Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2025 i Family Handyman

Whether you’re ready to sell or planning to stay put for years, curb appeal is key. It sets the overall tone of your home. In this issue, we’re sharing several quick and impactful ways to make over your front facade. Our test case was a beautiful newer build in suburban Wisconsin that was in need of some finishing touches. For starters, it lacked color and landscaping. We changed that by updating the front door color and adding easy-care flower beds. In addition, we installed a statement light fixture and hung custom house numbers. Find step-by-step instructions for all these projects in the pages ahead. We’d love to see your own curb appeal upgrades. Share them at FamilyHandyman.com/submissions.—Kirsten Schrader, Content Director Win $300 for Your Handy Hints! Share your best Handy…

Before I gained experience with electrical projects, I often found them intimidating and overwhelming. The idea of working with wiring was especially daunting! But after plenty of hands-on work, I’ve learned that installing or changing a simple light fixture—while requiring respect for safety and attention to detail—really isn’t as complicated as it seems, and usually doesn’t require expensive tools. Just as important: I’ve learned that sometimes calling in a pro is the best choice. For this project, we wanted to install an outdoor light fixture in a spot without existing wiring or a junction box, and connect it to a new switch inside the entryway. So to handle some of the heavy lifting, I called in Milwaukee’s Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric. Their licensed electrician installed the junction box,…

Advice from experts, tips from readers Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, you’ve probably dealt with pests from time to time. And you’re not alone: About 80% of Americans have seen at least one pest species in their home, according to a 2024 YouGov poll. Some are relatively harmless, such as that trail of ants feasting on a stray piece of your dog’s kibble. Others, such as roaches and rodents, are a significant health concern. Shannon Harlow-Ellis, an associate certified entomologist and a technical services manager with Mosquito Joe, part of the Neighborly company, is fascinated by insects of all stripes. “Their biology and behavior showcase an amazing adaptability to environmental changes, and they seize every opportunity to ensure their survival,” Harlow-Ellis says. “It’s this resilience and ingenuity that…

To appeal to potential buyers, the exterior and front yard of this home received a massive refresh. Host Kortney Wilson says, “When I was renovating this home, I was really drawn to bright colors. The exterior is one area where you can take a bit of a risk.” Spoiler alert: The risk paid off. “We received multiple offers because it stood out from the more neutral homes nearby,” Wilson says. She shares tips below on upping a home’s curb appeal. See this renovation come to life in an episode of Masters of Flip on At Home with Family Handyman. Get inspired and learn where to stream free at FamilyHandyman.com/tv.…

Every house has numbers visible from the street so visitors and postal workers can find their way, yet few homeowners give this detail much creative thought. For this project, I set out to show how a set of numbers on the front of your home can do more than just mark your address—they can set the stage for what lies beyond the door. The result is a weekend build that is easy to make for a beginner DIYer, yet still elevated and modern enough to make anyone walking up to your door say “wow.” When choosing a location for your panel, aim for a spot eye level or higher that’s easily visible from the road and free of obstructions (such as shrubs or tree branches). Use contrasting colors or place…

One week last June, most members of the Family Handyman project team were on location. The goal: Add low-maintenance beds full of plants to enhance the look and feel of a bare bones front yard landscape in the Milwaukee suburbs. With careful planning, a little bit of elbow grease and guidance from an expert, we gave the homeowners a couple of easy-care beds that will wow them year after year. Use these tips and learnings from our project to add interest and appeal to your front yard. Pro Tips for Planning The first thing to do when planning any front yard feature is to think about what you want out of it. Are you trying to attract birds? Add color or fragrance to the area? Cover up some unsightly porch…

Replace a Mailbox Post Say goodbye to wobbles, rust and rot—and hello to a sturdy, lasting upgrade Materials Concrete form tubeFast-setting concrete mixGravelMailbox postRopeStakes Tools Auger drill bitBucketDrillHammer drillHi-Lift jackJigsawLevelMalletPost and pipe levelPosthole diggerShovelTape measureTarpTow chainWork gloves BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Your existing mailbox post is likely set in concrete, so removing it will take some elbow grease. That said, it’s entirely possible to do it on your own, even if you run into snags. While I was removing the rusted steel mailbox post shown above, it broke from the cement block as the Hi-Lift jack raised it from the ground. I had to manually dig around the mailbox concrete, wrap the chain around it and securely raise it out. Although this cost me extra time (and gave me quite the arm…

Get a Handle on Hammers Choosing the right claw hammer comes down to how it feels in your hand and how you plan to use it. We’ll help you find the best style for your needs. One of the biggest factors in a hammer’s comfort and durability is the material of the handle. Three options dominate the market: steel, fiberglass and wood. Each has its strengths and trade-offs, so choosing the right one will depend on how you work: • Steel: The strongest of the bunch, steel handles are a top choice among masons and demo crews. It’s tough to beat a solid or welded piece of steel when it comes to overall strength and durability—steel hammerheads are even harder than titanium. However, steel handles are also the heaviest option,…

Micro Greenhouses Do you have a hard time starting seeds or cuttings? Try soda bottle greenhouses. Cut the bottoms off 2-liter soda bottles and remove the labels. Each seed gets its own designated greenhouse! Remove the bottles once the seeds have germinated and the cuttings are rooted. —Katy Zimmerman Corral Your Clippings When I’m trimming hedges, I use a plastic kiddie pool to catch the clippings, kicking it along as I go. The clippings fall into the pool, making cleanup a snap. When I’m done trimming, I dump the clippings into my mulch pile. —Benjamin Meyer Smarter Seed Storage If you don’t use up all your seed packets in the garden, store them in an airtight container with silica packets to keep them fresh for next year. The silica keeps…

Sign up for our newsletter! Get our best tips and hints sent to your inbox. Sign up at familyhandyman.com/newsletter. Got a DIY question? Finding the answers is easy at familyhandyman.com. Click on the three bars at the top left of the page and then search your topic for expert step-by-step help with your projects. Got a handy hint or tip for us? To share your original idea with us, submit a copy of your contribution, including photos and/or sketches online at: familyhandyman.com/submissions Or mail to: Family Handyman, 1610 N. 2nd St., Suite 102, Milwaukee, WI 53212 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…

The latest we’ve heard, seen, tested and tried Give yourself permission to go bold in the bathroom—and we’re not just talking about wall paint. Drench everything in color (even the sink!) for an unexpected and playful look. To keep it balanced, “Stick to a cohesive color palette,” says interior designer Janelle Patton. “The sink should either coordinate with or complement other colors in the room.”…

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: The exterior material of your house will impact the materials and installation method required for this project: • Brick: Use a masonry drill bit and masonry screws to secure the mailbox. • Stucco: As with brick, predrill a hole with a masonry drill bit. You’ll also need to add silicone into the predrilled hole, insert an anchor and then fasten a concrete screw. • Wood: Predrill and fasten a cedar surface mounting block with exterior screws. Then secure the mailbox to the mounting block with screws. You should always use exterior screws to prevent corrosion and rust, which can cause the screw to break. • Vinyl: Use hooks specifically made to be used with vinyl without causing damage—drilling through vinyl is not recommended. Tools DrillHammer drillLevelMasonry drill bitMarkerShop…

Flat-Head The original screwdriver, the flat-head, has a paddle shaped tip that fits into a single-slot screw head. In older houses, you’re almost guaranteed to find flathead screws. Flat-head screwdrivers come in a range of sizes—too small, and the tool will slip; too large, and it won’t fit. Not sure which size you need? Invest in a set. Phillips Invented in 1933, the Phillips-head screw has a cross-shaped slot. It’s the most common screw type in the U.S., found in everything from cabinetry to electronics. Phillips screwdrivers come to a dull point and have ribs that fit in the cross grooves. Sizes range from tiny to enormous. The most common sizes are #1, #2 and #3. If you only buy one, opt for a #2—it covers the most ground. Robertson…

After having a large oak tree taken down, my wife and I asked the tree service to leave the stump and decided to make a gnome home. I went right to my stash of scrap lumber and sketched a design in my mind. The artificial turf and gnomes were the only items I had to purchase. The door is special, though. It is made from wood floor salvaged from my childhood home, which was destroyed by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Gardening in this part of the yard had been a challenge, so this gnome home was the perfect solution. We plant annuals around the border to add color. While this was not an afternoon project, I completed it with basic power tools and scraps that I had been saving for…