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.
After being in our new-to-us home for a couple months, we heard a scratching sound coming from a bookcase wall. We had found evidence of squirrels in the attic, so I assumed they had a nest in the wall. An exterminator came to set traps and investigate, all to no avail. The loud scratching continued sporadically for several months, and I was on the verge of opening the wall to find out what was going on. Finally one day, my wife had a light-bulb moment. Our alarm system monitor was in that bookcase, projecting the sound of a branch rubbing against the house on windy days. We hadn’t realized that our driveway camera had a microphone! I am so glad we figured it out before I wrecked the bookcase. —Robert…
Get Our New Book! Cut costs and work smarter with the handy advice in DIY Trade Secrets. In this book, find more than 200 tips and techniques from DIY pros! Get a copy today for only $10 at FamilyHandyman.com/FH2505EP. Help Us Plan Future Issues of Family Handyman Share your thoughts and you’ll be entered to win an Amazon gift card! What projects and topics do you want to see in future issues? Complete our brief four-question survey, and you will be entered to win one of 10 $25 Amazon gift cards. It takes only a few minutes, and your feedback helps us deliver more of what you want in Family Handyman magazine. Scan the QR code here to take our brief survey.…
On Leave It to Bryan, homeowners quite literally leave it to host Bryan to choose which home renovation project to take on. In this episode, a couple dreamed of spending more time outdoors. But overgrown plants, an old rotting garage and pools of water when it rained kept them indoors. After an amazing transformation, they have an inviting space in which to sit and entertain. See below for a few things Bryan did to make this yard suitable for outdoor living. —Kirsten Schrader See this project come to life in an episode of Leave It to Bryan on At Home with Family Handyman. Get inspired and learn where to stream this show and others free at FamilyHandyman.com/tv.…
The latest we’ve heard, seen, tested and tried Move the cars and the junk out of your garage, and suddenly it’s a big room with endless potential. This wide-open space is perfect for gaming and entertaining—and an opportunity to have fun with decor. But of course the most important element is comfort. “It must be clean, functional and welcoming,” says garage designer Aaron Cash. “No one wants to hang out in a dark and dirty space.”…
Shade in a Snap Purple Leaf pergola kits offer an affordable, easy-to-assemble shade structure—no trip to the lumberyard or home center required. The pergolas feature dark gray powder-coated aluminum and are available in a range of footprints, all standing 8 ft. tall. Each kit includes a retractable UV-protectant fabric sunshade, available in four colors. My 10-by-12-ft. pergola shipped in a single 94-lb. box with a plethora of hardware. Upon reading the instructions, it became evident that the 3-mm Allen wrench wasn’t hefty enough to drive the 150+ bolts, so I outfitted a drill with a 3-mm bit, dialing back the torque control to prevent stripping the bolt holes. With the drill, I was able to assemble the kit over my poured concrete patio in six hours on a weekday afternoon.…
CUSTOMIZE IT Statement Walls Made Easy Bold patterns, textures and colors can make painted walls just as striking as even the most expensive wallpaper. Better still, DIY designs let you control every detail for a one-of-a-kind result.…
