Home Improvement

 

May 16, 2013 Tip: Basic Guide to Sandpaper Sanding may rub you the wrong way because it seems like a never-ending process, and it comes at a time when you're antsy to get the job done. Well, ge...

April 29, 2013 Project Plans: Portable Fire Basket Larry Okrend is Editor of HANDY Magazine. On a cool spring or summer evening, a small campfire can provide an inviting gathering spot in your own b...

April 18, 2013 Project: Build a Compost Bin This is an ROI project. That is, the materials for building this cool-looking compost bin do not cost much, but you'll quickly get a return on that in...

April 11, 2013 Easy, Inexpensive Raised Planters This is a "three-fer" project. First, building these planters helps you plant an efficient-and-attractive garden. Second, you get to work with wo...

April 04, 2013 Build an Adirondack Chair Vern Grassel is a custom furniture builder, cabinetmaker and woodworking designer in Elk River, Minnesota. Because I grew up in upstat...

March 21, 2013 How to Build a Basic Bench Connie Bastyr is Managing Editor of HANDY. A woodworking classic, the traditional five-board bench is a simple yet adaptable piece: You can build...

March 14, 2013 How to Paint With an Accent Color Open floor plans and master suites often encourage homeowners to paint adjacent spaces the same neutral color (yawn). To strengthen visual ties and ad...

March 06, 2013 Project: Organize Your Kitchen A good kitchen is like a good workshop, with lots of work surfaces, light and tools. Also, both are well organized because you spend plenty of time in...

March 04, 2013 Tip: How to Work Safely on Ladders Mike Tavis writes for HANDY Magazine. The month of March means ladders come to life as DIYers start doing outside projects again. While ladders and ...

February 14, 2013 Bathroom Valentine Gift You Sit on You know, the roses-and-chocolate thing is fine, but you can fall back on that old gift for any Valentine's Day. This year, guys, show her what a soft...

February 11, 2013 Tighter Home Security: 10 DIY Tips Joe Provey is a HANDY blogger. Burglaries have been dropping steadily for 20 years in the United States, according to the FBI, but that's small conso...

January 30, 2013 How to Repair a Hole in Drywall Ethan Hagan is a HANDY blogger. Sooner or later you're gonna need to know how to repair drywall. It's as inevitable as taxes, and if you master this...

January 24, 2013 Project: Build a Fireplace Mantel Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY. This is a project that'll warm your hearth — and your heart — because building your own fireplace mantel is a...

January 16, 2013 Here's a Tip: Cleaning Old Chairs Janet Anderson of Portland, Oregon, bought a set of old oak dining-room chairs at a flea market. They're well-constructed and sturdy but kind of dingy...

January 14, 2013 Convert to a Dual Flush Toilet It's easy to become attached to your trusty old toilet. After all, the two of you have been through thick and thin, intimately sharing the good times ...

January 10, 2013 Project: Install a Hardwood Floor Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY. In the past decade we've seen the introduction of a wide variety of flooring materi...

December 26, 2012 Accessible-Bathroom Projects The need for an accessible bathroom for aging folks and people with disabilities makes sense, but we can make a strong case that an accessible bath is...

December 17, 2012 De-ice the Walk, Don’t Kill Plants Given the choice of not falling on your butt on icy sidewalks vs. killing grass and plants with a salty de-icer, you would save your butt, right? But ...

December 13, 2012 Earn $200 With Your DIY Tip The other day we happened to hear HANDY Senior Editor Jenny Stanley moaning and mumbling these lines by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in The Rime of the Anc...

December 10, 2012 Power Tool for Tree Stand Setup This 27-second video will help you stop screwing around with the setup of your Christmas tree stand so that you can get to the fun part: hanging light...

December 05, 2012 Project: Add Kitchen Storage Space "Will you raise your hand if you have enough kitchen storage?" If you put that question to a room full of homeowners, you won't see m...

November 15, 2012 Project: Organize Your Workshop It's not that you have to organize your shop our way. We're not saying that at all. It's your shop, so organize it any ol' way you wan...

October 31, 2012 Project: Install a Heated Floor It's tootsie time! This heated-floor project will thrill those who like their toes to be nice and toasty during the winter months (like, all of us...

October 25, 2012 Project: Choosing the Right Finish It's funny (not) how you can work your buns off to build the perfect woodworking project and think that you're almost done — only to &qu...

October 24, 2012 Tip: Remove a Stuck Light Bulb We have some bright ideas for those who need to change a light bulb that was not screwed in correctly. If it won't turn in either direction, and y...

October 18, 2012 Project: How to Build a Coffin This is a project that you're just dying to try: It's the toe-pincher coffin. We're providing the plans well in advance of Halloween, so w...

October 11, 2012 Giveaway: Garage Organization Kit Garages are great because that's one place where you can stop being a neat freak; you can be a little messy and it's no big deal. Heck, you ca...

October 10, 2012 How Do I Learn DIY? Dumb Question? How Do I Learn DIY? Dumb Question? No, it's not a dumb question. You may have no confidence around tools or trust that your projects will turn ...

October 04, 2012 5 Tips: DIY Projects With Kids Sometimes we take safety for granted when working on our own projects. Through experience, convenience or negligence we often put our own vision, hear...

September 19, 2012 Build a Keepsake Jewelry Box This is a "hero" project. It will push, or at least, fine-tune your woodworking skills, which will make you a hero to yourself. Also, you...

September 17, 2012 DIY Gossip: A Dirty Little Secret You and dirt are alike. No, no, were not dissing you by pointing out the common bond you have with the soil. We're just sharing a dirty little sec...

September 12, 2012 Here's a Tip: Stripping Old Paint Here's a primer on removing paint. Paint is a little like body weight: It's a lot easier (and more fun) to put on than to take off. And the...

August 29, 2012 A Video Tip: Build a Prototype The prototype process pulls you out of the paralyzing effects of "project perfectionism" when constructing anything. Because version one &qu...

August 22, 2012 Here's a Tip on Washing Windows In short, get a squeegee but don't get fancy. Most window-washing haters are doing it all wrong. Leave the spray cleaners and newspapers for cl...

August 16, 2012 Build a Ground-Level Deck Too late in the summer to build a deck? Nah! This ground-level deck project doesn't take long, and there's still plenty of time to entertain g...

August 15, 2012 Conquer Your Fear of Concrete Funny how some of the most doggone-it-let's-do-this DIYers seize up when it comes to concrete projects. Wide-eyed, they back away from the float, ...

August 08, 2012 Tip: How to Remove Wallpaper Is there an easy way to remove wallpaper and the remaining glue? Much depends on luck: the type of wallcovering, how long it's been the...

July 26, 2012 7 Simple Table Saw Safety Tips Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY. The table saw is a very versatile tool. I've probably used it more than any other tool in the sh...

July 11, 2012 Project: Replace Rotted Deck Posts This is a project that'll help you sleep better — especially if you like to nap on your deck. Have you taken a close look at your deck posts...

July 09, 2012 Tip: How to Select a Birdhouse If you haven't built a birdhouse yet, you gotta do it. This is a simple, change-of-pace project that's hugely rewarding whether you're a s...

June 20, 2012 Tip: Don't Remove Table Saw Guard Mike Conner is a building contractor in Minneapolis. A few weeks ago, I was wrapping up a kitchen remodel. I had a lot to finish that day, ...

June 13, 2012 Build Backyard Pond and Waterfall This is what we call an "abacus" project; you can count on it to be a huge hit in your backyard and neighborhood. The project: Build a pond ...

May 23, 2012 How Decks Can Wreck a Summer Decks should be places that can make your summer, not wreck it. After all, on decks you can cook out, chill out and even make out, if so moved. But th...

May 16, 2012 Prime Project: Paint Kitchen Cabs Joe Provey has been doing DIY projects for decades. Painting kitchen cabinets is a big project, and there are no shortcuts to a glassy-smoo...

May 03, 2012 Tip: How to Sharpen Yard Tools Still can't part with that rusty old shovel you've had since 1970? Or how about that hand-me-down garden trowel that's more like a workout...

April 26, 2012 Project Plans: 3 Easy Birdhouses Looking for a simple, change-of-pace, springtime project? Build a birdhouse. It's so dang fun to design and construct one, and it's hugely rew...

April 19, 2012 How to Work Alone—9 Simple Tips Mike Conner is a Minneapolis-based contractor who writes for HANDY TOOLBOX. Many DIYers like to work alone. You head for your garage or sho...

April 12, 2012 Project: Small Engine Tune-up Nod if this spring ritual is familiar: You’re stoked to start your lawn mower or garden tiller — or any piece of equipment with a small en...

April 04, 2012 Tip: How to Make Wood Plugs Adding those all-important finishing touches to your woodworking projects often means hiding ugly screw heads under wood plugs. You can purchase plugs...

March 22, 2012 Project Plans: Dog Feeder Station Wanna pay back your pooch for all those times she/he has gotten your butt out of that Lazy Boy and taken you to the park? We've got just the pet p...

March 15, 2012 Tip: 4 Cardinal Rules of DIY Here's good advice from Joe Provey, a DIY pro: The biggest DIY project I ever tackled was reroofing my house — all 3,000 sq. ft. ...

March 08, 2012 Project: Replace a Bathroom Faucet Drip ... drip ... drip. At first, you said the small leak in the bathroom faucet didn't bother you. And it only bugged a little bit tho...

February 29, 2012 Save 40,000 Gal. in Your Bathroom Really? Save that much water yearly in the bathroom? We're pretty sure our 21 product testers were suspicious about the Stealth System ($325). But...

February 27, 2012 3 Tips on Marriage and Remodeling One of the toughest aspects of many remodeling projects is imagining the results. Although some people can examine a space and easily envision what it...

February 23, 2012 Your Next Easy Project: Wall Niche Why a wall niche? Well, a wall niche transforms an empty stud cavity into a useful storage space or an eye-catching display area. We built a niche in ...

February 15, 2012 Go Bonkers Over This Saw Blade We sent these saw blades to 500 of our product testers. They all loved the Bosch 7-1/4-in. Daredevil Framing Blade ($9.99), giving it a 100-percent ap...

February 08, 2012 3 Must-Haves for Aging DIYers Aging happens ... if you're lucky. DIYers, embrace your years because experience and well-earned wisdom come in handy with projects. Still, take i...

January 30, 2012 Move Appliances — But Save Your Back and Floors On dreary winter days you sometimes need a lift. Well, this is your lucky day because we found a tool that helps you lift and move heavy things withou...

January 25, 2012 Project: Install a Backsplash Whether you're a DIY newbie or an old hand, this project is sure to make a big splash in your house. Installing a backsplash is a great first-timer pr...

January 16, 2012 DIY Tip: How to Avoid Disasters Here's good advice from Joe Provey, a DIY pro: I hate to admit it, but almost every DIY project I tackle turns into an epic struggle &m...

January 12, 2012 Project Plans: Wall Mount a TV Your new big-screen TV brings sports and entertainment stars — in all their HD, prime-time glory — into your home. Well, with these DIY pr...

January 04, 2012 Quick-Connect Pullout Faucet This kitchen faucet looks good — and, as a bonus, it makes you look good as a DIYer. The Hydrolock installation system of Moen's new Benton Pullout Ki...

January 03, 2012 3 Books for the Handy Person a These are good books for bad weather. Yes, when the weather outside is frightful, take the opportunity to delve into...

December 21, 2011 Project Plans: Build a Clamp Cart The maxim, "You can't have too many clamps" is true because the little devils are just too valuable and versatile in the shop. However, you can have t...

December 15, 2011 Money-Saving Weekend Project Installing a new toilet is an afternoon DIY project that has as much impact on your bottom line as any. If your toilet was installed before 1996, then...

December 14, 2011 This Pump Made Quite the Splash How pumped up can you get about a new pump? Plenty, according to our 39 product testers who gave the Wayne Auto On/Off Utility Pump ($169) a 100 perce...

December 01, 2011 Build a Drawer Box One of the easiest methods of building a drawer box is to use rabbet-and-dado joints for the front, back and sides. This joint may not be as impressiv...

November 30, 2011 Can a Hole Saw Make You Happy? Can a hole saw make you happy? You already know how it can make you unhappy when it jams and you can't dig out the dang plug. Well, the bimetal Lenox ...

November 21, 2011 How to Gussy up Your Grab Bars Grab bars (AKA support bars) make a bathroom safer — and uglier. That is, they might look fine in a hospital but not in your bathroom, right? ...

November 14, 2011 Handy Tool for Gutter Cleaning Gutter cleaning from a ladder gets high marks for being a high-anxiety, low-fun-factor task. So we're pretty excited to have found a tool that makes t...

November 10, 2011 Project: Replace Your Kitchen Sink A case could be made that replacing the kitchen sink is one of the most gratifying DIY projects of all. It saves a bundle of money to do it yourself, ...

November 03, 2011 Just the Idea of Blowing Snow ... "Say it ain't so, Joe ... snow?" Yep, it's that time again. Snow's coming (or already here), so select a snow thrower and ...

October 27, 2011 Updating Tired Kitchen Cabinets This project excites most homeowners because it can be rewarding financially, and it's not too difficult. Dressing up dull, dreary kitchen cabinets wi...

October 26, 2011 Wall Scanner Superman Would Love You don't need Superman's X-ray vision to hang pictures and cabinets, install shelving or to do electrical upgrades. A stud finder helps, but traditio...

October 24, 2011 Keep Your Backyard Birds Safe Building a birdhouse is a "two-fer" because you get two joys for the price of one. The first is in using your tools and moxie to pull off the construc...

October 20, 2011 Giveaway: Blower-Shredder-Vacuum Think twice before entering this giveaway. Don't bother if you want to take your sweet time raking and bagging leaves because you love soaking in the ...

October 13, 2011 Save Cash: Re-Do Your Entry Door Our 80-year-old door made us snore and sneer. Not only was it a boring brown (to match the house trim), it was also beat up. Its paint was peeling, an...

October 10, 2011 Backyard Greenhouse? 12 Questions When the garden winds down at summer's end, you may wish that the veggies and flowers could persevere throughout the winter. What about building a bac...

October 06, 2011 Vote for HANDY Innovation Award Each year, HANDY Magazine editors do the DIY world a good deed by presenting the HANDY Innovation Awards. The editors earmark new tools and products t...

October 05, 2011 A New Toilet That Won't Overflow It's an all-too-familiar scene: Your toilet overflows ("Yikes!!!"), and you're tip-toeing through the rising tide of sludge. Well, we have good news! ...

September 29, 2011 Build This Woodworker's Bench What is it about a woodworker's bench? After one project, the bench isn't just a work surface anymore; it's a friend and a tool — maybe the hardest-wo...

September 28, 2011 95/100 = Yes for Oscillating Tool Bosch has been deliberate in making its way to the oscillating tool party, but our product testers' response to the new MX25EK-33 Multi-X Oscillating ...

September 26, 2011 Do a Dust Barrier in 5 Minutes Usually in remodeling, you gotta bash before you can build. Truth is, demo-ing walls is a blast, but if the dust is not contained, it makes a mighty m...

September 22, 2011 Giveaway: Two Go-To Bosch Tools There are tools that you have, and then there are tools that you use. The ones you use are your go-to tools; you grab them when you're off to a job an...

September 21, 2011 Manual Scraping? That's History It's like manual sanding versus power sanders, right? Once you flip the switch and enjoy the sander's ride to smooth surfaces, it's tough going back t...

September 19, 2011 $9.95 Handles for Hauling Leaves We don't go hog-wild about leaf-hauling/loading devices that are often way overpriced. We watch our pennies and for our lawn, a rake and an old sheet ...

September 15, 2011 Auto Hammer Has Some Chutzpah We like a tool with an attitude — one that can handle fussy fasteners in need of a little friendly persuasion. Well, Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt G2 Ham...

September 14, 2011 This Project Was a Huge Hit: Kitchen Stool Wanna get a woodworker's attention? Offer a project that's: • Attractive • Useful • Easy-to-build ...

September 08, 2011 You (We) Love This Portable Bench DIYers, put this on your bucket list. Not only did the Handy Bucket Builder wow our product testers with a 92 percent approval rating, it also got a t...

September 07, 2011 Set Your Butt Down on This That's the thing about gardening, right? We love it but it's a pain in the butt, back and knees as we're forced to sit, squat, stoop and kneel just to...

September 01, 2011 Juiced: Boost Battery in 3 Minutes We're calling this the "Save Your Butt" battery charger. You've been there: You're this close to finishing your epic project (and then go fishing with...

August 31, 2011 Impact Driver Improves Sleep! DeWalt doesn't dwell on it, but it's true: You sleep better with this impact driver under your pillow. OK, not under your ...

August 29, 2011 The Garage-Door Windows? Not Real Even though those garage-door windows pictured aren't really real, we really like them because they increase curb appeal — without the hassle of repla...

August 24, 2011 Make Garden Art and Cedar Frame! Here are two head-turning projects that'll draw gawkers to your yard. Frankly, we don't know which project they'll be "oohing" about more, the steel a...

August 22, 2011 Trailer Morphs Into Storage Unit You want to be a hero in your house? Find storage. Indeed, your stock will be higher than any action figure in green tights if you can somehow find or...

August 18, 2011 Easily Installed Deck Lighting Got a drill/driver, a 7/16-in. bit and a hammer? Then you can install the I-Lighting Outdoor Lighting System. The kit — ra...

August 15, 2011 21-Gallon Garden Water Bag—Wow! Watering is wonderful for your plants but (groan) it takes time, especially if you have a flower bed or community garden plot that's too far from a wa...

August 11, 2011 Disarm Your Killer Garden Hose We hate it when this happens: With all this heat, we're watering, watering, watering, which means we're moving the hose. A lot. Unfortunately, it also...

August 10, 2011 Design a Shop — You Deserve It! This project is a bit different, but nevertheless, it is the parent of all projects. Because once you design a workshop that's efficient and comfortab...

August 08, 2011 Prisoners Pray for This Hacksaw! For two reasons: They want to escape (video). Invariably, however, these plots flop; either the law is one step ahead o...

August 04, 2011 Giveaway: JawSaw, Trimmer, Blower Think of your yard as a lion that needs weekly taming. Most of us are going about the task armed only with a chair (the mower), but to really whip tha...

August 03, 2011 120 Testers Like This Light—Lots We thought our product testers would yawn about this emergency light. After all, there are lots of these lights on the market. Nope. Our 120 testers b...

July 28, 2011 Build This Deck Storage Bench We like this project because it decks out our deck with a beauty — and it provides comfortable seating and ample storage. This solid-cedar bench can a...

July 25, 2011 One Can Can Impress All Painters DIYers tend to take the word "finish" literally. After working long and hard to build the project, it's time to finish with a coat of paint or polyure...

July 21, 2011 Whack Weeds With Stand-Up Tool Any time we can whack weeds without throwing the back outta whack with stoop labor, we're happy. So we're halfway to heaven when holding this stand-up...

July 20, 2011 Key-Fob Convenience at Your Door Television without remote control? Inconceivable! Car doors that open only with a key? Thoroughly un-modern! Yes, we do lo...

July 18, 2011 Really Safe Chain Saw With Jaws We'll cut to the quick: Chain saws are dangerous, and that's bound to make you justifiably apprehensive. But we recently discovered a new kind of chai...

July 14, 2011 Build This Outdoor Dining Table Simple yet very smart, that's what this outdoor dining table is. Simple in that you make it from standard dimensional lumber, and construction require...

July 11, 2011 Work, Hearing Protection, Music Quiz question: If you don't wear hearing protection when you're young and working on the job or in the shop, do you know which word you'll use most of...

June 27, 2011 A Toilet Seat That's a Turn-on In a bathroom filled with fabulous fixtures, attractive tile and a glamorous granite vanity top, isn't it a missed opportunity when your toilet seat i...

June 23, 2011 Build This Luxury Deck Lounger Some projects, well, you really look forward to finishing much more than others. It's not because they're less fun to build; it's just that you can't ...

June 15, 2011 Precise Cuts in Drywall, Plywood Simple-and-effective building products make us smile, and this one has us simply beaming. The Mark-n-Cut Transfer Sheets are a godsend to folks instal...

June 09, 2011 Build This Raised Garden Bed Guaranteed, this is a project that you'll not only love, but you'll build it repeatedly. It's the always attractive raised garden bed. ...

June 08, 2011 More Mower, More Garage Space You've gone cordless with many of your favorite power tools, so maybe it's time to consider a cordless mower. No gas smells or spills. No tendinitis f...

June 01, 2011 Start-to-Finish Project Updates Besides recording their projects for posterity (ah, vanity), our testers gave this cool Timelapse ProjectCam an impressive 98 percent approval rating....

May 25, 2011 Video: Finally, a Mower That's Fast, Fun and Sized Right Live in the burbs? Is your lawn too big to mow with a walk-behind but not expansive enough to justify an SUV-size tractor? Hop on the WeedEater Smart ...

May 19, 2011 Build This Simple Fountain True-false quiz. Fountains are: 1. So pretty 2. So calming 3. So much work to build. ...

May 18, 2011 Double-Hung Gets a "10" We found out that our testers do windows. The testers found out that installing Simonton's Double Hung Replacement Windows was a breeze. They gave a p...

May 16, 2011 Portable, Pumps 200 Gal./Charge Flooded laundry room? Overflowing toilet? Swamped kayak? To bail you out, we found something far better than a bucket or a coffee can. It's called Aqu...

May 05, 2011 Project Plan: Outdoor Easy Chair Not all four-letter words are naughty. Take easy, for example. Woodworkers like easy when it describes projects that turn out as beautiful and functio...

May 04, 2011 100% Raves for Multipurpose Saw Right on, RotoZip! You've managed to do what few tool manufacturers have done — please 100 percent of our very picky TOOLBOX Testers! Your versa...

May 02, 2011 Free Deck-Designing Software It's almost a DIYer's rite of passage — to build a deck in springtime. A new deck is a dandy way to: Celebrate great weather Connect with famil...

April 29, 2011 Wanted: 3 Winners for 1 Giveaway For the merry month of May, we've gone away from the standard "winner takes all" giveaway that we — along with Handy Hal (pictured) an...

April 28, 2011 Build This--Be the King of Swing Apologies to our women woodworkers, but "King of Swing" has an irresistible ring. We hope you'll forgive us when you finish this build-in-a-...

March 24, 2011 Sewer-Line Fix: Can You Dig It? Sooner or later, your sewer line will command attention — and you're not going to dig it. (This is good news.) Clarificati...

February 23, 2011 New Acrylic-Block Operable Window Our handy testers almost never give 100 percent approval to a product; they're real fussy. When they do — like now — it's big. The product: Hy-Lite's ...

February 17, 2011 The Shocking Truth About DIY Electrical Testing Can you handle the truth? Fair enough, here it is: You may think electrical testing of outlets, lights and appliances arou...

February 16, 2011 Surefire Way to Please the Spouse How? Install a backsplash. It never fails to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom, add color and please your spouse. And here's a product that'll please...

February 09, 2011 This Project Was a Huge Hit: Floating Vanity Abracadabra! This suspended vanity will add modern style to any bathroom, and it's not difficult to build or to install. M...

January 12, 2011 Light Without Wires: Brilliant! Every now and then we stumble across products that fall under the Brilliant Idea category, such as the wireless LED lighting options from Mr. Beams. S...

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