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.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’ A lot of technology goes into our homes these days besides smart thermostats and those refrigerators that tell you when you’re out of eggs. From siding to plumbing, the amount of research and engineering invested in the new products and materials that surround us is astounding. They’re more efficient, lighter, more environmentally friendly, easier to work with and built to last lifetimes. Here is a glimpse into the new and expanding world of modern building products. Trim and siding, up from the ashes Boral TruExterior trim boards and siding are made from 70 percent recycled materials, mostly fly ash, which is a byproduct of burning coal. The product looks like wood, cuts like wood, mills like wood and installs like wood. The main difference…
Decades ago, the standard base for most tile installations was a laborintensive mortar bed that only a skilled tile setter could get right. Today, new backer boards, waterproofing methods and other tiling products allow a dedicated DIYer to create a long-lasting, trouble-free tile installation. But choosing the right products can be confusing. In this article, we’ll tell you the uses and pros and cons of various tile substrate products, so the next time you visit your local home center or tile shop, you’ll have a better understanding of which products to pick for your project. BEDS, BOARDS & OTHER BACKERS DRY-PACK MORTAR This is the traditional tile backer. Felt paper is stapled to the floor and covered with expanded metal lath. Then cement, sand and water are mixed together to…
WATERPROOF BOARD Waterproof backer board saves you the hassle of applying a separate waterproofing liquid or membrane, but you’ll still have to waterproof the seams and fasteners according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Using waterproof backer boards usually costs more than coating your installation with a liquid waterproofing membrane. But there may be other factors like light weight that tilt the balance in favor of waterproof board. LIQUID WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE Liquid waterproofing membranes like RedGard or AquaDefense can be applied by trowel, brush or roller. These products dry to form a flexible waterproof membrane that also functions as a crack-isolating membrane. Common uses include waterproofing cement or gypsum backer boards, seams and fasteners on backer board installations, and shower walls. Applying liquid waterproofing is a very easy way to create a…
The structure that you tile over should be allowed to move independently of the tile. When you’re looking for tile substrates, you may see products labeled as “crack-isolating” or “uncoupling” and wonder what that means and whether you should worry about it. The idea behind uncoupling or crack isolation is that in some cases, the structure that you tile over should be allowed to move independently of the tile. The most common example is a concrete floor with cracks in it. Concrete itself is a great base for tile. But if you were to adhere tile directly to cracked concrete, and the concrete moved a little at the crack, the tile would crack. But installing an uncoupling membrane or crackisolating product over the concrete allows the concrete to move a…
Has it been a while since you built your last deck? Did you fasten the wooden deck boards with nails or Phillips-head screws? Did you nail on joist hangers? Those days are over, my friend. We met with some deck pros, who gave us the lowdown on the new screws they’re using to hang ledgers, secure posts and fasten metal connectors. They also gave us terrific insight into which deck screws and fastening systems they preferred for wood and synthetic deck boards. We guarantee you’ll find something here that will help you build your next deck faster and stronger—and make it look like a million bucks. MEET THE EXPERTS Bob Januik and Matt Norden have built thousands of decks. The fastener shelf in their warehouse is stacked with dozens of…
NO-TRIM WALL BORDER If you’re building a fence or a retaining wall, set a course of protruding stones in the soil beneath it. That way, your mower can cut all the grass—no hand trimming needed. The stones should protrude about 4 in. from the wall and stand at least an inch above the soil so grass doesn’t creep over them. You’ll still have to pull out grass from between the stones occasionally. Gabriel Castillo GET $100 FOR YOUR HANDY HINT! SEE P. 4 FOR DE TA IL S . Simple sanding block Not happy with the selection of sanding blocks at the hardware store, I made a few of my own from hardwood scraps left over from a woodworking project. I cut each one to 3/4 in. x 1-1/2 in.…
