Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2019 i Family Handyman

If you’d asked me awhile back how many times the typical American moves into a new home in their life, there’s no way I would have come up with 11.4, the estimate I recently came across. That’s nearly once every seven years! If I'd anticipated that when I was young, I would have sunk my retirement funds into a moving company! Over the past few months, my editors have dug into the processes not only of buying and selling–but also of staying. As real estate markets across the country continue to evolve, there are pockets where it might make more sense to stay put rather than pack up in favor of vaulted ceilings and a big backyard for Rover to roam. On the other hand, nothing quite compares to the…

Watering Jug When my trusty old metal watering can rusted through, I decided to reuse and recycle instead of buying a new one. I rinsed out a milk jug and drilled a few holes in the cap. It’s a good size, lighter weight and easy to carry. MATT BOLEY Message board door We recently installed a new entry door with glass panes. As a bonus, the glass is a great message center. We use a dry-erase marker to leave notes and reminders. WENDY L. HAAS PENCIL TRICK FOR SANDING When you’re sanding an edge flush to the adjacent surface, first draw a squiggly pencil line across the joint. Use the marks as a guide to help you sand flat and avoid sanding through the plywood’s veneer. TIMOTHY MANKA HOLD YOUR…

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that’s produced by decaying uranium. Radon is present in nearly all soils, and very low levels of radon gas are found in the air we breathe every day. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon trapped in your home can cause lung cancer. How does radon gas enter a home? Radon gas moves from the soil into a home. Although small amounts of radon can seep directly through pores in concrete, the major entry points are cracks in basement floors, sump baskets and the perimeter of slabs. Any house, of any age, can have elevated radon levels. It really depends on the way your specific house interacts with the surrounding soil. Your neighbor’s radon level may differ significantly from yours. How do I…

We recently sat down with home-staging expert Melanie Zaelich of Happy Place Interiors. She flooded us with great tips for home sellers—we could hardly write them down fast enough. Then it struck us: This would be great advice for everyone. We all want our homes to “show” better, whether we’re selling a house, moving into a new home or apartment, or staying in place for years. Get rid of rugs—maybe If you’re staying in your home, you probably want the softness and silencing effect of area rugs. But if you’re selling, remove them. They chop up the room in photographs and hide your nice flooring. Melanie tells her clients, “You’re selling the floor, not the rug.” There is an exception to this rule: In a large, open layout, rugs help…

WHAT IT TAKES TIME 1 hour COST $50 SKILL LEVEL Beginner TOOLS Miter saw, drill, clamps, brad nail gun This project is really just a box on rollers. What makes it unique is that it glides on appliance rollers instead of casters. They’re low profile and super strong, and they roll smoothly over carpet and hard flooring. Appliance rollers cost about $20 per pair at home centers and online. The project cost depends on the wood you choose. Before building, measure the height beneath your bed frame and alter our dimensions to suit. 1 BUILD THE BOX Drill countersink holes and fasten the sides (B) to the ends (C) with wood glue and 2-in. screws. Attach the base (A) using the same method. 2 LOCATE AND FASTEN THE CLEATS Mark the cleat (D) locations,…

If you’re a roofer, you have your routine perfected already. But for the rest of us—who tear off asphalt shingles only occasionally—here’s a primer on how to do it quickly, safely and right. Prep for the tear-off Doing a little prep work on the ground will keep nails and other debris out of the grass and flower beds, reduce cleanup time and preserve the landscaping. Place plywood over the air conditioner (be sure the power to it is turned off) and over doors or windows near the spot where you’ll be tossing the debris off the roof. Then cover plants, shrubs, grass and other areas around the house with tarps to vastly simplify cleanup. Rent a trash container (a 20-cu.-yd. size will handle most roofs and costs $200 to $300).…

Afresh coat of paint is hands down the best way to spend your time and money to get the biggest payback when you sell your home. It’s far less expensive than remodeling, and it’s something you can do yourself. But choosing the right colors is the key. Experts say you should paint all the rooms a neutral color. But what exactly does that mean? “Neutral” depends on what other colors are present in the room. All paint colors have undertones that may not really come out until they are in a room where other elements such as woodwork and furniture bring them out. In my home staging kit, I carry 11 x 14-in. samples of “neutral” colors to see which one appears truly neutral in any given room. I have…

Pay less, get more! Twelve-volt tools have become extremely powerful of late and are all you need for most jobs. Skil’s PWRCore 12 brushless 1/2-in. drill is a weekend warrior’s dream. It has all the characteristics of an expensive drill: a 1/2-in. chuck, two speed settings, torque adjustment and a heavy-duty feel. Some other great features of this drill include a hybrid chuck, which lets you quickly insert a hex shank bit without having to tighten the chuck’s jaws. The batteries have a USB port, which allows you to plug in a charging cord—and with all the devices we own, that’s pretty sweet! But the best part is the price: This drill kit costs about half as much as other 1/2-in. 12-volt drivers. The driver, charger and 2-AH battery are…

Whether you’re buying or selling a house, remember that the real estate agent you hire is there to negotiate for you, says Antoine Thompson, national executive director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. When challenges arise, “you want to have a good advocate working on your behalf.” Here are some services you should expect: When you sell ▪ Setting a fair price, and boosting value. Your agent should bring a deep understanding of the local market, including current economic conditions and new developments that could affect values, to help you set a reasonable price, Thompson says. The agent should also have a keen eye for modest improvements (say, a new coat of paint in a popular color) that could significantly improve your home’s appeal to buyers, he adds.…

Ever wonder about those containers you see outside people’s homes? If you need a place to put stuff temporarily, these storage containers are the perfect solution. Whether you’re moving, decluttering or preparing to renovate, mobile storage containers offer the ultimate in convenience and flexibility. PODS, Pack Rat, Smartbox, U-Pack and U-Haul are a few companies that provide them. All you need is a level, paved surface for the container and maybe some professional or volunteer help to fill it. Get the best deal With so many storage options to choose from, pricing is competitive. To compare bids, complete the form at each company’s website. You’ll need the zip codes where the container will be going (both empty and full), your anticipated dates of delivery, and the size and number of…