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.
TEMPORARY WALLPAPER Creating an accent wall with a stylish wallpaper is a great way to update a room, but it’s amazing how fast “trendy” can become just plain weird. And if you’ve ever had to remove stubbornly stuck wallpaper, you won’t want to repeat the experience. Enter Tempaper, a removable wallpaper that sticks to any smooth, painted or primed surface. When you’re tired of the pattern or you’re trying to sell your house without frightening prospective buyers, simply peel it off. It won’t damage the drywall or leave messy glue behind. It’s also a perfect option for apartment residents who want to decorate without losing their damage deposit. One roll costs $35 to $125. Check out the 90 patterns and watch the installation video at tempaperdesigns.com. Eliminate stinky gasoline smells…
1 No more splashy paint can lids Ever hammer down a paint can lid only to have paint splatter everywhere? You can prevent that by grabbing a 5-in-1 tool and using the pointy end to punch a few holes through the groove of the can’s rim (be sure to rotate the tool left and right a little to widen the holes). The holes allow excess paint to drain back into the can. The lid will cover the holes and make an airtight seal. If you don’t have a 5-in-1 tool handy, you can punch some holes with a hammer and nail. Larry Gusman 2 PRESERVE A BRUSH WITH A GLOVE I like to wear disposable nitrile gloves when I’m painting. They not only keep my hands clean but also keep…
All of the advice for a long-lasting paint job on woodwork also applies to windows, but windows present a few unique challenges. There’s the glass to avoid slopping on, as well as all sorts of hardware and weather stripping. Window paint is subjected to large temperature fluctuations and moisture from condensation. And, windows have to move freely when you’re all done. In this article, we’ll show you tips on how to get the best paint job on windows with the least amount of time and effort. 1 Clean and scrape before you paint It seems counterintuitive to clean the windows first. But it’s a good idea for two reasons. First, your paint job will last longer if the intersection of the glass and wood sash is sealed with paint. You…
BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR FINISHES Would you purposely stain the wood floor in your kitchen with a dull, drab finish? Then why do it to your deck? Cabot has just introduced its Gold Ultimate Finish for decks and outdoor furniture. It creates a furnituregrade finish that can stand up to torrential rains and punishing UV rays. The secret is in the two-coat process. The first coat penetrates the wood; the second adds the glossy shine. Cabot Gold is available at home centers and hardware stores for $46 a gallon. Mark Petersen, Associate Editor HEAT GUN CONTROL My old heat gun had just one control—me. I controlled the temp by how far I held the gun from the surface. So I love my new Wagner heat gun. The fan has five speeds, and…
FROM OUR READERS handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com GARDEN TOOL HIDEAWAY A mailbox near your garden provides a convenient home for tools. A small mailbox like this one costs about $15 at hardware stores and home centers. King-size models cost about $35. Plug saver I’m always running extension cords from my garage out to my yard. To avoid the hassle of the cord getting unplugged or damaging the plug’s prongs, I tie a loose loop in the cord and hang it on a heavy-duty screw hook installed right next to the outlet. The hook keeps the plug connected in case I pull a little too hard on the cord. Isaac Hanvey Get a $100 gift card for your Handy Hint! See p. 4. An egg-cellent painting tip Whenever I need to paint something small…
WHAT IT TAKES Time: One or two weekends Cost: About $10 per window or door Skills: Intermediate. Requires familiarity with a table saw and router. Tools: Table saw, miter saw, router, router bits, basic carpentry tools. A trim nail gun and compressor aren’t required but simplify the project. You’ll find a classic trim style that looks similar to this in many century-old houses. But that’s where the similarity ends. Old-school carpenters carefully cut and fit mitered returns at the ends of the window aprons and crown moldings to create the classic profiles. You could reproduce this look with wood moldings and a good bit of patience. But if you’re going to paint, why not follow our lead and make your own moldings from medium-density fiberboard? MDF is easy to cut…
