Innholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2014 i Family Handyman

Forget about all those homemade concoctions using washing soda, bleach, etc. Pick up some Concrobium Mold Control, which is formulated to treat mold and mildew on just about any surface. The manufacturer claims that, unlike homemade solutions, Concrobium kills the mold completely and leaves behind an antimicrobial barrier to prevent new growth. Apply Concrobium with a brush, cloth, roller or sprayer, even a pump sprayer. Let it dry, then scrub away any remaining stains and reapply the product to form a protective barrier. You can treat large infested areas, such as crawl spaces, by using the product with a fogger from a rental store. Unlike bleach and other treatments, Concrobium is odorless. You can find it in 1-qt. spray bottles ($10), 1-gallon jugs ($32) or 5-gallon pails ($150) at most…

A CONCRETE SLAB IS BEST FOR HEAVY USE For a shed floor that’s strong, long-lasting and low to the ground, it’s hard to beat concrete. Surprisingly, if you pour the slab yourself, the price is comparable to that of a wood platform. The cost of ready-mix concrete varies by region but is usually about $1.50 to $2 per sq. ft. for a 4-in.-thick slab. Search for “concrete” at familyhandyman.com to learn more about pouring your own concrete shed floor. I’ve built a lot of sheds in my 16 years at The Family Handyman. And in the process, I’ve learned a lot about what makes a shed look good and function well. Here are my best techniques to make shed construction easier, cheaper and better. ASK FOR SPECIAL DELIVERY Some lumberyards…

Master the reciprocating saw A reciprocating saw is a powerful, versatile tool that can cut a huge variety of materials and get into tight spots other saws can’t. It’s a must-have for any demolition job, but there’s not a framer, plumber, electrician or roofer worth their salt who doesn’t have one in their truck at all times. I learned a thing or two during the hundreds of dusty hours behind my recip saws. In this story, I’ll show you a few tricks to help you get more out of your saw, avoid the dreaded kickback and extend the life of your blades. MEET THE PRO Mark Petersen is a Contributing Editor at TFH. He spent 20 years in construction, first as a siding guy, then as a general contractor. Bend…

Buy smaller quantities As with any product that has a limited shelf life, you should buy only what you need for the near future. If you buy ethanol (oxygenated) gas, buy only enough gas to last for 30 days. If you buy non-oxygenated gas, limit your purchase to a 60-day supply. To find a source for non-oxygenated gas near you, go to pure-gas.org. With either type of gas, use a container that’s sized for the amount you’ll buy. Storing 2 gallons in a 5-gallon container leaves you with 3 gallons of air, causing the gas to spoil faster—even if it’s been treated with fuel stabilizer. Add the old gas in small quantities to your car or take it to the recycling center. Add stabilizer every time you fill Many people…

UP IN SMOKE We had recently bought an outdoor electric smoker/cooker and were excited to try it. The instructions recommended changing out the wood chips every two hours during smoking. It was Sunday and we decided to do the first chip rotation before leaving for church. I carefully opened the door of the smoker and removed the hot metal container of smoking wood chips. Looking around for a place to dump the charred wood, I focused on our old whiskey/wine barrel planter. I dumped it in and we left for church. Returning home, we could see smoke rising over the tops of the pine trees by our driveway. I raced to the planter and saw that the hot coals I’d dumped had ignited the dried peat in the barrel. Luckily,…

BIKE GEAR TO GO I got tired of hunting down all my biking gear when I wanted to go for a ride. I’m trying to be more organized, so I picked up this plastic crate at a garage sale to solve the problem. I simply screwed some 2x4 pieces to the back of the crate (use fender washers with the screws to better grip the plastic). Then I screwed through the studs into the 2x4s. Next I screwed a 25-in.-long 2x4 to the front of the top and added a pair of rubber-coated bike hooks. I keep biking shoes, a helmet, gloves, a tire pump and my water bottles within reach so I spend more time biking and less time looking in closets! Jay Norman Souped-up litter box To make…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com 1 REINFORCE YOUR EXTERIOR DOORS Burglars can open most entry doors with a few kicks or body blows. Even with a dead bolt, the blow shatters the doorjamb and splits the door itself (even steel doors). You can dramatically increase the strength of your doorjamb by installing longer strike plate screws that anchor into the stud behind the jamb (Photo 1). The first step would be to take out one of the existing screws. If it’s shorter than 3 in., replace it. For even greater doorjamb security, consider installing a 6-in.-long heavy-duty strike plate (about $10). This is a much bigger job because you have to mortise a larger opening and drive in six 3-in. screws. However, if your entry door butts up to a sidelight and you can’t…

Sometimes a middle-aged car can still look fine except for wear and tear on the wheels and wheel covers. Fortunately, you can fix this yourself for very little cash. Removing the rust and painting your wheels take a full day. (Don’t panic—mostly you’re waiting for paint to dry.) Then the wheels must dry for 24 more hours after painting before you remount them. So make other arrangements for transportation for a day. The supplies cost about $50 from any auto parts store. Here’s how to do the job. Get all the supplies ahead of time Besides the primer and paint, you’ll need masking tape, plastic sheeting, a drill and a wire wheel. If the wheels are really rusty and the rust has pitted the metal, use “rusty-metal” primer. However, if…

Fix a driveway apron It’s normal for asphalt driveways to sink a bit over time. But when your driveway has sunk to the point where it’s 4 or 5 in. lower than your garage floor, it’s time to fix it. If you don’t, water will pool in the depression, seep into the soil below, and eventually destroy the driveway. Asphalt companies charge about $1,000 to dig out the old portion and install a new apron. Concrete contractors charge even more. But you can rebuild your asphalt driveway apron yourself. The entire job takes a full day and it’s not much fun. But the materials and tools only cost about $250, so the savings is worth it. You’ll need a diamond blade for your circular saw, a tamper, a pry bar…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Two sheds in one, this rustic cedar gem will keep everyone happy This cedar garden shed is the perfect storage solution for every gardener and family member who enjoys working and playing in the backyard. At 8 ft. x 9-1/2 ft., the storage area has loads of room for all your lawn and garden equipment. And you can access it easily through the 46-in.-wide sliding door in the back. With the addition of workbenches and shelves, the smaller 5-1/2-ft. x 8-ft. room makes a perfect potting shed. The concrete paver floor, natural cedar siding and steel roofing add up to a low-maintenance shed that will last for generations. Editor’s note: This was one of the first sheds I built (way back in 2003). It was such a success—by far…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com A POWER WASH WILL WORK WONDERS You could scrub with a deck brush, but it’s far smarter to rent, borrow or buy a pressure washer. You’ll need to spray with at least 2,000 psi, and that usually calls for a gaspowered unit—few electric ones possess the power. Choose the 15-degree spray tip and then experiment. The trick is to hold the wand just far enough away to avoid tearing up the wood but close enough to remove all of the ugliness. You’ll get the feel pretty quickly, but it’s best to start in an inconspicuous area. If your washer is capable of distributing detergent, you can use it to speed things up. CLEANERS & BRIGHTENERS If your deck has black or green stains, choose a cleaner that’s formulated to…

Peelable paint is the latest craze. Car buffs use it to protect their wheel covers and rocker panels over the winter months or to give their rides a shot of color. Peelable paint is a spray-on rubbery coating that peels off when you’re done with it. If you scratch it, you can simply recoat it. Use it on any smooth surface indoors or out. When you use peelable paint outdoors, it should be removed after three months. You can leave it on longer, but it’ll be harder (or impossible) to remove. But indoors, it’s removable for nearly a year. Peelable paint is available at auto parts stores, home centers and craft stores. Rust-Oleum, Dupli-Color and Plasti Dip are three well-known brands of peelable paint.…

Installing faucets Today’s faucets are easier than ever to install. In fact, you can even buy faucets that install entirely from the top of the sink so you don’t have to crawl underneath. But there are still things you should know for a quick, easy and leakfree installation. Here are our best tips for helping you with your next faucet installation. 1 Cut out the old faucet Even with a basin wrench, it can be nearly impossible to break loose corroded nuts holding older faucets to the sink. If you don’t care about wrecking the faucet, cut off the nuts instead. You can use either a rotary tool (Dremel is one brand) with a grinding disc or an oscillating tool with a metal-cutting blade. Cut through one side of the…