Innholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2019 i Family Handyman

I recently tackled a complete gut and remodel of a 90-year-old kitchen. I replaced corroded metal pipes with plastic; cracked plaster with drywall; linoleum floors (three layers!) with snap-together vinyl. Through it all, I felt like an archeologist, digging through the strata of past remodeling, figuring out how each material was installed, what worked well and what didn’t. Here's what I concluded: 1 Materials get better and better. All the new things I installed are vastly superior to the old—easier to install, more durable and easier to live with. Some of our favorite examples are covered in this issue: epoxy countertop resurfacing (p. 58), peel-and-stick tile for backsplashes (p. 30), beautiful snap-together flooring (p. 71) and— my personal favorite—LED lighting that’s amazingly easy to install (p. 64). 2 Good ideas…

SHARE YOUR HANDY HINT WITH US! submissions@familyhandyman.com Fewer Fingerprints The next time you clean your stainless-steel kitchen appliances, follow up with a coat of car wax. It not only makes wiping off grime after cooking easier but also inhibits fingerprints. Simply apply a light coat of wax, let it dry and buff with a soft cloth. Apply wax only to the area around the controls, not the cooking surface. CAROL LLOYD Safety Support A miter saw makes quick work of accurately cutting aluminum angle. But given the often wide gaps between the fences and in the throat plate, using the saw this way is also dangerous. If the blade grabs, it can pull the aluminum angle into those gaps, destroying the piece and possibly causing injury. To make the cut…

Choosing the right time to hire home contractors can save you money, get you better quality work, ensure that you’ll get the job done on schedule and make the whole process a lot less frustrating. Contractors of all types have slow seasons when they’re more willing to negotiate lower costs and shorten lead times and are less likely to rush through the job. If your job isn’t an emergency, it’s often worth waiting for a slow period. ROOFING. The busiest season for most roofers is the fall as homeowners scramble to prepare for winter. Spring is also hectic because there is a push to address problems occurring in winter and early spring. The standard rule is to schedule your roofing project between the Fourth of July and Labor Day. If…

We all know that sawdust and fine dust particles floating in the air don’t just make your shop a mess; they’re also health hazards. Typically, we think of distant consequences like breathing problems in old age. But often there are immediate effects. It’s not just about dust. Oils and compounds in wood cause adverse reactions, and people can become sensitized to a particular species. It’s impossible to predict who will be susceptible to which woods. Reactions range from mild to severe, and they can be immediate or build up over time. Many wood species are known sensitizers, but some are worse than others. The yew tree, for example, is flat-out toxic. Other known sensitizers include common species such as oak, cedar, birch, walnut, and spruce, which is mixed in with…

When I was imagining new countertops for this kitchen, it was clear to me that nothing would look as good as marble. But marble is soft and porous, making it prone to scratches, stains and chipping. It’s also expensive. Then I came across this epoxy coating that you pour right over the existing countertops. I was blown away by how easy it was to mimic the look of a marble slab—at a tenth of the cost. Everyone is amazed by the transformation. You’d have to look closely to see my mistakes that give it away: a pair of drips down one edge and a slight orange peel texture in the corner from overworking the topcoat. The countertops are tough, too; we dragged heavy pots and pans across them without damage.…

facebook.com/thefamilyhandyman pinterest.com/family_handyman youtube.com/thefamilyhandyman instagram.com/familyhandyman LEARN MORE. BUILD MORE. Calling DIYers who want to tackle it all! Get unlimited access to Family Handyman’s complete library of quick DIY University online classes. This includes two exciting new projects per month—things you’ve been dreaming about, and projects that may not have occurred to you. Get ready to build a wall-mounted bike rack or your own workshop, add elegant kitchen storage and a tile backsplash, install a sleek USB charging station, and much more! Start your 14-day FREE Trial at DIYUniversity.com SEE MORE STUFF WE LOVE Have you signed up for the new Stuff We Love newsletter yet? Check out more of our favorite tools and gear every week! Go to tfhmag.com/signup…

I do tree service work as a side job, and back in 2011 I made the switch to battery-powered saws for almost all of that work. After eight years of real-world experience, I can tell you that battery power will handle almost any job you’d need a chain saw for. I rely on compact saws with 12- and 14-in. bars for most of my trimming work, and I turn to larger battery saws with a 16-in. bar. for felling and bucking bigger wood. I still fire up my gas saws occasionally, but only for really big jobs. TIP: Choosing a saw that can run on batteries you already own will typically save you $50 to $100. BATTERY BENEFITS The advantages of battery power over gas are overwhelming: no mixing and…

Tile is tough stuff and can look great for years or decades after installation. Grout, on the other hand, doesn’t always perform as well. It can stain, discolor, crack or erode. In the worst cases, it allows water to enter walls or floors, which leads to much bigger problems. Bottom line: Your choice of grout is at least as important as your tile selection. Home centers carry high-quality grout, but they don’t make choosing it easy. Luckily, Dean Sorem, our tile expert, has tried all the options and offers clear recommendations based on decades of experience. Here’s what you’ll find at home centers and flooring suppliers: Standard cement grout Like concrete or mortar, these grouts begin as a powdery mix that contains Portland cement. Then, when mixed with water, they…

And transform it into a place you’ll love to be I’ve tackled several kitchen projects over the years, but I’ve never made such a major improvement with so little time and money. I spent less than $350 and just four hours brightening our kitchen. My original intent was strictly practical: I just wanted better light to make food prep and cleanup easier. But replacing the single fixture with bright LEDs transformed the room, surprising me and amazing our guests. LOW-PROFILE LEDs MADE IT EASY Initially, I thought I’d install recessed can lights for a sleek look and lots of light. Then, I ran across these ultra-slim Halo LEDs by Eaton ($30 each). These LED lights are super bright (900 lumens) and have such a low profile (less than 1/2 in.)…

I needed more tool storage space in the bed of my truck. I wasn’t willing to give up my tonneau cover, and I couldn’t stand the idea of losing valuable hauling capacity. The solution was this UnderCover SwingCase, which rests over the wheel well and sits below the top edge of the bed. Unlike other wheel well boxes, it swings out so you can get at it from the back of the truck instead of having to reach over the side of the bed. And you can lift it right out to free up space or to use it as a portable toolbox. The SwingCase has a locking lid, and the whole unit can be secured with a padlock. It has a capacity of 75 lbs. and costs about $200.…

SCREW LOOSE To free up floor space in my kid’s bedroom, I built a bed box to hold the mattress. Then I hung one side of the box from the ceiling joists with chains and screwed the other side to the wall studs. To convince my skeptical family that the box was safely hung, I set down my tools, hopped up on it and started jumping around. As my family stood back and watched, the box pulled loose from the wall, dropping straight down and dumping me out onto the floor. The ceiling chains were secure enough, but the drywall screws in the wall pulled right out. I patched the wall and reinstalled the box with longer screws, but my family never lets me forget how I got thrown out…

BANG-FOR-YOUR-BUCK WELDER FOR BEGINNERS The Easy Weld 140 MP from Forney Industries is an all-in-one entry-level welder for those who want to get started but don’t want to buy a machine they’ll quickly outgrow. Right out of the box, the Easy Weld will have you learning how to weld steel up to 1/4 in. thick. I was able to easily set up the machine using its quick-start guide, and within a few minutes I was welding my first bead. It can hook up to shielding gas for real MIG welding, and you can buy a TIG torch when you’re ready to advance your skills. Some other welders cost about the same but have limited amperage, which then limits the thickness of material you can weld. Others only do flux-core welding.…

With all the tools, nozzles, psi ratings and equipment, pressure-washing can be intimidating. But it was easier than I thought it would be. With advice from an expert and a little experimenting, I was able to make my driveway look like new in an afternoon. So, whether you want to extend its life or add a little curb appeal, here are some tips to get your driveway clean in no time. TIME IT RIGHT Pressure washers use a lot of water. If your water is supplied by a well, it’s best to tackle this job when other water use is light. You don’t want to deplete your well on laundry day or when you have a house full of guests. And if you’re in a drought, you may want to…

If you’re thinking about a kitchen remodel, first consider the Pareto Principle: 80 percent of the result comes from 20 percent of the effort. This “80/20” rule stems from an economics concept, but it applies to a lot of things—including your kitchen. Affordable weekend projects can give you most of the results of a complete remodel but at a fraction of the cost and effort. The following pages cover some of our favorite lowinput, highimpact projects. You’ll find many more at FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM/KITCHEN-UPGRADES. MORE LIGHT! Bright lighting cheers up a kitchen and makes it a pleasant place to work. We spent just one day installing nine super-bright fixtures for a total cost of less than $400. But even a couple extra lights can transform a kitchen. See page 64 PEEL &…

LUXURY VINYL IS A BEAUTIFUL, TOUGH ALTERNATIVE to tile or hardwood flooring. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) resembles stone or ceramic tile; luxury vinyl plank (LVP) mimics hardwood boards. Both can be installed over many types of flooring, so you may not have to deal with the cost and hassle of removing the old floor at all. With these tips from our expert, you can install luxury vinyl over an existing floor at a fraction of the cost in just a few hours.…

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