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.
Within our Milwaukee offices, we have a photo studio. Well, make that several photo studios. But one of them is particularly special. We call it the “dance floor” because it sits amid our desks—a wide-open space with lights, and sometimes music—just begging for someone to bust a move. While that’s yet to happen (at least on my watch), this studio is where big things happen. Most recently, it’s where the cover for this issue was shot. What started as a pie-in-the-sky idea (“Let’s build a bathroom!”) soon became a reality as our dedicated team of project editors, builders, photographers and stylists came together with a (literal) shower of ideas. Tapping in to their knowledge of the latest design trends, Sam Rosenmayer and Carmen De La Paz dreamed up the blueprints…
Ever imagine that your love of DIY could turn into a bona fide business venture? Income Property, a new show streaming on At Home with Family Handyman, will inspire you. Host Scott McGillivray is a triple-threat expert in real estate, renovation and finance. He’s rescued homeowners from the harsh real estate market by showing them how to create rental suites in their home as a way to generate additional revenue to defray mortgage costs. In each episode, McGillivray presents his client with two design options. After they pick the one that meets their needs, the host and his team of contractors renovate the space, with the meticulous McGillivray overseeing a sleek and cost-effective makeover. Want a few pieces of advice to get started? McGillivray revealed his top five tips to…
GIVE YOUR MOTORCYCLE A LIFT Some years ago, a friend of mine was clearing out his garage in preparation for a move and offered me a Pittsburgh Automotive 1,500 lb. Steel ATV/Motorcycle Lift. I have since used the jack dozens of times to raise my motorcycle for maintenance and repair work. The foot-activated lift is lightweight, has a 1,500-lb. weight capacity, and is so stable and effortless to roll that I use it to winterize my motorcycle and keep it jacked for months at a time. If you’re a DIYer who enjoys working on motorcycles, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles or motorized scooters, this inexpensive lift will be an asset to your garage or workshop. The Pittsburgh Automotive 1,500 lb. Steel ATV/Motorcycle Lift is available online from Harbor Freight. –ETHAN O’DONNELL,…
HOW TO ORGANIZE RATCHET STRAPS I frequently use ratchet straps in my work as a handyman. The problem is, they often remind me of an unwieldy pile of noodles. My solution is to cut the tops off empty water bottles, neatly fold the straps and insert each into a bottle. Then I grab an empty pail to store them in—ready to deploy without the lost time sorting everything out. LYLE MARKEY EASILY FIX A DOOR THAT JUST WON’T STAY OPEN A door that refuses to stay open can be a major annoyance. The solution? Remove the middle hinge pin by just tapping it out with a hammer and screwdriver. Over a flat and strong surface, strike the pin in the middle to create a slight bend. Tap the bent pin…
There’s no getting around it: Tiling a shower is a big and messy project. But an updated surround can transform the look and feel of your bathroom. I chose a colored subway tile for the shower walls, sliced pebble tile for the shower base and dark gray grout, but a wide range of colors, patterns and tiles are available in stores or online to complement the design of any bathroom (to get inspired, see “Step Off the Subway” on p. 20). If this is your first time shopping for shower tiles, go with porcelain or ceramic because they are durable and more stain resistant than other tile types. Before you get started, change into clothes you have no problem possibly ruining—again, this is a messy job. And while it’s not…
WOOD-LOOK Wood-look tile is a great option if you want a bathroom with an organic, spa-like feel. Scandinavian-inspired applications are particularly popular: clean lines, minimalist feature walls and lighter finishes. The tiles withstand temperature and humidity fluctuations well, and they come in various dimensions and “wood” types; the TileBuys Wooden Mosaic Marble Tile pictured here mimics oaken hardwood. PENNY Penny tiles have been popular in bathrooms for more than a century. Even in shades such as “Vintage Mint,” like the ones pictured here from Mineral Tiles, they have a timeless appeal. Perfect for patterned mosaic applications and customization, penny tiles can be used in showers, on walls or floors, or as accents around mirrors and sinks. The tiles typically come adhered to mesh sheets for easy installation, and they can…
