
editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Finishing a basement is a dream project for many DIYers. You can add beautiful living space and save thousands of dollars in the process. But you’re also guaranteed to run into unusual problems. We met with pros from all the trades and asked how to solve some of the problems you’re likely to encounter when working in the basement. They gave us some great quick-fix tips as well as helpful strategies for conquering major hurdles. Our goal is to help you avoid unforeseen pitfalls and assist you in creating a comfortable, highquality space that will last a lifetime. BOOST THE AIRFLOW The coldest room in the basement is usually the room farthest from the furnace. Boost the airflow on long duct runs with an in-line duct fan. These fans…
editors@thefamilyhandyman.com When you flip the switch to turn on the garbage disposal and all you get is a hum—or a loud, metal-on-metal grinding noise— you know something’s wrong. Maybe it’s just trash stuck in the disposal, but there’s also a chance that the unit is dead, kaput, never to dispose again. Fortunately, replacing a disposal isn’t hard, even if you haven’t done much plumbing. Manufacturers provide clear instructions that tell you most of the things you need to know— but not everything. We talked to veteran plumbers and collected their best tips for a smooth, trouble-free installation. WHAT IT TAKES TIME: 2 to 3 hours COST: $80 to $300 SKILL LEVEL: Beginner TOOLS: Screwdriver, putty knife, tongue-andgroove pliers, hacksaw MAKE SURE IT’S REALLY BROKEN A disposal that seems to be…
editors@thefamilyhandyman.com You know the chairs I’m talking about—the ones you sat on for 4,122 dinners, the vintage ones inherited from Grandma, the dusty ones picked up at the garage sale, the ones your aunt spilled wine on. THOSE are the chairs I’m talking about. Reupholstering is a great way to bring tired-looking chairs—even tired-looking rooms—back to life. The materials are relatively inexpensive, the tools are simple and it’s a project almost anyone can tackle with success. Here’s how. MEET THE PRO Lacey Brooker has been reupholstering chairs and repurposing furniture for half a decade. She’s the owner of Piccadilly Prairie, a Minneapolis antiques shop specializing in shabby chic furnishings and accessories. Chairs are not all created— or upholstered—equally Here we’ll show you how to reupholster a chair with a “drop-in”…
HAND STAPLER Cost: $15 to $30 It will give your hand a workout, and you may have to occasionally use a hammer to drive the staples all the way in, but you can still get good results. Make sure you hold the nose of the stapler firmly against the seat base when you pull the trigger. ELECTRIC STAPLER Cost: $25 to $75 We used one for our project and it worked flawlessly. You still need to firmly press the nose against the fabric and plywood to get a well-seated staple—but it’s way easier on the hand. As a bonus, some models also shoot 3/4-in. and shorter brad nails. PNEUMATIC STAPLER Cost: $40 to $150 (plus air compressor) If you’re going to be stapling for hours on end, invest in a…
