Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2025 i Family Handyman

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…

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.”…

Q: Why is my dryer squeaking? A squeaky dryer is usually caused by a worn or misaligned drive belt or malfunctioning tensioner pulley, or bad drum bearings, glides or rollers. In all cases, you’ll need to disassemble the dryer and remove the drum. Glides and drum bearings are sold separately, but for about $50 you can buy a dryer maintenance kit consisting of a drive belt, rollers and tensioner pulley. While you have the dryer taken apart, you might as well replace all three. Q: Why are my clothes taking forever to dry? Restricted airflow or lack of heat are the likely culprits. First, check the vent tube and clean out accumulated lint. Replace it if it’s kinked or rusty. For no heat, check the continuity of the thermal fuse,…

Whether you need extra storage in your kid’s bedroom closet, a bathroom or an entryway, a cube cubby storage system is a simple, attractive solution. I added rattan to the back for a natural touch with a boho feel, and for a pop of color, I chose Sherwin-Williams’s Inverness. Take inspiration from your own space and style to make this build uniquely yours. 1 CUT THE WOOD AND LAY OUT THE RATTAN Following the cut list, cut the wood pieces and trim using a miter saw. At the home center, be sure to select straight lumber that’s free of large knots and cracks in crucial locations. The rattan needs to cover an area at least 26¼in. by 38¼in., which means you may have to purchase two pieces of rattan and…

How Loud Is Too Loud? Many DIY tasks generate sound above 70 decibels (dB), the level at which prolonged exposure can begin to damage hearing. For comparison, household appliances like air conditioners, vacuums and dishwashers run at about 65 dB, while lawn mowers, leaf blowers and power tools can reach 85 to 115 dB. Even brief exposure to very loud sounds—like a 120‑dB chainsaw—can cause immediate harm. Prolonged exposure, especially to sounds at 85 dB and above, poses a real risk of total or partial hearing loss or tinnitus. Noise Reduction Rating Hearing protection reduces sound to a safe level, but not all options are equally effective. Start by determining the noise level you encounter most often, then choose protection with an appropriate Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). Assigned by the…

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.…

After building our Gazebo Getaway (see page 22), we added a gravel path as a finishing touch. This cost-effective feature works great in many areas, such as leading to a front door or shed, through a garden, or connecting a front and backyard. Gravel paths require less labor than brick or poured concrete, and they can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Our site presented a unique challenge—a border of railroad ties around the gazebo. The homeowner wanted to keep them, so we used a reciprocating saw to cut a gap for the path while leaving the rest intact. You may not face this exact issue, but it highlights a key lesson: Thorough preparation leads to better results and less stress. Before you start, carefully measure your desired…

N95: Everyday Safety • Best for: Dusty tasks such as sanding, woodworking and mixing concrete• Filtration: Blocks 95% of non-oil-based air particulates• Cost: Budget-friendly; often less than $1 each in a multipack• Use: Disposable; filtration effectiveness decreases after a single use• Fit: Designed for a snug fit but may vary by face shape• Limitations: Not effective against fumes or chemical vapors• Comfort: Easy to wear for short periods; not ideal for all-day wear P100: Heavy-Duty Filtration • Best for: High-risk environments with fine dust, toxic particles (e.g., asbestos) or poor ventilation• Filtration: Blocks 99.97% of airborne particulates, including oil-based particles• Cost: Higher upfront cost but more economical over time due to reusable design• Use: Reusable and longer-lasting; replacement filters available• Fit: Adjustable straps provide a secure seal around the face•…

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.…

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.…

Know Your Paint’s Shelf Life Unopened oil-based paints last about 15 years, while water-based ones stay good for about 10. Once opened, both types are best used within two to five years. Spray paint is best bought when you need it—it starts to expire around the three-year mark. Chalk paint, an eco-friendly option, lasts just one to five years, but if it thickens, it can often be revived with a little water. Know When to Let It Go Paint that’s past its prime shows clear warning signs. If it smells bad, has a rubbery or jellylike consistency, shows mold or mildew growth, or is clumpy, lumpy or gritty, it could be time to toss it. Changes in color, a dried-out texture or a film on the surface are other signs…

Pretreat stains as soon as you notice them to allow the stain remover time to work before the item is washed—anywhere from five minutes to a few hours, depending on the severity and stubbornness of the stain. How you treat the discoloration depends on what type of stain it is. Check out the photos here for quick treatment tips for common culprits. In general, though, keep these hints in mind: • Remove as much of the excess as possible. Blot liquid stains with a paper towel or scrape off food or lipstick with a blunt tool, such as a spoon or an old credit card. For blood stains, use white vinegar. Soak for five to 10 minutes in a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 2 cups warm water, then dab…

Impact-Safety Rating The most important factor in safety glasses is their impact-safety rating, assigned by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This rating measures how well the glasses can deflect projectiles without breaking. Look for a Z87 rating for basic protection against low-velocity debris. For high-velocity hazards—like those encountered working with power tools or lawn equipment—choose glasses rated Z87+. To boost protection even further, choose wraparound frames, which minimize gaps between the lenses and your face to block debris from all angles. Comfort Matters Uncomfortable glasses can put pressure on your nose and ears, making them a hassle to wear. Look for features such as lightweight frames, adjustable temples, soft materials and nose pads. The more comfortable your eyewear, the more likely you are to keep it on throughout a…

Advice from experts, tips from readers Around 13% of U.S. households have backyard chickens, according to a recent study published in the National Library of Medicine. And they’re not just limited to rural areas, as one might think. After all, it’s easy to welcome feathered friends anywhere when the U.S. Postal Service ships day-old chicks straight to your home from hatcheries. Whether you’re interested in a more sustainable lifestyle, looking for a new hobby or just hungry for farm-fresh eggs, caring for chickens can be a rewarding pastime. But it’s not without a good deal of care and effort, says Christy Caplan, a writer with Chicken Whisperer magazine and keeper of 20-plus chickens. “You have to do a lot of research first,” she says. Caplan offers tips for the chicken…

Custom Foam-Cutting Blade A jigsaw will cut through rigid foam like butter—except butter doesn’t crumble into thousands of bits that mess up your shop, basement or garage. If you remove the teeth from a jigsaw blade, it will cut the foam just as well but without the mess. Remove the teeth with a grinder. Be sure to wear eye protection, and hold on to the blade with locking pliers—not your fingers! —Douglas Mitchell Give Gripless Push Pads New Life Push pads for jointers keep your fingers away from the cutterhead. But when they get dusty, they lose their grip. This can cause your workpiece to kick back, potentially causing an injury. You can clean the pads, but eventually the surface just won’t grip. Instead of throwing them away, I fasten…

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