Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Family Handyman

KEEP GLUE FRESH Tired of having your glue harden before you get a chance to use it all? Store it upside down. Glue, especially polyurethane glue, hardens when exposed to air. But when the bottle is upside down, no air can get in, so the glue stays fresh. To build a glue bottle rack, drill a hole the size of the spout into a piece of wood, make sure the cap is on tight, then set the glue bottle in. Leave some wood on the bottom of the hole, so any drips will be confined to the rack and not run all over your workbench. But here’s the best part: The glue will be ready to squeeze out when you need it—no more shaking glue down from the bottom! DON…

JAY CORK, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, WORKED ON LIGHTING, HVAC AND INSULATION. JOSH RISBERG, LEAD CARPENTER, SERVED AS GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR THE GETAWAY. BILL BERGMANN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR FRAMING AND SIDING INSTALLATION. BRAD HOLDEN, SENIOR EDITOR, TOOK ON THE WINDOWS, SHOWER AND LANDSCAPING. JOE CRUZ, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, INSTALLED THE KITCHEN ISLAND, CABINETS AND TRIM. MIKE BERNER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, HANDLED THE ROOF AND THE WRAPAROUND DECK. GLENN HANSEN, DEPUTY EDITOR, MANAGED SITE PREP AND THE STORIES YOU’LL READ HERE.…

The projects you do yourself will save you money and cost you time. Think carefully about how much you enjoy the DIY process compared with enjoying your Getaway. DIY what you can do well, and what you have time to learn. You should not DIY projects requiring expensive equipment you don’t own or special skills you don’t have, especially where safety is concerned. Here’s how we answered the DIY Or Not? question. YES FRAMING Whether you're using hand tools or power tools, screws or nails, framing walls is a DIY project. We did rely on pros with heavy equipment to position our floor trusses and the large LVL (laminated veneer lumber) spans we used overhead. Read our plan to see how we saved lumber and money. WINDOWS Our Getaway has…

1 SURFACE-MOUNT POSTS I first determined the post locations while I was framing the deck, and I added extra blocking to fasten the surface-mounted posts. When the decking was done, I positioned the posts over the blocking, fastened them with structural screws and plumbed them with the supplied setscrews. Then I hid the screws by sliding on the post base trim. 2 INSTALL THE RAIL AND SPACERS Trim the rails with a miter saw so they’re 1 in. shorter than the distance between posts. Then fasten a rail bracket to each end, with the cable spacers attached equidistant along the bottom of the rail. Level the rail between the posts, then predrill the posts and fasten the rail. 3 FEED THE CABLE This Deckorators ALX Contemporary Cable Railing System consists…

When installing a tile shower, the most difficult part is building the sloped base for the floor. By using a prefabricated pan, you can skip that challenge. All you need to do is set the pan and tile the walls. Built-in wall niches are a snap; they’re prefabricated as well. And to let the beautiful tile shine and make the small space seem roomier, install a glass door and enclosure. Here’s how: 1 SET THE SHOWER PAN Set the pan in place and level it with plastic shims if needed. Lift the pan and staple the shims to the subfloor. Apply construction adhesive to the subfloor and press the pan down onto the shims. Recheck for level. Let the adhesive set for at least 24 hours before you stand in…

In a remote location, getting supplies to your site is a challenge, so we used materials already on-site to make our path. We cut “steppingstones” from some big oak trees that we felled during site prep, and then we used a wood chipper to make mulch. We didn’t need to haul in heavy landscape materials, and we recycled organic material back to the forest floor, keeping the natural cycle intact. 1 SET THE STEPPINGSTONES Bust out your chain saw—with a new, sharp chain—and slice a pile of steppingstones. We cut these about 2 in. thick. Any thinner than that and they crack easily. Set them in your path, spaced at an easy walking pace. It’ll take some shuffling to get this just right. You might need to dig out a…

DO ■ Keep grass or other vegetation growing on the drain field to prevent erosion and promote evaporation.■ Keep a sketch of your system handy, so you know where to access all of its components.■ Watch for settling soil that might direct water onto the drain field.■ Keep on top of system maintenance.■ Fix leaky faucets and toilets.■ Keep records of repairs, maintenance and your pumping schedule.■ Make sure the tank cover is accessible.■ A septic system can last 25 years or more. Your property will have a second area earmarked for a subsequent septic system. Protect this reserve area from soil compaction. DON’T ■ Plant trees or shrubs near the system. Roots can damage pipes.■ Drive or park on the drain field.■ Build over the drain field or cover…

A storm toppled the oak tree next to my house, but amazingly it ended up leaning against the edge of the roof without causing any damage. I climbed on the roof to push the tree away. Just as I was going to start pushing, I realized that as the tree gave way, my momentum might carry me right off the roof! So, instead, I got on my back, inched my way to the edge of the roof, put my feet up on the trunk and pushed as hard as I could. Success! The tree fell harmlessly to the ground. Only then did I realize that my legs were hanging precariously from the roof’s edge. With nothing to push off from, I couldn’t inch myself away from the edge! I spent…

facebook.com/thefamilyhandyman pinterest.com/family_handyman youtube.com/thefamilyhandyman instagram.com/familyhandyman tiktok.com/@familyhandyman WHY DIY? What are the top 3 reasons homeowners choose to DIY instead of hiring a pro? ■ REASON #3 To be in complete control of a project. ■ REASON #2 DIY is my hobby. ■ REASON #1 To save money for future projects or other items. Data from research conducted for Family Handyman in April ’21. If you have a different reason, let us know: editors@familyhandyman.com. TOOLS FIRST The first DIY project ever was the creation of a tool. They’re essential, the tools we use, whether you prefer a handheld bench plane or a 5-hp model with 20-in. capacity and a helical cutting head. We believe you can do anything yourself with the proper tools. And the key word is “proper.” Who decides what’s…

ADMIRABLE OUTDOOR FAUCET If we held outdoor water faucets to the same standard as indoor faucets, we’d need to change a whole lot of outdoor spigots. Mostly unattractive, often drippy and seldom appreciated, outdoor faucets are tolerated for their base functionality. Then we shut them off and go indoors. The Aquor outdoor faucet system changes that. I got an Aquor House Hydrant V1+ to replace a leaky eyesore on the back side of my house. Then I realized it would work better on our Getaway project. As a replacement or for new construction, the Aquor Hydrant is designed to eliminate leaks and simplify hose connections. The stainless steel unit has a freezeproof design, adding security for those of us in cold climates. Installation is simple, whether your home has copper…

TAKEAWAYS TO NOTE: ■ Cut trees yourself■ Let the excavator do the heavy work■ Silt fence is important and required■ Dig safely–call 811■ Save rocks and trees for landscaping For every phase of our Getaway, we built upon the successful completion of the project before it. Site prep helps launch them all. Celebrate this literal groundbreaking. It’s a big step—and you have a lot of work ahead. CLEARING THE SITE Begin your site preparation by clearing the property of trees, roots and rocks—materials that will interfere with the building. We knew our property contained no underground utility lines, like gas and electrical. You need to know that it’s safe to dig on your site. Early in this process we anticipated our site’s logistical challenges for driving heavy equipment and worker…

You can choose plenty of add-ons for your windows, but you’ll need to decide what’s worth the upcharge. ■ When it comes to windows, price isn’t always an indicator of performance. Shop around using the selection tool at efficientwindows.org. You can find quality windows below the top price tier. ■ Stock sizes or custom? You might think you can save a little money buying in-stock sizes from a home center. Most manufacturers, however, build windows to order, so the idea of “stock sizes” isn’t always relevant. Order the sizes you need instead of just grabbing what’s available at the store. ■ If you’re thinking about upgrading to triple glazing to save on energy bills, consider it carefully. It’ll take a long time to recoup the expense. In most cases, double-glazed,…

Insulating your home well means more than just filling the walls. All building materials—sheathing, drywall, siding, insulation, windows, even the vapor barrier—contribute to a home’s overall Rvalue. We’re building in Climate Zone 6, so code requires us to achieve a minimum Rvalue of 15. Here’s how we met that requirement. THE “HOT ROOF” OPTION Our Getaway doesn’t have an attic. It has an unventilated “hot roof” where installing batts of insulation is more challenging. We insulated it with closed-cell spray foam to eliminate heat loss and ice dams. This option worked great for our metal roof and will also work if you’re using asphalt shingles. BATT INSULATION FOR THE WALLS Owens Corning PINK Next Gen Fiberglas batt insulation is made of the highest recycled content in the industry, using a…

The kitchen island is the central gathering point in any home that has one. It’s where meals are prepped, homework is sweated over and birthday candles are blown out. Building a kitchen island using ready-to-assemble cabinets is an inexpensive DIY project that will add more counter space to any kitchen. DESIGN & PLANNING Consider both form and function when you design your kitchen island. Having a kitchen sink in the island is handy for prepping food, especially for families who cook together. A cooktop or range in a kitchen island, however, isn’t recommended because of the possibility of splattering grease on bystanders. Free online kitchen planners can help you choose styles and colors of doors, drawers and countertops. You’ll get a printable itemized list with the costs of all the…

When sized correctly for your home, your furnace and water heater will provide long lives of efficient service. We estimated the Btu requirements for our furnace by multiplying our square footage by the heating factor for Climate Zone 6 (50 to 60 Btu per square foot). Working with our technician from American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning, we sized our furnace perfectly for our needs at the Getaway. SAVE PROPANE WITH DUAL FUEL We chose a dual-fuel air conditioner that supplements our furnace until the outside air temperature drops to around 20 degrees. Below that temperature, the variable-speed furnace will take over to efficiently heat the home. This reduces our annual propane usage. NO BIG TANK TO HEAT! We chose a high-efficiency, on-demand tankless water heater, eliminating the big water…

■ Use it. Without hot water going through the system, it’s susceptible to freezing, which can damage the tank, the piping, and the filter and its housing, and can cause waste to back up into the house—all costly and undesirable.■ When you have good snow cover over your system, don’t shovel it off. The undisturbed snow is good insulation.■ If you don’t have adequate snow cover before the temperature drops below freezing, insulate the system using straw bales or purposemade insulating blankets.■ Stop mowing the grass over the system a few weeks before the end of the growing season. Extra vegetation provides another layer of insulation.■ Don’t leave a trickle of water running—as people do to prevent pipes from freezing—as that can be just enough cold water added to your…

TRUCK - BED STORAGE SYSTEM I’ve seen my fair share of DIY truck-bed storage systems on job sites. Some are ingenious; most are not. It takes a lot of forethought, design and build time to come up with a versatile, secure and lasting system. I’d just as soon spend the $1,400 for a DECKED Drawer System rather than build my own. This system’s two long pullouts store up to 200 lbs. of tools and gear. The waterproof deck above them carries a 2,000-lb. payload and keeps your stuff dry and secure. The base-price system includes two toolboxes, one drawer organizer and two drawer dividers; tiedown tracks are available. At decked.com, the company offers its DECKED Drawer System to fit most recent truck makes and models. MIKE BERNER ASSOCIATE EDITOR TOUGH ENOUGH…

Looks like a great spot to get away and relax, doesn’t it? And it will be, when we finish the interior. We were so close to revealing our completed Getaway cabin here. We’ll reveal it all soon. Meanwhile, read what we learned. Our most important lesson: The project is often in charge, not us. Yes, we knew there would be uncontrollable elements. Our calendar, our planning and our deadlines could not control the weather or material deliveries. We will finish it (in fact, we’ll be done by the time this is printed). And, rest assured, you too can build your dream getaway. We know you want to. Our research shows that more than 60 percent of you DIYers are interested in a getaway home. Our Getaway project fills the pages…

Your budget creates possibilities, not limits. By outlining all the budget details well in advance, we learned where we could splurge and where we needed to save. For example: LANDSCAPING We saved thousands of dollars here by reusing trees and boulders from the site. LUMBER FOR FRAMING Our one-story house has a lowpitched roof, so we budgeted large for roof trusses. But we designed a framing plan to minimize use of expensive 2x4s where we could. SIDING The steel siding was a style upgrade and a splurge initially. It cost about $15,000, comparable to wood and more than aluminum or vinyl. But it’s low maintenance and sustainably designed. It will look great for years—and we love it. KITCHEN We built our own cabinets and kitchen island using ready-to-assemble cabinets. The…

We initially designed the Getaway to have a slabon-grade foundation, but the benefits of pouring a basement changed our minds. Our walkout basement gave us dedicated room for the water heater and furnace. It also increased our living area on the main floor and will allow us even more living space when we decide to finish the basement. We didn’t build the foundation ourselves; it took a dedicated crew with the right equipment. But the process was fascinating and we documented the important steps of this crucial phase of construction. 1 FOOTINGS POURED Footings support the basement foundation and the entire house. Our crew piped concrete into forms, then placed rebar every 24 in. to strengthen the bond between the footings and the foundation. 2 FORMWORK SET When the footings…

1 INSULATING GLASS Insulating glass adds a layer of energy efficiency and comfort to your living space. Most new windows have two panes of glass with gas—typically argon—in between the panes. 2 U-FACTOR The U-factor tells you a window’s rate of heat loss. The lower the number, the better the window will keep heat in. Because our Getaway is in a cold climate, we chose windows with a U-factor of 0.27, which meets Energy Star ratings for northern zones. If your windows have a higher U-factor number, you’ll want to increase the solar heat gain coefficient (see #6). 3 VISIBLE TRANSMITTANCE Expressed as a number between 0 and 1, visible transmittance signifies the fraction of the visible sunlight spectrum allowed through a pane of glass. The higher the number, the…

Installing wood trim around windows can be expensive and time-consuming. Drywall returns fix that. Most windows are installed using wood jamb extensions to finish the rough openings; these pieces extend the window jambs to the interior wall. Window trim then covers the jamb extensions, providing the finished and trimmed look we all know. In the Getaway, we used drywall in place of jamb extensions and wood trim. With this drywall return method, our windows have a modern, trimless look. It required a bit more drywall work, but we saved time and money by eliminating wood trim and its finish carpentry. 1 PREP THE ROUGH OPENING Not all windows are perfectly centered in their rough openings. To center a window, you may have to shim the sides, top or bottom of…

To cut metal for siding, roofing and flashing, you need the right tools for the best results. As we were getting ready to roof and side the Getaway, I talked my fellow editors into trying different methods of cutting metal—shears, nibblers and saws—to see what they liked best. SAFETY FIRST Whenever you cut metal, expect steel shavings to go everywhere. Eye protection is a must. Bill’s also wearing latex-coated gloves. While no glove will prevent every cut, the coating provides a cutresistant layer and extra gripping power. NIBBLERS FOR PROFILES Mike loves how clean a nibbler cuts; he says it’s the best tool to cut profiles without deforming them. This is also a great tool for cutting round holes for vents. One downside: It punches out tiny pieces of steel,…

GOT A DIY QUESTION? Finding the 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 idea with us, submit a copy of your original contribution, including photos and/or sketches, by email to: submissions@familyhandyman.com Or mail to: 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,…

I decided to surprise my wife by putting up the wallpaper border, crown molding and bullnose trim in our hallway while she was at work. I waited until she left and got busy measuring, cutting, pasting and nailing. It took me all day, but it looked great and I couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she got home. When she stepped into the hallway, she took one look at what I’d done and burst into uncontrollable laughter. I was totally confused until she pointed at the wallpaper border. I looked closely and for the first time noticed that I’d hung it upside down. Ducks were flying belly up, trees were hanging downward, and the sky and ground were inverted.…