Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Family Handyman

BACK SAVER Set posts without concrete Concrete is a solid choice for anchoring posts and poles, but nobody likes lugging around the 80-lb. bags, and mixing it is the definition of tedious. Next time you need to backfill a posthole, consider using expanding foam that’s formulated for anchoring posts of all shapes and sizes. Fast 2K Fence Post Backfill is super lightweight and forms a waterproof barrier that extends the life of wooden posts. This foam is also strong enough to resist lateral force of more than 500 lbs. and has a compression strength three to four times that of tamped soil. And it doesn’t need to be mixed with water. You just pull the clip that separates the two components, mix the bag for 30 seconds and pour the…

W ater in your basement? Don’t call the basement waterproofing company yet. According to our expert, many basement leaks can be cured with a weekend’s work and a few hundred dollars’ worth of dirt and plastic. We talked to Robert Vassallo, owner of Complete Building Solutions, an engineering firm that specializes in solving waterrelated building problems. His firm takes on many complicated wet basement jobs, but he was quick to point out that a huge percentage of wet basements can be remedied by simply regrading the landscape, and adding or upgrading gutters and downspouts. The graphic at right shows the key elements for an effective solution. Of course, this fix will work only if the water entering your basement is coming from rain or melting snow. But it’s pretty easy…

Nothing beats the natural appeal of a real wood deck. But after just a few years of weather and foot traffic, wood can become an eyesore. To revive it, there are five main directions you can go, and we’ll guide you through them all. This article will also help you decide whether to refinish your old decking or step up to a lower-maintenance option so you can spend more time enjoying your deck and less time taking care of it. Is Your Deck Dangerous? Before you take steps to make your deck look better, make sure it’s structurally sound. You don’t want it falling down after all that hard work! To identify and fix the most common deck problems, do the sevenpoint inspection at tfhmag.com/deckrepair SOLUTION 1: CLEAN & REFINISH…

Burn spots caused by dogs relieving themselves on the lawn are usually about 4 to 8 in. wide with dead grass in the middle and a ring of dark green grass around them. Dog urine contains high concentrations of acids, salts and nitrogen, which kill the grass. The only way to fix the burn spots is to plant new grass. Here are the steps. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER How to reset a circuit breaker You probably know how to reset a circuit breaker, but what about your kids or the baby-sitter? Use this tutorial to show them how. The electrical panel You’ll usually find the main circuit breaker panel—a gray, metal box—in a utility room, garage or basement. Don’t worry about opening the panel’s door. All the dangerous stuff is behind…

Expert advice on repair, maintenance and gear. 1. Keep your tires at the right pressure. Surveys show that 50 percent of all drivers are driving on underinflated tires. You can’t eyeball tire pressure, and you shouldn’t rely on the low tire pressure warning light—it doesn’t light up until your tires are at least 25 percent underinflated. At that point, you’ve already been wasting gas. Instead, check them monthly with a tire pressure gauge (less than $5). Underinflated tires have higher rolling resistance, causing your engine to work harder and waste almost $450 a year in gas. (The savings given for each tip assume you drive 20,000 miles a year and gas is $2.50 a gallon.) Low air pressure also wears out your tires twice as fast, costing you $150 a…

GOT A DIY QUESTION? Finding answers is easy at familyhandyman.com. Just use the search box at the top of the page to get expert step-by-step help with your projects. GOT A HANDY HINT OR TIP FOR US? To share your information with us, submit a copy of your original contribution, including photos and/or sketches, by email to: submissions@familyhandyman.com Or mail to: The Family Handyman, 2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan, MN 55121 Please include your name, mailing address and email address if you have one, and indicate to which department you are submitting. We reserve the right to publish your submission in any appropriate department, or elsewhere. Contributions will not be acknowledged or returned. RIGHTS By submitting material to us, you grant Home Service Publications, Inc., its parent company subsidiaries,…

Anyone with a strong back can stack up a bunch of blocks and build a pretty retaining wall. But it takes skill and planning to construct an attractive wall that can also handle immense pressure, shrug off the forces of gravity, stand for decades and laugh in the face of Mother Nature. That’s the kind of wall we wanted to learn how to build, so we went to work with some hardworking hardscaping pros. They showed us that it’s all about a solid base, proper drainage and the right materials for the job. They also shared a few handy tips they’ve picked up over the years. MEET THE EXPERTS Joe Blakeborough (right) owns and operates Blakeborough Hardscapes in Prior Lake, MN, with the assistance of his younger brother, Jake (left).…

Araised planter “beets” traditional gardening in a bunch of ways. And our planter is tops for easy construction, sturdiness and convenience. Plus, the curves and trim make it a pretty addition to your deck or patio. You’ll get about 8 sq. ft. of planting area. If you need more, you could make a larger planter, but consider building two instead: A bigger planter filled with soil is tough to move. A BETTER DESIGN 1 The optional trellis supports climbing plants like tomatoes and peas. 2 Side tables are convenient work surfaces and handles when you need to move the planter. 3 Boards protrude at ends or corners. Those “reveals” hide mistakes. If your measurements or cuts are a little off, no one will notice. 4 Notched joinery is super sturdy…

Put on your thinking cap and take this month’s quiz to see just how smart you are when it comes to DIY. Here’s how it works: •There are easy, intermediate and really tough questions all mixed together. •There may be more than one correct answer! •Get the answers and your DIY rating on pp. 72-73. 1. What is synthetic motor oil derived from? A. Natural gas B. Various types of vegetable oils C. Petroleum D. Coal oil P 2. True or False? Torque wrenches come in two calibrations: foot-pounds and inch-pounds. 3. A light fixture or receptacle outlet that can be controlled from two switches uses a “three-way” rather than an ordinary “single-pole” switch. So what is a “four-way” switch used for? A. There’s no such thing. There are only…