the-family-handyman--april-2009

Features APRIL 2OO9 VOLUME 59, NO.4 497IH EDITION









9 Wet basement blues?

Don't call a contractor or spend

big bucks untii you've tried

these DIY solutions first.



36 Prep problem walls

Make old, abused walls look

like new. A veteran painter

shows you how.



45 Revive interior trim

Don't strip it. Don't replace it.

Revive it with cleaning, touch-

ups and a fresh coat of finish.



54 Perk up your patio

Transform a dull slab or

sidewalk in one weekend

with concrete stain.



60 Make carpet last

Three strategies that keep

carpet looking good-and delay

the cost ol replacemenl.



66 tsasic box shelves

Simple, stylish and strong!

Customize them to suit anv

room.









Super-smooth trim paint 26



Painting problem walls 36



Renewvarnishedtrim 45



Plus, check out concrete patio staining

(p.54) and new painting toots (pp. l7-18).









2 Aptil2oog thefamityhandyman.com

17 New Toots & Gear

Gadgets that scare off burglars

and lock out water thieves.

Cool painting tools, too!



23 Remodel Resources

Stick-on products that dress up

walls and windows the fast and

easy way.





26 Do's & Don'ts

Paint trim faster, smoother

and better with advice Fiom a

veteran painter.



T2 Question & Comment

Silence a noisy garage door;

advice about using CFLs.



74 Car & Garage

Check engine light on? Find

out what's wrong without a

mechanic and save up to $100.



78 lnstant Project

An easy plant stand you can

build liom wood scraps.





80 Handy Hints@

Make your own funnels

and other ingenious tips.



85 Dollar Savvy Homeowner

Avoid repair bills, cut lumber

costs and more.



95 Wordless Workshop"

Stackable storage for toys

that spilleth over.



96 Great 6oofs@

A toilet tragedy and other

do-it-yourself disasters.



Questions about subscriptions? Back issueslarticle copies

For new and gift subscriptions, a change of address or heLp with Some past issues dre stitt avaitable for 55.00 each. Photocopies

Simple shelves 66 a subscription problem, write:The Family Handyman of articles are avaitabte for $3.00 each. Catt (715)246-4521frcm

subscriber Seruice Dept., Box 8174, Red oak, lA 5159llu4, or I a.m. to 5 p.m. Centrat, L4onday through Friday, for avaitability

7 easy basement solutions 9 catt (800) 285-4961. 0r send us an e-maiI at and ordering, or write to: Ba(k lssues, The Famity Handyman,

Renew varnished trim 45 FHMseryice@rd.com. Allow two issues for address changes. P,0. Box 83695,stiLLwater, N.4N 55083-0695. 0r send

Painting probtem walls 36 us an e-mail at famityhandyman@nrmsinc.com.



Super-smooth trim paint 26 Customer information

One-day patio makeover 54 Readefs Digest may share information about you with rep-

Comments and suggestions

utabte companies so they can offer you products We wetcome your ideas and opinions. Write ^d€rn*,-

to: pqr'-.-.-.'\

Noisy garage door 72

Make your carpet last

Doltar-Savw Homeowner

60

85

and services of tikely interest to you. lf you don't want us to

share this information, ptease write to Reader's Digest Mailing

List, Attn.: Circ. Dept., R€adeas Digest Road, PteasantviLLe, NY

]ffi',X["*Ji'r::srvHandvman

Eagan,lVN55l2l.Fax:(651)994-2250.

ftl]-A

I \iA/

10570. Ptease incLude a coDv of vour address labet. i. -

E-mail: fheditor@readersdi8est.com \-

Cover Photo: TOM FENENGA Web site: thefamilvhandyman.com 'o *6f; ^.'



4 Aptil2oog th€f amityhandyman.com

t hefa m i tyha ndyman.co m

Reptace your entry door

Do it yourself and save $200.

A veteran carpenter shows you

how.



A neater Baint job

A painting pro shows how to

minimize the mess and finish

faster.



Prepare for paint

Careful prep work in problem

areas makes paint last longer.



Wash windows

Pro tips for clean, streak-free

windows-fast!





To find any of these articles

after Apri[ 15, 2009, iust type

the title into the search box on

our home page.









6ot a proiect you're proud of?

Show it off at our online gallery. Go to thefamilyhandyman.com and

click on the "DlY ga[lery" (at the right of the page under "Editorsn

Picks"). Uptoading your photos is easy and takes iust a few minutes.

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by Jeff Gorton

editors@thefamityhandyman.com



thefamityhandyman,com Aprit2OOg 9

re:



YW

:ai ,:

1**l your basement leaks when it iike concrete or block walls, concrete

rains or is damp and musty smelling in

j thefamilyhandyman.com- I floors or cold water pipes, it condenses

the summer, don't throw in the towel. /ft r See what's invotved with instatting an I into water. Then the condensation

ft interiordrainsystematthefamityhandy- I

There are all kinds of ways to dry up a i man.com/sumpdrain. I drips off pipes and runs down walls,

wet basement, ranging from simple fl r Learn how to instatt gutters at I leaving your basement wet and clam-

weekend fixes to more difficult repairs [_thefamitVhandVman.com/gutterinsta[t. J my. The humid air that causes conden-

that you may want to hire a contractor sation can come foom outdoors, or

to do. In this article, we'll show you around your foundation and ieak in. indoors fiom a leaking dryer vent, an

how to diagnose your wet basement Water can leak through cracks, or it can unvented shower or even a humidifier

problem and give you a bunch of solu- penetrate porous concrete or masonry left on by mistake. Water droplets form-

tions you can try yourself. We won't go walls in the form of water vapor. And ing on cold water pipes or the outside

into detail on how to complete some of basements can be wet from a combina- of your toilet are a clear indication that

the more difficult jobs, like installing tion of indoor humidity and water from at least part of your wet basement prob-

an interior drainage system, but we'll outside. So your job is to figure out lem is caused by condensation.

show you how they work and what's what's causing the problem and, start- Eliminating the sources of humid air

involved in their installation. ing with the simplest fixes, work on will help dry out your basement.

solutions. Photol shows a simple test to Repair and seal your leaking dryer vent

Where's the moisture help diagnose your basement moisture (ptrotoZ). Add a vent fan to your base-

coming from? problem. But before you go to the trou- ment bathroom and make sure your

Water or moisture in basements comes ble, read the rest of this article for other family turns it on during showers.

from two sources. One source is indoor clues. The problem may be so obvious Keep your basement windows closed

humidity that condenses on cold sur- that you can skip this test and get right during humid weather. And if you're

faces, much like water droplets form on to solving the problem. still getting condensation on cool sur-

a cold drink on a humid day. The other faces, run a dehumidifier to lower the

is water-or water vapor-that comes Get rid 0f excess humidity indoor humidity. Air conditioning also

from outside. Rainwater, melting snow When humid air in the basement dehumidifies air, so if you have central

or groundwater can saturate the soil comes in contact with cool surfaces air conditioning, make sure the base-





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ment registers are open. Consider

adding air conditioning ducts to the

basement if you don't have any.





lnsulate cotd surfaces

to prevent condensation

Condensation dripping flom cold pipes

or collecting on cool basement walls can

contribute to basement water problems.

Reducing the humidity level in the base-

ment is the first step, but in addition, try

I tuo" aluminum foil

insulating cool surfaces. Wrap cold I to your. basement

water pipes with foam insulation (Photo wa[[ and inspect it a

3J. Install a toilet tank insulating kit few days later. Moisture

on the outside surface

(search online for "toilet insulating kit") of the foiI indicates

or replace your toilet with one that has high indoor humidity.

an insulated talk. Reduce condensation Moisture behind the foiI

means moisture is [eak-

on exterior walls by insulating them ing through the walts.

(Rhoto + shows one method). For more

information, go to thefamilyhandy-

man.com and enter "insulate basement"

in the search box. But don't cover the

walls with insulation if water is leaking

in from outside; you'll just create a

potential mold problem.



Direct water away

from the foundation

If your basement leaks after heavy rains

or after snow melts, making sure water

is diverted away from your foundation

may solve the problem. It's common for

the soil alongside your house to settle 1l seaL leakv drver

over time, creating a moat that collects l ventswith foit tape

to prevent unwanted

runoff and directs it down your foun- humid air from entering

dation wall and into the basement. your basement. Don't

Lawn edging and gravel along the foun- just use duct tape; it'[

eventua[[y fa[[ off.

dation can make things worse. The edg-

ing acts like a dam, and the gravel can

hide the fact that the ground slopes

toward the house (FigureA). The fix isn't

technically difficult; it's just a lot of

backbreaking work.

Start by inspecting the ground

around your house to find areas that

are levei or sloping toward the founda-

tion. If only one side of your basement

leaks, then start your inspection on that

side of the house. Figure B shows how to

slope the ground away lrom the foun-

dation. Unfortunately, this solution

may require you to dig up existing Q, cou"r cold water

I pipes with foam

foundation plantings, remove gravel pipe insulation to stop

and landscape edging, and haul in condensation. The

additional soil to raise the level next to foam insulation is inex-

pensive, about $3 per

the house. But it's worth the effort 4-ft. section, and easy

because there's a good chance this fix to cut with scissors.



LZ Aprit2oog thefamityhandyman.com

will prevent additional water problems

in your basement.

Start by creating a 6-ft.-wide slope

that drops about 4 in. away from the

foundation. For extra insurance, cover

the sloping soil with a layer of O-mil

poly. Then hide the poly with mulch,

gravel or a layer of soil covered with

grass. This will keep water from soak-

ing in near the loundation.



Add gutters and

extend downspouts

If your basement leaks after it rains and 4 n:rl:;ii;:;i

condensation. ln cold

you don't have gutters, consider adding climates, insutating

them. Gutters catch the rain and chan- basement waIts also

nel it to the downspouts, which direct saves energy and

reduces your heating

it away from the house. Whether you're bitt.

installing new gutters or already have

them, be sure the downspouts have

4- to 6-ft. horizontal extensions to

move the water away flom the house

(enoto s).

The next time you get a heavy rain,

put on your raincoat and go outside to

see if your gutters are doing the job. If

water is gushing from your down-

spouts and still overflowing the gut-

ters, you should install additional

downspouts or replace your standard

2 x 3-in. downspouts with larger, 3 x

4-in. downspouts to increase the capac-

ity. Also notice where the water is

going after it leaves the downspout. If it

looks like water is pooling in the yard, f, noo downspout

one solution is to install drainage tub- J extensionsto

carry rainwater at least

ing that leads to a dry well. 6 ft. away from the

foundation.



J-tneramitytrandyman.com

-l

/7| Learnhowtobuildadrainagesystemand I

I dry wett. Go to thefamityhandyman.com/ I

I yarddrainaee.

r-J I







PLug hotes and cracks

in the foundation

Holes and cracks in your foundation

can let moisture and water seep into

your basement. Plugging them proba-

bly won't soive basement-leaking prob-

lems, but along with the other solu-

tions we've suggested, it'11 help.

Hydraulic cement works great for

patching holes in a foundation because

it can set up even under water, and it

6 ffi['i,;'ffi::,ilx,

wa[[s with hydrautic

expands as it sets to seal the hole and cement. ChiseI out

lock the plug in place. Drylok Fast Piug cracks first to altow

space for the cement.

is one brand. Use a cold chisel or an

thefamityhandyman,com Aorit2OOg 15

angle grinder fitted with a masonry- materials that go on like paint fill the every pinhole to create a continuous

cutting disc or diamond blade to pores in the concrete or masonry walls waterproofing membrane.

enlarge the hole or crack into an invert- and prevent water from leaking in. Crystalline waterproofing material is

ed "V" with the narrow part of the "V" Drylok Masonry Waterproofer is one another type of waterproofing coating.

on the surface of the wall. Then follow brand, and it costs about 50@ per square One brand is Xypex. Xypex penetrates

the package instructions for mixing and foot. To be effective, these coatings the surface and reacts with chemicals

using the hydraulic cement (enotoo). must be applied to bare concrete or in the concrete to form water-blocking

masonry walls. Start by removing loose crystals. You'll spend 55@ to g1 per

Coat the walls with material with a wire brush. Then clean square foot for this option, depending

masonry waterproofing off any white powdery "efflorescence" on how porous the walls are. You'll

If your basement leaks periodically with Drylok Masonry Cleaner or other find ordering information by going to

after it rains or when snow melts, or if masonry cleaner. Follow the safety and hi-dry.com or calling (800J 363-2002.

the aluminum foil test (pnoto t) reveals application instructions carefully.

that water vapor is seeping in from out- A common mistake when using tnstatt a drainage system

side, waterproofing the walls on the masonry waterproofing products is to If you're stili getting water in the base-

inside can help (enotoz). Waterproofing spread them too thin. The goal is to fill ment after sloping the ground away

from the house and adding gutters and

downspout extensions, then a drainage

system may be the only solution.

Drainage systems installed beiow the

basement floor level on the outside of

your foundation are very effective, but

this approach is only practical while

the house is under construction and

access to this area is easy.

There are two other options for exist-

ing basements. You can buy a channel-

ing system that glues to the floor around

the perimeter of the basement. For

information on one brand, go to water-

Brush a waterproof

proof.com or call (651) 644-2000. The

coating onto base- channel diverts water that leaks into the

ment wails. Brush the basement into a sump pump. This sys-

coating in a[[ directions

to completely fitl every tem is easier to install than one that's

pinhole. Add a second buried under the floor. The disadvan-

coat after the first dries. tages are that the channel is visible

above the floor, and the effectiveness of

the system relies on creating a water-

proof seal between the channel and the

basement floor. You'll also have to

install a sump basket and sump pump.

The channel costs about $4.50 per foot;

the sump pump kit, about $200.

The second option, drainage tubing

below the basement floor that's con-

nected to a sump basket and pump

(enotoa), is more expensive and difficult

to install, but it's the best permanent fix

for chronic basement leaks. You can

install a system like this yourself, but

breaking out the concrete floor, burying

Q an interior drain the tubing, and patching the floor are a

lEl system channels

water from the base of

iot of backbreaking work. Materials to

the wa[ into a drain do an average basement will cost $600

tube that leads to the to $1,000. Expect to spend $3,000 to

sump basket and pump,

which pumps it to the $8,000 for a professionally installed

outside. system in a standard-size basement. ij

f6 Aprit2OOg thefamityhandyman.com

by Brett Martin

itors@thefamilyhandyman.com









A paint ro[ler that won't fatt off

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Ityo, paint like most DlYers-by

I I screwing a broom handle onto a

the pole, and then a clip on the pole hold, are available in four lengths (2, 4, o

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Iocks the handle in place. That keeps 6 and B ft.] and extend to twice their

cheap paint roller to cover walls and the roller from twisting loose-ever! length. A lever securely locks the pole *

ceilings-you know how frustrating it is The cageless roller makes removing at 6-in. intervals. t

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when the roller unscrews from the used roller covers easier. A tension ring The rollers and QuickFit poles (g3z z

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broom handle as you paint. Purdy's new holds the roller cover in place. Just to $70) are avaiiable at Sherwin- m

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cageless roiler (grs) and QuickFit poles slide the cover over the ring and the Williams stores, some hardware stores .a

solve that problem. Metal prongs on the cover comes right off. The QuickFit and other retailers listed online. P

i-

roller's handle fit inside receptacles in poles, lightweight and comfortable to Purdy, (800) 547-0780. purdycorp.com E





thefamityhandyman,com Aprit2OOg 17

6et a grip on paintbrushes

Attach the Firm Grip to a paint can rim-it's spring loaded to clamp tight-and

a magnet on the arm will hold your paintbrush so it doesn't fall into the can.

Firm Grip is inexpensive (93) and easy to use (it takes two seconds), and it

saves you from having a messy brush that's coated with paint halfway up the

handle. A metal clip on the end of the arm opens paint cans. You can find it at

home centers, hardware stores and paint stores.

Big Time Products, (877 1 929:f fiT. bigtimeproducts.net









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by readers: ':':

"Very good value for

' ''the money.''

,

MAGNET

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Funkiest-tooking [ight ever

No, this isn't something that fell to Earth

Readers

from outer space. It's a portable light with

1.2 rare earth magnets, so you can place it

rank'em

on any steel surface and aim the powerful Every month,

LED light where you need it. Smaller than the TFH

a golf ball, Striker's Magnetic LED Light "Powerhouse"

runs on three tiny, nonreplaceable batter-

reader panel has

ies. The downside is the battery life is

only about 28 hours. But since the light the chance to give

costs only $8, you could just buy a new their opinions

one when the about the new

batteries run tools and gear we

orrt- It's avail- plan to write

able at hard-

about. For more

ware stores

and the Web,,

information or to

s'te below..,',,,':,:,,':

join the pane},

Striker. :.::::.::::.,::1:,,.:::.,: visit fhpower-

(704) 658-933: house.com.

strikerhandtoots.com



18 Aprit2oog the{amityhandyman.com

Faueet pnoteetFmm keeps

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I brought a Hose Bib Lock to a staff

meeting and asked the other people

what they thought of this device,

which attaches to a faucet bib to keep

the water from being turned on. In our

tiny group of 12, three of us knew peo-

ple who had been victimized by van-

dals turning on an outside faucet and

sticking the attached garden hose

through the front door mail slot or

basement window or into the window

we1l, causing costly water damage to

the homes. So we realized that this $1b

lock was a good idea. It not only stops

pranks and vandalism but also water

theft, which occurs in areas prone to

water shortages.

Screw the hose fitting assembly onto

the faucet bib threads, then slide the

cover over the fitting and attach a pad-

Iock (not included). It takes just a few

seconds to install and remove the Bib

Lock. Buy it on the manufacturer's Web

siie.

Conservco, (775) 7 47 -3333. conseruco.us









ffictcr fuuerg&ans

wlthe a fmks TV

You know how you can drive bv a

house at night and tell that some-

one is watching television bv the

flickering bluish light the TV casts

through the window? The Fake TV

from Opto-Electronic Design casts

an identical light, fooling burgiars

inio thinking you're home when

you're really in lamaica.

Plug it into a standard outlet. A

built-in sensor turns on the Fake

TV when the room gets

dark and turns it back

off in the morning. It's

a more convincing

deterrent than a light

on a timer-which

can make it obvious

lhal vou're nol home.

The Fake TV costs $40

on the company's Web

site.

Opto-Electronic Design, (888) 621-5800.

faketv.com ii



thefamilyhandyman.com Aprit2OOg 19

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Bloomine

wa[[ sticke*rs

I O"u', Slal.thult peel-and-stick wall decora-

I tiorrr are perfecl for walls that need a little

springtime wow. The flower-inspired designs

come in a variety of colors and cost less than E

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,$20 each. To apply them. make sure the wall l

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surface is smooth, clean and dry, then simply I

peel off the backing, stick them on the wall Y

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and you're done. Some of the designs are avail- m

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able at ikea.com, but you'll find the greatest

.e

selection at lkea stores. o

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DIY Venetian plaster

"Venetian plaster" is a wall finishing technique in

which thin layers of plaster are troweled on and

then burnished to create the iilusion of polished

marble, rough stone or suede. It used to require a

fair amount of skill and numerous steps to get

these effects. But Behr's Premium Plus Venetian

Plaster No. 770 simplifies the process into a single

can ($SS per gallonJ. The heavy-bodied water-

based product is specialiy pigmented to create the

three-dimensional look of "old world" stucco. The

best results come from applying two or more lay-

ers, and from practicing your trowel and burnish-

ing technique on dr1'wall scraps first. Behr Premium

PIus With Style Venetian Plaster Topcoat No. 775

($fZ per quart) protects the faux finish and adds a

lovely sheen.

Avaitable at Home Depot stores.









Paint-by-number watl stnips

It's OK to color on the walls with these fun and funky paint-by-num-

ber wallpaper borders. Hang them in your kids' rooms and let them go

to town with crayons, markers or paint pens. (Just make sure the

munchkins know the rest of the wail is off limits!) With designs that

include High Seas Hijinks, Spaceman Shuffle and Insect Hustle

Bustle, there's one to suit every child (and adult!). The bold graphics

look great on their own, and the bright-colored backgrounds make the

strips iook finished even before the kids get started. Coat the borders

with water to instail and remove them. The 6-in.-high by 15-ft.-long

strips cost $18 and are available in many colors and styles.

2jane.com, (877) 252-6316 ll









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A lace curtain that stays BUt

This decorative adhesive window film,

designed by London-based Emma |effs, pro-

vides privacy and still lets the sunshine in.

Available in six different patterns, the film is

applied to the glass. You simply wipe the glass

with water, remove the backing and apply the

film. It adheres well yet can be removed easily

with a scraper without leaving a residue. The

all-over pattern means you can hang the film

vertically or horizontally, and the grid on the

backing paper makes it easy to cut and measure.

The film works on any glass surface, including

mirrors, cabinet doors and tabies. A 37 x 52-in.

roll costs $76 and is available from 2jane. z

2iane.com, (877) 252-6316 N





24 April2OOq thetamilyhandyman,com

Every DlYer is a part-time painter, so every year we devote a

special section to this a[-important ski[[. May your wa[[s be perfect,

your trim smooth and your life drip-free. edil

- The editors









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Trim painting tips

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fepainting chipped. llaking. dirly Carefulsanding o

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for a crisp, professional-looking job, is the key to a perfect job U

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you have to go beyond just brushing on If your woodwork is smooth, just I





give it a once-over with 120-grit o

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a coat of paint. From prep work to the

final coat, here are tips for making your sandpaper. But if your trim is in g



painted woodwork look like new. rough shape like ours, start with ,9



B0-grit sandpaper. Switch to 100-

grit for smoothing and blending in

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CAUTION the areas with layered paint. o

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lf your home was built before 1979, Finally, go over all the wood with 91

check the paint for lead. Call your public 12O-grit. Buy sandpaper labeled +,, +Jt

health department for instructions on

how to test for lead and on what

"no-load." No-load sandpaper =t ;! .E

won't clog as easily and is better for Ell

to do if you have lead paint.

sanding painted surfaces. ?t


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26 Aprit2OOg lhefamityhandyman.com

Filt hotes and dents

To repair large dents or gouges on

edges that are vulnerable to abuse, use

hardening-type two-part wood filler

(Minwax High Performance Wood

Fiiler is one brand). Fill smaller dents

and holes with spackling compound.

Since spackling compound shrinks as

it dries, you'll have to apply a second

(and possibly a third) coat after the pre-

vious coat dries.

Shine a strong light across the wood-

work to highlight depressions and

ensure that you don't miss any spots as

you're applying the filler. Let the filler

dry and sand it smooth.









Caulk for a seamless look

Here's a step that many beginners don't know about but

pros swear by. Caulk every crack or Bap, no matter how

small. Use Latex caulk or a paintable latex/silicone blend.

The key is to cut the caulk tube tip very carefully to cre-

ate a tiny, 1/16-in.-diameter hoie. Fill all the small cracks

first. Then, if you have wider cracks to fill, recut the caulk Spot-prime to avoid blotches

tube tip to make a larger hole. Move the cauik gun swift- Brush a stain-sealing primer (B-I-N is one brand of shellac-

ly along the cracks to avoid an excess buildup of caulk. If based primer) over the areas that you've patched or filled,

necessary, smooth the caulk with your fingertip. Keep a and over areas where you've sanded down to bare wood. If

damp rag in your pocket to clean caulk lrom your finger you have a loi of patches and bare spots, it'll be faster and

and to keep the tip of the caulk tube clean. If caulk piles easier to just prime the entire surface. Also seal discolored

up in the corners, remove the excess with a flexible putty areas or marks left by crayons, pens or markers to prevent

knife. them from bleeding through the finish coat of paint.



2A ApriL2oog thefamityhandyman.com

Add an extender to latex paint Paint from a separate pail

Most pros prefer to use oil-based paint on trim for two Pour paint aboti L-L12 in. deep into a separate pail. A

reasons: Oil-based paint doesn't dry as fast as water,based metai painter's pail (shown); a specialty pail called a

paint, Ieaving more time to brush. And oil-based paint Handy Paint Pail (handypaintpail.com; $10 at paint

levels out better than most water-based paints, Ieaving a stores and home centers); and even an empty S-quart ice

smoother surface with few visible brush marks. But cream pail all work great. Placing a small amount of paint

because water-based paint is more environmentally in a pail allows you to easily load the bristles of the brush

friendly, less stinky and easier to clean up, it's a better by dipping them about 1 in. into the paint.

choice for DIYers.

You can make water-based paint perform more like oil

paint by adding latex paint conditioner. Floetrol is one

brand. Conditioners make the paint flow better and slow

down the drying time, allowing you more time to spread

the paint without leaving brush marks. Check with ihe

manufacturer of the paint you're using to see if it recom-

mends a particular brand of conditioner.









Slap, don't wlpe

Slap the brush gently against each side of the bucket to

remove the excess paint. This method of brush loading is

best for laying on paint because it keeps the bristles fully

loaded with paint. To use the brush for cutting-in, follow

up by wiping each side of the brush gently on the rim to

remove a little more paint.







Cut in edges before

you fittthe center

Cutting-in is a skill that takes practice to master,

but it's worth the effort, To cut in, first load the

brush. Then wipe most of the excess paint off

by gently scraping the bristles on the edge of the

can. Start by pulling the brush along the edge,

but keep the bristles about 1/4 in. away from

the wall or ceiling to deposit some paint on the

wood. Now return with another brushstroke,

this time a little closer. Sneaking up to the line

Iike this is easier than trying to get it perfect on

the first try. At the end of the stroke, arc the

brush away from the cut-in line. Cut in a few

feet and then fill the middle using the lay-on,

Iay-off technique we show in the next section.



30 Aprit2OOg thefamityhandyman.com

Lay on, tay off

The biggest mistake beginners make is to work the paint too

long after it's applied. Remember, the paint starts to dry as

soon as you put it on, and you have to smooth it out before

this happens or you'll end up with brushstrokes or worse.

So here's the tip. Load your brush. Then quickly unload on

the surface with a few back-and-forth brushstrokes. This is

called "laying on" the paint. Repeat this until you've cov-

ered a few feet of trim with paint. Don't worry about how it

looks yet.

Now, without reloading the brush, drag the tips of the

bristles over the wet paint in one long stroke to "lay off" the Don't start a brushstroke

paint. Start in the unpainted area and drag into the previ- 0n already-srn*otlxed pa!nt

ously painted trim. Sweep your brush up off the surface at Setting the paintbrush on an area that's already been

the end of each stroke. Areas wider than your brush will smoothed out with laying-off strokes will leave an

require several parallel laying-off strokes to finish. When unsightly mark. Try to start laying-off strokes at the end of

you're done laying off a section, move on and repeat the a trim piece or board, or in an unpainted area. Brush

process, always working quickly to avoid brushing over par- toward the finished area. Then sweep the brush up and

tially dried paint. Try to complete shorter pieces of trim off, like an airplane taking off from a runway, to avoid

with a continuous laying-off brushstroke. leaving a mark.





Don't brush across an edge

Brushing across an edge wipes paint

from the bristies and creates a heavy

buildup of paint that will run or drip.

Avoid this by brushing toward edges

whenever possible. If you must start a

brushstroke at an edge, align the bris-

ties carefully as if you're cutting-in,

instead of wiping them against the

edge.Ifyou accidentaily get a buildup

ofpaint ihat could cause a run, spread

it out right away with a dry paint-

brush or wipe it off with a damp rag or

your finger. t-.!







32 April2oog thefamityhandyman.com

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because the pro would have to make many trips o

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to your house to complete the iob (most fixes

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require two or three coats of joint compound).

ln Lhis article. we'll show you how to fix a

common wall problems before you paint. ;

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Everything you need is available at home cen- u

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t

ters. For small fixes, pick up spackling com-

pound ($6 lor 32 ozs.). For larger repairs. use E

all-purpose joint compound ($S for 1 gallonJ.

by Brett Martin a

You may also need mesh tape (96 per roll).

editors@thefamityhandyman.com -

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36 Aprit2ooq thefamilyhandyman.com

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Fix naiI pops Minor wall flaws are often hard to

spot-until the afternoon sun hits them

forever and makes them embarrassingly obvi-

ous. Find and mark any imperfections

Seasonal expansion and contrac- in the walls. Start by turning off all the

tion of studs can push nails out of lights in the room and closing the cur-

the drywall. You can't just resink tains. Then hold a trouble light next to

the nail and apply joint compound the wall and move it across the surface

over the top-the nail will pop (a process called "raking").

back out. To permanently fix the Wherever the light highlights a prob-

problem, drive a drywall screw lem, even a small one, stick a piece of

about 2 in. above or below the tape next to it so you can easily find it

popped nail. Use a 1-1l4-in. screw when you come through with spackling

(screws hold better than nails). A or joint compound. Tape works better

longer screw isn't better-it's actu- than circling the problems with a pen- Hightight hard-to-see flaws with a

ally more likely to pop out than a cil or pen (which can bleed through the strong tight. The shadows cast by sma[[

shorter one. paint). bumps and dents are easy to spot.

Now pull out the nail, holding a

wide putty knife under your pry

bar to protect the wall. Tap the

empty nail hole with the putty Sea[ torn

knife handle to knock protruding

drywall fragments into the wall (or

paper PRIMER





\

you won't get a smooth coat of The back of a chair, a flying video

filler on the wa11). Finally, cover game remote or an aggressive kid \

the screw head and fill the nail with a toy truck can tear the drywall

hole with three coats of joint paper face. A coat of paint or joint

compound, compound over torn paper will cre-

ate a htzzy texture. For a smooth fin-

ish, seal the torn paper. Start by cut-

ting away any loose paper. Then seal

the exposed drywall with a stain-

blocking primer. This keeps the dry-

wall from absorbing moisture from

the soon-to-be-applied joint com-

pound. Wait for the primer to dry,

then sand the exposed drywall edges

to remove paper nubs. Cover the

gouge with a thin Iayer of joint com-

pound, feathering it out along the

wall. If necessary, apply a second

coat, feathering it as well, then wait

for it to dry and sand it smooth.









After applying joint compound, be sure to

cover it with primer before painting to pre-

vent "flashing." Ftashing occurs when joint

compound absorbs the paint, dutting the

finish.





38 Aprit2OOg thefamityhandyman.com

Tape and fltt

damaged

c0rners

I

Metal corner bead dents easily,

causing cracks in the wal1. Fortun- i

ately, the fix is relatively simple too,

i

Use a hammer to knock the bead

back into shape with several light

taps instead of hard blows (Rnoto t).

Use a level to make sure the bead I Shup" the corner bead with a ham-

doesn't stick out past the finished I mer until it s f tush with the watts.

Don't worry about making drywaI

walls or you won't get a clean cor- cracks along the corner worse.

ner (bury the bead in the wall a lit-

tle if needed). Round any sharp

edges on the bead with a file.

When you hit the bead with a f

hammer, you probably sent cracks

up and down the corner, especially

if the bead wasn't taped. Place mesh

tape over the cracks, then apply

joint compound over the tape and

corner bead on one side only (ehoto

2). Work on one side at atime-the

first side needs to be hard so you

can square the other side. Once the

first side is dry, apply joint com- c

-

pound to the second side. Then Cover the crack with mesh tape,

rN

recoat the cornerj 1et it dry and sand

G then cover the tape and the cor-

ner bead with joint compound. Fi[[ in

it smooth. one side, let it dry, then fitt in the other

side.

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Mirrors and paneling are sometimes

installed with an adhesive backing to

Fill holes help hold them in place. But when you

three times take them down, the glue sticks to the

drywall. Don't try to pull it off-you'Il

Fil1 small holes arrd indents (less tear the drywall face, making rips

than 1/B in.J with spackling com- across the wall. Instead, cut around the

pound. For larger holes, use joint glue with a utility knife, cutting

compound instead. through the drywall face.

Apply either compound with a Scrape off the glue with a putty

putty knife, spreading it thin on the knife. You'Il still tear the paper, but the

wall. You'Il apply two more coats tears will be confined to the outline

(the compounds shrink as they dry), you cut in the drywall. Use sandpaper

so don't worry if the hole isn't filled on small areas of glue that won't scrape

perfectly the first time. Let each coat off. Fill gouges that you made in the

of compound dry (read the direc- wall with joint compound (see "Seal

tions; some dry in just two hours). Torn Paper," p. 3B).

Don't believe spackling Iabels that

say you don't have to sand-you do.

You'll have to sand between coats if

there's any excess compound. After

the final coat, use fine-grit paper.

thefamilyhandyman.com

To paint like a pro, visit





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40 Aprit2OOq thefamityhandyman.cod

Cut out wall cracks

When homes settle, drywail cracks sometimes shoot out

above or below windows and above doors. You can't

just cover or fill the cracks with joint compound-

they'll come back. Instead, fix the cracks with joint

compound and mesh tape. Mesh tape gives you less

buildup than paper tape and is plenty strong. Protect

the window or door trim with masking tape before start-

ing the fix.

To fill the crack, use a utility knife to cut a V-shaped

groove along its entire length (pnoto t). Fill the groove

with joini compound, Iet it dry, then sand it flush with

the wall. Place mesh tape over the crack (RtrotoZ). Apply )

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joint compound over the iape and feather it out 2 to 4 u

l

in. on each side of the tape. Let the compound dry, then )

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apply a second and third coat, feathering it out B to 10 m



in. from the tape with a 10-in. taping blade (97).

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The old method of repairing large holes was to cut out a

square in the drywall, attach rn ood backing and then screw

on a new patch of drywall. Aluminum patches ($z to g+) are

a faster, easier solution. Cut the patch so it covers the hole

by at least 1 in. on each side, then place it over the hole. One

side is sticky to adhere to the wall. Cover the patch with

joint compound. Let it dry overnight, then recoat.









I Cut a V-shaped groove in the crack, removing everything

I that's loose, even if it means cutting atl the way through

to the back of the drywatl.









Btock stains

with speciat primer

Don't expect regular primer or paint to cover marker

or crayon marks; they'll bleed through even several

coats of faint. The same goes for water stains. First try

to wash off the marker or crayon with a Mr. Clean

Magic Eraser (g+ for a four-pack) dipped in warm

water. If that doesn't work, cover the marks with stain-

blocking primer (KILZ and B-I-N are two brands; g10

for 1 qt.). Apply the primer with a roller so the tex[ure

will match the rest of the wall. Buy a cheap disposable

Fi[[ the groove with joint compound, cover it with mesh rolier (92) and then throw it away when you're done.

tape, then cover it with more compound.

thelamilyhandyman.com Ap'.2009 43

Replace

tifting tape

Tape will lift off the wall if there

isn't enough joint compound

underneath to adhere it to the

drywall. You'1l have to cut away

the loose tape and replace it.

u

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Start by cutting through the

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paint and joint compound to

N

remove every piece of loose

m tape. Go beyond the cracked

I crt u*uu loose taDe area. Peel away the tape until

I with u riitity knife. ge you see the underlying drywall

aggressive and cut past (Photol). Then fill the hole with

where the tape has lifted

away from the walt. joint compound and wait for it

to harden. Embed mesh or paper

tape in joint compound over the

hole (PtrotoZ). Extend the tape a

J 1,u." a srrrp of tape rn few inches past the hole on each

-r joint compound a few

inches past and directly side. Once it's dry, apply a sec-

over the patch. Apply joint ond coat and feather it to blend

compound over the top of the patch with the wail.

the tape. ij



44 Aprit2OOg thetamilyhandyman.com









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Renew dutt trim in one'weekend

c

ime takes a toli on your home's woodwork. here-and you may even be able to eliminate some ;

U

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Moldings get dinged up, window stools lose steps if your woodwork is in better shape than ours. )

l

u

their luster, and doors show the wear and tear of |ust gather the supplies in a S-gailon bucket and tack- I

everyday use. But you can dramatically improve the Y

le the renewal project one window or door at a time U

U

appearance of stained and varnished woodwork with- whenever you have a few spare hours. Start in a cor- m

.s

out all the work and mess of a complete stripping and ner or in an inconspicuous area-better to learn from .q

o

refinishing job. We'11 show you a much easier process your mistakes there than on the front door. I



thefamityhandyman.com Aprit2OOg 45

find the best color match.

Then buy a larger conlain-

er. Another approach is to buy two or

three cans of stain that are close to the

color of your woodwork and mix them to

get the right color. Use an eyedropper and

disposable plastic cups to mix small

batches until you get the proportions

right. Keep notes so you can reproduce

the results in a larger batch.









Refresh the finish

The final step in your trim renewal proj-

ect is to apply a fresh coat of finish. Wipe-

on polyurethane is a good choice because

it's fast and easy to apply. You simply

wipe it on with a soft rag and let it dry.

Each coat is very thin and dries quickly.

You can recoat in two or three hours if

you want a thicker finish for extra protec-

tion. Several coats of wipe-on polyure-

thane are required to equai the thickness

of one coat of brushed-on varnish, but it's

easier to get a smooth, drip-fiee finish

Hide scratches, with wipe-on poly.

chips and worn- Fold a cotton rag to create a pad. Then

away finish with a :::..rll:l. iti dip an edge of the pad into a container of

fresh dose of stain.

Then wipe the wood- \}.:,.ttg1'.,; wipe-on polyurethane and press it against

work with a ctean rag ;ar!1..-.r:' the side to wring out the excess. Wipe the

to remove the excess poiyurethane onto the wood in long

stain. Let the stain

strokes in the direction of the wood grain

dry overnight.

as you would if vou were using a brush.

For window stools or other trim exposed

to sunlight, consider using spar varnish.

Spar varnish has built-in ultraviolet protec-

tion and is more flexible, so it holds up bet-

ter in areas exposed to sunlight and water.

Experiment on a scrap of trim or in an

inconspicuous area to see if the slightly

amber tint darkens the color too much.









When you've completed all of the steps

above, your woodwork will look like new

lED Restore the

GD shine with a and be protected by a fresh layer of finish.

fresh coat of If you don't have time to do an entire

polyurethane. Wipe- room from beginning to end, just tackle

on poty gives you a

faster, smoother fin-

one door or window whenever you have

ish with less mess a few spare hours. You'lI be done with a

than brush-on poty. room before you know it.



50 Aprjl2oog thefamityhandyman.com

Round up your supplies

Below we've listed the essential sup- stores, full-service hard-

plies you'Il need for a basic wood ware stores and home centers. Visit

renewal project and some optional an art supply store for the artists'

materials and suppiies you may need markers. Oxalic acid is available

if you're refinishing window stools or online at rockler.com or at wood-

removing stains. Most of the tools working stores and some hardware

and supplies are available at paint stores and lumberyards.









Supplies you'll need:

TSP-PF (phosphate f ree)

Fine synthetlc abrasive pads Optional tools and materials:

Denatured atcohoI Palnt scraper

Disposable gLoves Oxalic acid

Safety glasses Sandpaper

Stain to match Wood filler

Wood puttv to match Felt tip markers

Wipe-on poiyurethane for varnished wood Goggles

Rags Rubber gtoves

N,4lneral spir ts Spar varnish for window stoo,s









Faux wood patch

Dings and dents too large to fitt with soft putty present a unique chatlenge.

lf you can't reptace the wood, the next best thing is to patch the damage with

filler and color the patch to match. Use hardening-type fitter tike Durham's

Rock Hard Water Putty. Appty the fitler carefully with as little excess as

possible to minimize sanding. Let the fitler dry and sand it smooth, being

carefuI to avoid sanding away the finish on the surrounding wood. Then use

felt tip markers to "paint" the patch to match (photos betow). Art supply

stores are the best source of markers-you'lt find endtess shades of brown.

Most other stores carry only one or two. The repair won't be perfect, but you

may be surprised by how inconspicuous it is from a distance. il









52 Aprit2oog thefamilyhandyman.com

'..a:lr:.









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What we did

We started by cutting two sets of kerfs

(grooves) in our l2 x l2-ft. concrete patio.

. ' Then we used those squares to create a

checkerboard pattern, alternating between

dark red and tight gotd. We created a fccal

point with the midd[e square by mixing three

colors together" See the Buyer's Guide, p.59,

for our color choices.





54 Apr.l2OO9 thefamityhandyman.com

Renewyo r



patlo

Get a new [ook with

stain in two days for

under $lOO

oncrete stain is a fast, simple stain will turn a darker color wherever

way to turn your dull gray the concrete is pitted.

patio into a lively, colorful sur-

face that will make your outdoor space What is concrete stain?

more inviting. The stain is nearly fool- Concrete stain is a water-based product

proof to apply-just wet the concrete that coats the concrete and becomes a

and spray on the stain. If you're not permanent part of the surface. The

huppy with the result, you can go back stains can fade and wear over time, but

and apply a second or ihird coat to sealer helps protect them.

enhance the color. Concrete stains are different from

In this story, we'li show you how to acid (or etching) stains, which chemi-

apply the stain, including ideas for cally react with minerals in the con-

mixing stains to create a unique, multi- crete to change the color. Acid stains

colored surface that looks like marble. are available for DIYers, but there are

A pro would charge $500 or more to do fewer colors to choose from, and apply-

the work, but you can do it yourself for ing it invoives more steps.

iess than $t00. You won't need any

special tools-just basic painting tools Time, money Use multiple colors of stain to create a dis-

and rain-free weather. If you're cutting and materials tinct border or design on patios or sidewalks.

kerfs into the concrete, you'Il need a You can do this project in a weekend. ($24) covers 200 to 400 sq. ft. A gallon

masonry blade (gr0 at home centers) Prep the concrete and apply the stain of sealer also costs $Zq and covers 200

for your circular saw. on Saturday, then seal it on Sunday. If to 400 sq. ft.

You can apply the stain over worn you decide to add a second coat of The color you choose may look

concrete, but don't expect a miracle. stain, you'Il need another day. slightly different after it's applied. Each

You'll still be able to see the old The stains are available at home cen- patio wiil accept the stain a little bit

appearance through the stain. And ters in the paint section-the color is differently. However, the color will be

avoid staining spaliing concrete. The added just as with paint. One gallon close to what you see in the brochure,



by Brett Martin

editors@thefamityhandyman.com

thefamilyhandyman.com Aprit2OOg 55

I Cut kerfs to separate sections that witt be stained different

I cotors. Use a large board as a saw guide to get a perfectly

straight cut. Mist the btade with water to contain the dust.









Q, n Our" coat of stain covers the concrete and makes your l,

tT rc create a marbteized [ook, spray on the second color whi[e

d topcoat cotor more vibrant. Spray the first color (the base the f irst cotor is stittwet. Don't worry about even coverage

coat) onto wet concrete, applying just enough stain to cover the with the second coat-you want the colors to mix together.

surface. Move the sprayer wand in a continuous circular motion.



The stain is semitransparent. It won't no need to block off sections or switch if you need to cut kerfs, start by snap-

completely cover the surface as paint sprayers. If you want a pattern with dif- ping a chalk line where you want to

would. You'11 see the concrete through ferent colors, start by deciding on a cut. It's important for the cuts to be per-

the stain, especiaily if you're using a color scheme. Anywhere you want to fectly straight. Crooked cuts will be

light color. switch from one color to another. such obvious once you apply the stain. So

as for a border or the checkerboard pat- use a wide board as a saw guide and

Cut kerfs and tern shown here, you'il need a kerf (a weight it down with buckets of water

clean the concrete shallow cut in the concrete). This gives (pnoto t).

This project is much faster and easier if the colors a crisp separation. Taping off Install a diamond masonry blade

you stain your whole patio a single the concrete rvon't work. The stain will ($16 at home centers) in a circuiar saw

color.All you have to do is wet the con- run under the tape. and set it to a depth of tl+ in. The cuts

crete and apply the stain. Then back- If you already have expansion joints don't need to be deep-just enough to

roll with a 3/B-in.-nap roller if you in the concrete, incorporate them into separate colors. Have a helper spray a

want even coverage. That's it-there's your design to avoid cutting kerfs. But water mist on the blade during the cut



56 Aprii2OOg thefamilyhandyman.com

E to finish creating the marbleized took, btend the first and fi rccreate a focal point with three cotors, foltow these steps.

d second colors together with water. Use the water stream to \J Spray on the first color (the base coat). White it's stitt wet,

push the stain to bare spots and to produce swirls in the stain. spray two cotors over it at the same time. Let the colors intermix.









-fl tooifor bare spots after the surface is dry. Touch them up by Cl f-"t the stain dry for 24 hours, then appty a sealer to keep the

t spraying stain from a hand-held spray bottte onto a clean u stain from fading. Plan on rolling on a new coat of sealer

ctoth, then dabbing the stain onto the spots. Dab the surrounding every three to four years to protect the surface.

are'a so thestain blends naturaily.



to' contain the dust (ehotol). Don't use surface with TSP substitute ($Z per Prep the area for staining

cheap abrasive blades for cutting con- quart; Photo2), working in 4 x 4-ft. sec- Now that the concrete is clean, make

crete-you can't spray them with tions at a time. Rinse the concrete with sure your shoes are, too, before you

water, and you'll end up with dust all water until you don't see any more walk on ihe patio again. The surround-

over your siding and windows. bubbles from the TSP substitute. For ing ground will be wet fiom concrete

You won't be able to get the saw tough rust stains, use a stain remover cleaning. We changed into a pair of

biade right next to the house, so finish (CLR is one brand; $6 for 28 ozs. aI clean, dry shoes to work on the patio.

off the kerfs with a masonry chisel and home centers), and rinse it off with Before cracking open the stain,

a hammer or a grinder with a diamond water. For grease or oil stains, use a shield the lower portion of the house

bIade. product like Pour-N-Restore ($S for and any nearby iandscaping materials

As with any other staining project, 1,6 ozs. at home centers or pour- to protect against drifting spray. Tape

surface preparation is critical. Any nrestore.com) thai's designed to plastic film (916 for 48 in. x 180 ft.)

stains, such as rust, will show through remove those stains. Blast dirt and along the siding. You don't have to pro-

in the finished project. Clean the entire debris out of the kerfs with water. tect plants and grass if you don't want

thefamilyhandyman,com Aprit2OOg 57

to (any stain that gets on them will with stain or they'll drip onto (and stain) When switching to a new stain color,

hardlybe noticeable). Ifany dirtgets on the concrete. be sure the lens shields are dry, or use

the patio after you've cleaned it, brush Work in small sections (+ x G ft. or new shields so the old color doesn't

the concrete lightly with a broom to so), starting near the house and work- run onto the section of the patio with

avoid pushing the dirt into the surface. ing outward. Plan the application so the new color. Don't worry if a leaf or

you don't box yourself into a corner. debris blows onto the wet stain. After

Apply the stain Start by spraying the concrete sec- the stain dries, remove the debris and

You shouldn't apply the stain in direct tion with water. Get it wet but don't touch up the stain (see the next step).

sunlight (partial or full shade is best), leave standing water. To create the mar-

so wait for a cloudy day or a time of bleized look shown here, have a helper Add more stain

day when the patio is shaded. Also hold the shields in the kerfs (if neces- for deeper color

avoid windy days so the stain won't sary) and apply the first color fbase Let the stain dry for 24 hours. If the

drift. You'll need a few garden sprayers coat) of stain in a circular pattern {Photo color isn't as vibrant as you want or the

($10 each) for this project-one for each 3). The base coat makes the second coverage is spotty, go back and add

stain color you're applying and one for color more prominent. Immediately another coat of stain. Wet the concrete

water. Fill the sprayers over tarps on after spraying, mist the section with and apply the stain using the same

the grass (don't fill them on the patio water and apply the second color (Photo steps as before. We added a second coat

since spills will stain the concrete). a). Then spray more water over the top to the corner squares of our patio to

Test the spray pattern on cardboard. to create swirls or small runs in the sec-

If you're creating a pattern, you'll need ond color (enotos). The first and second

thefamilyhandyman.com

shields to place in the kerfs or expansion colors will intermix, producing the mar- r Find great ways to shade your patio at

joints to prevent spraying onto adjoining bleized effect. Use the water to "push" thef amityhandyman.com/patioshade.

areas. We used fluorescent light lenses the color all the way to the edges or onto r For tips on enhancing curb appeat, go to

thefamityhandyman.com/curbappeal.

($7 at home centers), but you could use bare spots. If the water pools in a low r To add a patio privacy screen, go to

cardboard. Have four or five on hand. spot or starts to run onto an adjacent thefamityhandyman.com/patioscreen.

Don't use them if they're dripping wet section, dab it up with a cloth.



58 Aprit2OOq thefamityhandyman.com









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GO TO WVW.ROCKAUTO.COM

YffitrJffiffiffiM&& *-

have to clean the patio with TSP substi-

Endless possibitities tute and give the patio a fresh coat of

sealer every three to four years.

This project can be as basic or as e[ab-

orate as you make it. Keep it quick and Give the stain a full day to dry, then

simple by apptying a singte cotor to your apply the high-gloss sealer. Choose a

entire patio. Or divide your patio into day or time of day when the patio is

sections as we did and color them dif- shaded (don't apply the sealer in direct

ferently. Apply layers of different cotors sunlight). Start by cutting in with sealer

for a "marbleized" look (see p. 56) or along the patio edges with a 3-in. brush.

spray two colors at the same time for a The milky white sealer turns clear as

one-of-a-kind took (p. 57). lf you don't it's applied. Roll sealer on the rest of the

tike the resutt, just keep applying new patio with a 3/B-in.-nap roller {photog).

colors untiIyou get the look you want.

Let the sealer dry for two hours, then

To see hundreds of examples of how

apply a second coat. Roll the second

stain can enrich concrete, go to

google.com and click on "images" at coat perpendicular to the first coat. IJ

U

the top of the page and then type in F

u

t Buyer's Guide

"stained concrete." Y

r

o

These companies offer a semitransparent stain

and a sealer. Check their Web sites for buying

information.

BEHR: (82) 237-615A. behr.com

give them a deeper, richer color. QUIKRETE: (8OO) 4s8-oo47

You'll probably find bare spots that Finish with the sealer quikretecoatings-com. We used Quikrete's Adobe

Tint as the first color for the corners, then added

you missed, especially along the edges. The manufacturer says the sealing step Red Rocks. We used Tuscan Sunset for the atter-

Touch-up is simple. Fiil a spray bottleis optional, but we recommend it nating squares. We used Adobe Tint as the first

color in the middle square, then added Burnished

with stain, spray the stain on a cloth because it protects against fading and Gotd and Red Rocks.

and dab it on the bare spot (ptrotoZ). wear, and it enhances the stain. You'll RUST-OLEUM: (8OO) 323-3584. rustoleum.com





thefamityhandyman.com Aprit2OOg 59









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carpet care is one of the best financiat

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60 Aprit2oog thefamilyhandyman.com

We'tt tett you about free and effective cleaning prod- you clean your carpet yourself. Our tips wilt hetp you

ucts, how to get your money's worth when you hire a keep your carpet looking beautifut for years to come

pro, and the best methods and products to use when so you get the most out of your big buck investment.









Strategy#l '.,







Banish



Dirt is like thousands of little blades

that cut carpet fibers. When you

walk across a dirty carpet, you grind

sharp dirt particles against the yarn,

making tiny nicks in the fibers. AII

IhaI fuzz mixed in with the dirt in

your vacuum cleaner bags is your

beautiful carpet headed out the door

one bag at a time. When dirt scratch-

es the fibers, it dulls the sheen,

which is why high-traffic areas

appear duller than the rest ofthe car-

pet. Over time, grinding dirt wears si

es

away the fibers too, which mats

.

'iri





them down and makes them stain .e.,

more easily. Follow these tips to

keep your carpet as dirt-free as

Set the vacuum at the right height

lf your vacuum is set too [ow, you can damage the carpet as we[[ as the vacuum's

possible. rol[er brush and drive bett. lf it's set too high, you won't pick up any dirt. To set the

vacuum's ideat height, raise it to its highest setting, turn it on and lower it untit you

Vacuum often can feel the vacuum trying to tug itself forward.

To protect your carpet, vacuum

entrance areas and high-traffic areas quick pass over low-traffic areas and

twice a week and the rest of the car- two slow passes over high-traffic *

peting at least weekly. Oily soils areas. Two slow passes removes

attract oily soils, and frequent vac- ground-in dirt more effectively than

uuming will reduce soii buildup. several fast passes.



Start with a clean Use walk-off mats

bag or fitter Use walk-off mats inside and out to

A dirty bag, dirt cup or filter can cut keep dirt offthe carpeting. Coarse-tex-

a vacuum's suction power in half. tured mats outside your doors remove

The main reason bagless vacuums soil. Water-absorbent mats inside pre-

stop working is that the filters aren't vent wet shoes on the carpeting.

changed often enough. Replace or

wash (if possible) the filters on bag-

less vacuums every three months.

Replace vacuum bags when they're

three-quarters fuI}.



Vacuum at the right speed

Vacuum slowly enough to get out as

much dirt as possible. Make one





62 Aprit2oog thefamilyhandyman,com

Strategy #2'



1.. wisely

Most carpet manufacturers recom-

mend professional hot water extrac-

tion as the primary cleaning method

for synthetic carpets. Although it's

often referred to as "steam" cieaning,

there's no steam involved. The carpet

is pretreated with a detergent solu-

tion, and then a very hot rinse solu-

tion under high pressure is forced

into your carpet and vacuumed out

(photoilght). When done correctly, this

process cleans deep and doesn't

leave behind a soap residue. Quality

pros charge $300 to $500 to deep four ways to recognize a quatity pro:

clean 1,000 sq. ft. of carpet. At that l.Truck-mounted equipment is a better choice than portabte steam cleaning equip-

ment because it exhausts the dirty air and humidity outside. lts stronger suction

price, you might be tempted to skip leaves carpets drier, too.

professional cleanings aiiogether and

just rent a machine to clean the car-

pet yourself. Don't. Or at least don't

do only that. A rented or purchased

carpet-cleaning machine will remove

the surface dirt. But deep cleaning to

remove allergens, dust and greasy

residues requires the specialized

equipment and training of a pro. The

best strategy is to use our DIY clean-

ing tips most of the time (see p. 64)

and hire a professional every 1.2 to L8

months. 2. Quatity pros include furniture mov- 3,To agitate the pite and neutratize

ing, vacuuming (some charge extra for the carpet's pH, pros force a hot, high-

this, so check), routine spot removal, pressure rinse solution into the carpet

Don't take bids preconditioning and deodorizing as part and then extract it.

of a standard cteaning package.

over the phone

Quality pros will provide references, leave behind a soap residue that will

an in-home inspection and a written actually attract dirt to your carpet.

estimate based on the square footage, Those "three rooms for 50 bucks"

type and condition of the carpeting offers also get them into your house

rather than the number of rooms so they can sell you high-priced add-

cleaned, and a written guarantee of ons like spot removal and deodor-

their work. izers-services that quaiity pros

include for free.

Beware of "discount"

carpet cleaners You get what you pay for

Discount pros depend on making Quality pros charge 350 to 65@ per

volume sales rather than establish- sq. ft. of

carpet depending on the

ing ongoing client reiationships. type of carpeting. the services you

They typically spray soap on your need and the size of the job. The 4. Aft , cleaning, quatity pros set furni-

carpet, suck up the water and are ture on blocks or pads to prevent stains

entire process can take one to three from transferring from furniture legs to

gone in 30 minutes. These services hours. the damp carpet.





thef aBityhandyman,com Aprit2oog 63

Strategy #3



right

Carpet pros do a more thorough job

than you can, but hiring a pro is

expensive. So the next-best approach

is to alternate between DIY and pro

cleanings. DIY "steam"-cleaning

machines can be effective if you

understand how to use them and

take the time to clean your carpet

carefully.

You can rent a steam cleaner from

a grocery store or home center for

$20 to $40 per day. If you pick the

machine up late in the day, many

stores will charge you a half-day

rate and let you keep the machine

until the next morning. The deter-

gent costs another $15 per halfgallon

(and typically you should use a table-

spoon or less per gallon of waterJ. %

*.*%*_

retu4$"it$rR

Use DIY machines

If you prefer to buy a steam-clean- Fr:

F( lr

carefutly

ing machine, plan to spend 960 to Hurrying through a cleaning witI

$300 or more. The pricier models #'oolRunroi leave soap residue, a soaked car-

have more powerful water jets and

suction, and some even have a heat-

ab** pet and a pad that can mold or

mildew. Larger rentaI machines

require you to putl them across

ing element to keep the water hot. the floor rather than push.

The reviews on these machines are

mixed, and some are prone to break- traffic you have (think kids and

downs. Do some online research pets). Clean the carpet when the

(type "carpet cleaning machines" color starts looking dull. If you wait

into your browser) before you buy. until the carpet is filthy, cleaning it

Most rental machines weigh will be much more difficult, take

more, hold more water and come much longer and cost more.

with a wider wand than purchased

models, making them useful for Vacuum we[[ before

larger, high-traffic areas. Purchased and after cleaning

models are usually smaller, more Vacuum beforehand to remove large

portable and easier to store. They're particles of soil. Vacuum again after

good for spot cleaning and are easi- you clean and the carpet is com-

er to drag up and down stairs. pletely dry to pick up soil that wicks

Whether you rent or buy, avoid to the surface during drying.

damaging your carpets and make

your cleaning last longer by follow- Pretreat stains Use less soap

ing our tips. and high-traffic areas than directed

Mix a drop of detergent with hot The soap used in DIY machines foams a lot

Clean the carpet before water in a spray bottle and lightly and leaves behind a lot of residue, which

it becomes real[y dirty mist the dirtiest areas. Let sit 5 to 10 acts as a dirt magnet. Despite what the

directions say, use a tabtespoon or less

How often your carpet needs clean- minutes before starting the general of soap to 1 gailon of hot water to prevent

ing depends on the kind of carpet cleaning. soap residue.





64 ApriL2oog thefamityhandyman.com

Clean stains right-right away

Act quickty

lf you get to a stain immediatety, there's

a 99 percent chance you can remove it.

The longer a stain reacts chemicatty with

the carpeting, the harder it is to remove.



Try water first

Eighty percent of stains can be removed

using plain tap water. To remove a stain,

press a ctean, dry, white cloth over the

stain to absorb the spitt. Repeat untiI the

spill is absorbed. Then gently work water Don't dig or scoop

into the stain with a damp white towel food spitts

and blot untit the stain is gone. Change Digging or scooping can work the

cloths when necessary. For a particularly stain into the carpet. lf there are

stubborn spot, go to the ontine "spot

Use a mitd acid rinse to solver" resource at carpet-rug.org to find

sotids on top of the stain, use a

neutralize soap residue your stain and a suggested sotution. Use

spoon or du[[ knife to carefutly

DIY machines are often sotd with a scrape the food toward the middte

a fan to dry the area if it's very wet. of the spitt and into a white towel

neutralizing rinse, or you can make your

own using 1 cup white vinegar to I ga[on Blot-don't rub or scrub and then treat the stain.

hot water. Rinse after you make one

pass with the detergent sotution. Scrubbing a stain wil[ damage the fibers

and create afuzzy area. Atways btot

from the outer edge toward the center

of the stain to avoid spreading the spot

Remove or etevate and creating a larger probtem.

furniture

If your furniture is too heavy to Be patient

move, put aluminum foil squares, Work water gently into the spitt and then



wood blocks or plastic film under btot with a dry cloth. Repeat until the

stain is gone and all the water has been

and around the legs of all furniture

absorbed. lf you're patient, you'tI atmost

to prevent rust lrom metal casters or

always be able to remove the stain.

stains from paint and finishes ftom

transferring to damp carpet. On tough spots, try vinegar or club soda

lf water alone doesn't remove a stain, try Use a shop vacuum

a white vinegar and water solution (equal on wet spitts

Don't overwet the carpet amounts) or club soda before trying Keep vacuuming until no more

DIY machines put a lot of moisture

stronger commerciaI cleaning products. liquid can be removed. lf the spitt

into the carpet, and most don't have was a colored liquid, treat it as you

strong enough suction to extract it Test commercial products first

would a stain, after vacuuming.

Some products can cause carpet to get

thoroughly. Make only one pass with

dirty faster or damage the carpet's color

the soap and water solution. Make Spot removal

and texture. For a list of carpet manufac-

one pass with ihe neutralizing rinse and more

turer-approved spot and stain cteaners,

solution. Then make two or three go to carpet-rug.org and under the resi- The Carpet and Rug lnstitute, a

drying passes with the water off. dentia[ customer tab you'[[ find a "Sea[ nonprofit trade association of car-

of Approval Products" search box. Test pet manufacturers, has a great

Let it dry thoroughty carpet-cteaning products on an incon- Web site (carpet-rug.org) for con-

Wet carpet is a perfect environment spicuous area before using. sumers. lt's fitted with information

for mold and mildew. After you about carpet care, inctuding a tist

of CRI-approved, off-the-shetf

clean your carpets, open the win-

cleaning products, a state-by-

dows, use fans and a dehumidifier,

state tist of member service pro-

or put the AC on a moderate setting

to thef amityhandyman.com./removewax. viders and lots of stain removal

(zz to ze degrees) to remove excess r For ideas about removing pet stains from advice in its "spot sotver" data-

moisture from the air. Don't replace carpeting, see thefamityhandyman.com/

base on the residentia[ customer

petstains.

the furniture or walk on the carpet r Wondering how to remove dark dirt lines tab. You can type in your specific

until it's completeiy dry. This can from your carpet along the baseboard? stain for advice about how to

Go to thefamilyhandyman.com/

take up to 12 hours, though six to carpetlines.

remove it. i-r

eight hours is typical.





thefamityhandyman.com April2oog 65

Simple box

e've designed these wooden box

shelves for heavyweight storage and

incredibly easy construction. Use them

for hats and gloves, books, games and

toys, or even laundry supplies. Custom-size them for

whatever space you have available and for whatever it is

that needs a home. You'Il be able to build one large box

from a $45 sheet of plywood and have a bit left over for

another box. We'Il show you the basics, and you can take

it from there. Here's how.









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shelves

$ Crt the box parts to tength. A simple homemade crosscutting

S jig tets you make perfect cuts with a circutar saw.









Get these materials

Any veneered t/z-in. plywood will S*Swrw &

work, but we suggest birch because the Simple box

grain doesn't show through paint. Buy

a quart of woodworker's glue, and

3/4-in. and 1-in. brads for your nail

gun. If you don't have a nailer, you can

hand-nail, but it will be a bit of a strug-

gie. You'll also need fast-drying wood

filler. Buy a quart of B-I-N or KLLZ

primer ($10) and a quart of latex enam-

el paint in the color of your choice. If

you choose a gloss finish, be aware that

if you don't pay attention to filling and

sanding, every single imperfection will

proudly display itself. Also pick up

some mini rollers fPhoto 6) for appiying

the finishes. And finally, a flush-trim

router bit ($20) will speed up the final

trimming (Photo 4). That way you can

cut the outer panels a little long and

achieve perfectly flush ends without

the hassle of precise cutting.

widths for the box panels. Rip the four and rout off the excess as we show in

Cutting the parts inner panels 1.12 in. narrower than the Photo 4. As you glue and nail on the

It's easiest to rip the parts on a table final box depths, and rip the four outer back, bend out any bows in the sides

saw, but you can use a circular saw and panels to match the final depth. Be sure (Photo 2).

a ripping guide. If that's your plan, use to rip enough material to get all of the Cut the top and bottom outer panels

a crosscutting guide (enoto tJ when you parts rnade. If you like adjustable io length, 1/B in. longer than the box.

cut the Iengths (see "TWo Essential shelves (opening photo), drill the peg Apply a bead of glue about 1/4 in. in

Guides," Oct. '08, p. 66). Use fine-tooth holes before assembly. Measure the from the edges and a second bead in a

crosscutting blades for both types of inner box after assembly to get the zigzag pattern in the middle (enoto r).

saws. After deciding on the size of your dimensions for the back panel. Cut the Align the panels flush with the front

box, you'll need to rip two different back 1/B in. overlong in both directions and with equal overhangs at the ends.

68 Aprll2oo9 thefamityhandyman.com

ffi AOO g second layer of ptywood to the top and bottom of the ,gflg rrirn the overhanging ptywood with a ftush-trim router bit.

q*d box. To avoid fussy measuring and cutting, oversize each ""ff The bit teaves a straight, smooth cut that's perfectty ftush at

panel by l,/8 in. and cut off the excess later. the ends. lnstatt the end panets using the same method.









ffi fitf the ptywood edges as we[[ as nail holes and dents, Use a ffi prime the box, brushing the inside corners first. For a fast,

w# fast-drying filter so you can sand the patches right away. i&# smooth finish on the rest of the box, use a small rolter. Then

sand the primer, and paint using the same method.





Nail the parts together with 314-in. Finish the box sand and prime those spots again.

nails. Be careful. It's tough to fix the Sand the exposed plywood edges until Brush and roll on two coats of paint,

damage fiom naiis that miss the mark. they're smooth, first with BO-grit paper lightly sanding between the coats lvith

If you have clamps, use them to and then 120-grit. Then work wood 220-grit paper.

squeeze closed any gaps. A tight joint filler into all of the edge grain, nail

will reduce the amount of sanding and holes and dents fPhoto5). After the fi]ier Watt mounting

filling you have to do later. For a per- sets, sand everything flat with 120-grit It's imperative that you screw these

fect edge, shave the overhangs with a paper. boxes to at least two wall studs: no wall

flush-trim router bit (ptroto+). As before, Brush primer into the inside corners anchors of any kind will pass muster.

cut the side panels 1/B in. longer than and then roil primer onto the rest of the Use at least two 3-in. deck screws near

the box sides, and then apply and trim box (ehoto 6). After it dries, voids that the top and two more at the bottom into

them as you did with the top and the didn't get filled will be very apparent. separate studs. If more studs are avail-

bottom. So fiil anything you missed, and then able, use those, too. In PhotosTandS, we



70 Aprll2OOg thetamityhandyman.com

Save weeks of back-breaking work!

ffi Orttin" the box location on the wa[[ The Cyclone Rake vacuums and mulches tons of grass, leaves, pine needles

# and mark the walt studs. Use the or any lawn debris while you drive. Hitches to nearly any riding mower or

outline to mark the pilot holes and then

dritt them through the back of the box. ZTR and holds up to 415 gallons of debris. lt's powerful, easy to use and

folds flat for storage. Great for year-round property care.

FREE CATALOG AND DVD









ffi ntien the box with the outline and

%# screw it to the wa[[ studs with 3-in.

deck screws.





show you an easy way to position and

drill pilot holes so the screws will hit

the studs when you mount the boxes.

ir

thefamityhandyman.com

r Need info on buying or operating a nail

gun? Go to thefamilyhandyman.coml

trimgun.

I For perfect crosscuts on a table saw,

go to thefamityhandyman.com/

tablesawcrosscuts.

r Make your portabte table saw perform

[ike a big one. Go to thefamityhandy-

man.com,/tablesaw.





April 2009 7t

by Rick Muscop[at

editors@thefamityhandyman.com



QUESTTON





Quiet a noisy

garage door

My garage door makes a horribte racket

when it opens and closes. I've disconnected

it from the opener to isotate the noise. lt's

definitety coming from the garage door

itself. How do I quiet it down?

Chad Dormanen, Pittsfield, MA



The fixes are fairly easy and will take

less than an hour. Start by tightening

all the door and track hardware (photo

I). Use a deep socket and a ratchet on

all the nuts to snug them up. But don't

overtighten-that can pull the carriage

bolt heads right through the door skin

or strip the lag screw holes.

Next, check for worn rollers and

hlnges (ptrotoz). Many track rollers have

unsealed bearings that self-destruct

after years of rolling around in a dirty

environment. The wear can be so severe

that the rollers actually wobble as the

door operates. If your rollers are worn,

consider replacing them with nylon

rollers with sealed bearings. One source

is garage-doors-and-parts.com. Nylon

roilers are quieter and don't require

periodic oiling. But they are more

expensive ($10 vs. ga).

Replace track rollers one at a time

(enoto Z). If your door uses torsion

springs mounted on the header above

the door, do NOT attempt to replace the

rollers ln the bottom brackets. Those

brackets are under constant spring ten-

sion and can cause serious injury ifyou

unbolt them. That's a job for a pro.

Worn hinges are less common than

worn rollers. But sloppy hinges make a O

z

lot of noise and can cause the door to U

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bind and wear out the tongue-and- I





groove joints at the door sections. Some o

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play at the hinge is normal. But if you o

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see an oblong hole where the tubular

hinge pin mates with the hinge bracket, d



replace the hinge. Gray dust and metai ;

o

Z

f

m

! Snug up att the nuts and bolts on your o

m

I garage door and check for worn parts

e

and replace where needed. Then spray a[[

the moving components with garage door -

E

E

tubricant.

72 Aprit2OOg thefamityhandyman.com

p w.te oown rne numoer rnat's

Itr stamped into the hinge and pick up

the same number replacement hinge

(less than $5 each) at the hardware

store. Or take the otd hinge with you to

match it up.



filings around the hinge pin are early

signs of wear.

Once you've replaced the worn door

components, spray the hinges, roller

bearings (unsealed style), and springs

with garage door lube (such as Multi-

Purpose Spray Lube; $g from garage-

doors-and-parts.com). Also hit the tor-

sion bar bearings, the opener track and

any other pivot points. The special

Iube penetrates the parts as a liquid

and dries to form a non-tacky grease

that won't attract dirt and dust, which

can gum things up. Lubricate all mov-

ing parts every six months to reduce

wear and keep the door quiet. Avoid

other lubricants such as oil, grease, or

spray lithium grease. They're cheaper,

but they don't penetrate as well and

Replace the roller by unbolting the hinge and titting the rolter out of the track. Swap tend to pick up dust and grit-just

out the rollers and reinstatl the hinge.

what you don't want on moving parts.







COMMENT

Ftipping the switch shortens CFL life Ctarif ication

ln our Feb. 'O9 article, "Cut Your

In "Switch On to Compact Fluore- minutes. However, ihose frequent lnsurance Bitts," p.3Z we were

scents" (lan. '09, p. 36). we told read- on/off cycles shorten the life of the unctear about how to handte dog

ers not to use CFLs in fixtures that are bulb by almost 75 percent. Yet even bite situations. lf your dog nips

turned on and off hequently. Some with that reduced life, CFLs are still someone, you should play it safe

readers have asked. "How frequent is cheaper to operate. Here are the num- and notify your insurer if you're at

a[[ concerned about a lawsuit. lf

too frequent?" Most experts recom- bers: Say a 10,000-hour 13-watt CFL

you don't, the company may have

mend a minimum burn time of 15 burns out at 2,500 hours. The cost of

grounds to refuse coverage.

minutes. But the truth is, you can turn the CFL plus electricity to run it is

Notifying your insurer wi[[ proba-

them on and off as oflen as you want $a.Or {at NY electric rates of bty tead to higher premiums. But

without affecting energy use. The .1881/kwh). A comparable 60-watt that's a sma[[ cost compared

energy required to start a CFL is incandescenl. would cost $29.43. with a lawsuit that your insurance

equivalent to about 5 seconds ofburn Even at a low electric rate of .0566/ company refuses to participate inl

time, so you stiil save energy even if kWh, the numbers still favor CFLs-

you have the light on for only a few $3.73 vs. $9.71 for the incandescent.

thefamilyhandyman,com April2oog 73

by Rick Muscoplat

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com

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6 othing can knock your day offtrack A code reader/scanner is worth buy- o

I f faster than a "Check Engine" light ing if you're a fairly competent ama- o

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popping up on your dash. You wonder teur mechanic who understands how U

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if you should pull over and shut off an engine works. But it's nof a silver L



your vehicle or drive right to a shop. A bullet that will always tell you exactly o

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code reader/scanner can help you what's wrong. It'll give you a head

s

make the drive/no drive decision start, but you'll still have to do some

and even help you fix the detective work before you i

a

problem. It works by start pulling and replacing o

plugging into the car's parts (more on this later). I etrg your code reader into the diagnos- z

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The least expensive I tic tink connector under the dash

m

computer system and o

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(engine off ). Then start the vehicle and fot-

displaying a "trouble units (939 to $s9) are sim- low the code reading procedure in the .9



code." ple code readers that burp instruction manua[. .g

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74 ApriL2OOg thetamityhandyman.com

h{m**t y**s fu*k* tc rv?ek*

CarMD diagnostic Code Buddy 90] with

unit with OBD ll readiness monitor, r&*r?3 f*r y**r wfuee{s

generic and manu- OBD llgeneric and

Surveys show that one of the major rea-

facturer-specif ic man ufacturer-specif ic

codes and an codes, three channe[s sons buyers back away from a motorcy-

lnternet up[ink to of live data. $54 from cle purchase is that they'd have to park

repair advice. $100 etoolcart.com.

one of fheir cars outside to leave space

from carmd.com.

for the bike. If you're facing that dilem-

ma, consider installing a motorcycle

storage lift. It'll lift your bike, four-

wheeler or riding mower high enough

Actron CP9lBO AutoXray EZ-Scan to fit your car underneath it.

Scan Too[ with 6000 Scan Too[

readiness monitor; with readiness

The Loft-It system from Tivan uses

OBD llgeneric,

enhanced and

manufacturer-

@ monitor, OBD I (GM,

Ford, Chryster), OBD

ll generic, enhanced

an electric motor and stainless steel

cables to lift a bike (up to 1,200 lbs.) on

a 4 x B-ft. platform. The 7-amp, 110-

specific codes,

plus live data.

$.l80. lt's avai[able

at auto parts

stores and onIine

retailers, inctuding

ffi and manufacturer-

specific codes, plus

live data. $549 from

autoxray.com.

volt motor plugs into an ordinary

receptacle, so you won't have to call an

electrician for special wiring. The

motor senses the load and won't oper-

tootdiscounter.com.





W ate if you exceed ihe maximum lifting

weight. You can install it yourself in

about two hours with hand tools and a

drill.

During biking season, either load the

platform with your snow toys or fold it

up against the wail. Loft-It costs 91,S95

up an alphanumeric trouble code but ufacturer's Web site to see if it has plus shipping. For more information

no information about what it means. information on your trouble code. and to locate a dealer. visit loft-it.com.

You'll have to look up the code in a ref- 2. Take advantage of Internet forums.

erence book or search the Internet. Just search for your car's model and

Midpriced units (gzo to 9100) actually add "forum" to the search term.

display the problem on the screen, like Register for the site (usually free) and

"P0115 Engine Coolant Temperature post your question, including your

Circuit Malfunction." One model even vehicle's year, mileage, code number

accesses the Internet, so you can and what you've done so far. You'll

upload the trouble code to a Web site be surprised by the number and

that has information on the most likely quality of responses you get.

cause of the problem. 3. Subscribe to al online shop man-

But if you're a true grease monkey, go ual (see below). It will have not only

for a scanner (9175 to $300). A scanner all the carmaker's technical service

gives you real-time "live" information bulletins listed but also the complete

so you see the same data your car's diagnostic procedure for your partic-

computer is seeing. That saves you the ular code. It will walk you through

hassle of diving under the hood (with a the testing procedure, telling you

wiring diagram in handl, piercing which wires to check and what volt-

wires and taking sensor readings. ages you should see. The services

Code reading and scanning sound also inciude component locators to

simple, right? Well, there's more to it help you find the part in your vehi-

than that. A code that indicates your cle, and wiring diagrams shorging

oxygen sensor is "lean" can mean the the connector position for each wire.

sensor is dead, or it can mean that the

air/fuel mixture really is lean and

you've got either a vacuum leak or a For more information

fuel problem. How do you know? Here I Two online shop manuals:

are three ways to get to the root of a attdatadiy.com; subscription is $27 per year Run your bike onto the platform and ftip

eautorepair.net; subscription is $30 per year the elevator switch. Once it's up and

problem without replacing good parts.

I For more information on on-board diagnostics, locked, restake your claim to the stall by

1. Go to the code reader/scan tool man- visit epa.govlobd/questions.htm parking your car under it.



thef amltyhandyman.com Aprit2oog 75

Budget Premium

creeper creeper

Lisle No.98lO2 Liste No. 96302

36-in. Economy 42-in. Low Profi[e

Creeper, $37 from Creepel $50 from

menintoots.com toold iscounter.com









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LOW

PLYWOOD PROFILE;

BACK; ONLY STURDY

36" LONG PADDED

BACK;

42'LONG









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4 reasons to buy a better creeper

If your idea of changing your own oil 2. Steel wheels make for rough riding

is to grab a piece of cardboard and and they get stuck in every crack.

slide under the car, it's time to get Rolling off your creeper to fiee up a

with the program: Save your back stuck wheel is a real drag. Shop for a

and invest in a creeper. They range in creeper that has urethane ball-bearing

price from $20 to $200, but you don't wheels.

need to spend a fortune. You can get 3. Make the best use of limited work-

a darn good creeper for about 950 space with a low-profile design.

(photo above right). Here are the four Recessed wheels get you closer to the

features to look for in a creeper: ground and give you more room to

L. A sturdy backboard reduces stress maneuver tools and parts.

on your upper and lower back mus- 4. Wood creepers absorb oil, coolant

cles. Economy models are built with and fluids, making every spill last a life-

a thin sheet of plywood. Look for a time. Instead, Iook for a creeper with a

reinforced backboard that will sup- heavy-duty chemical- and oil-resistant

port your back and shoulders. fabric and firm padding. jJ



76 Aprit2OOg thetamityhandyman.com

by Etisa Bernick

editors@thef ami[yhandyman.com









1 Dry-fit the

Stair-step plant stand

s*f

I first two

layers (without

gtue or nails)

$Yyo,r't" as hungry for spring as we are, maybe this using a square to

H H simple plant stand wili help. You build it from get the spacing

boards that are cut into just two lengths, stacked into right, and make

sure everything

squares and nailed together. You'll only need seven B-ft.- fits wel[.

long 1x2s, exterior wood glue and a few dozen galva-

nized 4d finish nails. We used cedar for its looks and

its longevity outside, but any wood will do. Cut the U

Y

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1x2s into sixteen 20-in. pieces and twenty-seven 10-3/4- I

u

in. pieces. l

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Don't fret over the assembly; it's really very simple. Jrhen grue l

m



Just follow the photos for the proper positioning of the

&rand nait the

boards at each s

two lengths and the number of layers. Adjust the gap intersection.

spacing with scrap 1x2s, and make sure everything is i

square as you stack up each layer. When it looks good, E.

u

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nail the pieces together using one nail and a dab of glue )

l

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at every intersection. Keep the nails 3/4 in. away from 0_



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the ends of the boards to prevent splitting. When your U

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plant stand is complete, sand all the outside edges and

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apply an exterior stain or preservative. Then start moving .g

o

in the blooms. fr t



7A Aprit2oog thefamilyhandyman.com

from our readers

editors@thefami[yhandyman.com





o'Handyt'

paintbrush saver

To keep your hands clean

while you're painting and your

brush lresh between coats,

wear disposable gloves. When

you're done with the first coat.

hold the brush by the bristles

and peel the glove off your

hand and down over the

brush. Secure the bottom with

a twist tie or a rubber band, and

your brush will be ready for the

second coat when you are.

Larry Kelly









Cure newspaper delivery amxiety

If your newspaper comes at a different time each day, it's hard to know whether

it's been delivered unless you hoof it out to the box and look inside. That's fine

in nice weather, but it's no fun in the rain and cold. Here's how to stay warm

and dry: Use a jigsaw to cut off the back of the newspaper delivery box. Replace

it with a piece of clear Plexiglas, attaching it with a bead of silicone around the

back edge of the box. Then all you have to do is look out your window to see

whether the day's headlines are in the box waiting for you.

George and Louise Hohol







LD



Cabinet handte iig z

U

z

When we remodeied our kitchen, we put new U

I



door fronts on all the cabinets. To make sure I o

F

installed each of the new cabinet door handles in

E

the right spot, I made a jig from a 4 x 7 -in. piywood

scrap. I nailed a piece of 1x2 over two ends of the

i

plywood. Then I marked the t

U

o

handie screw locations on ,,1 l

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the iig and drilled guide L



holes. I was able lo screw :l

U

u

perfectly placed holes for :

m

.s

each door handle in each

door. This works great for -

E

:

both two-hole and one-hole f

Y

O

handles. z

t

Duane Dreikosen U

m



4

J

U









80 Aprit2OOg thefamilyhandyman,com

Memory saver

It's almost impossible to keep all the different

wrench and socket sizes for my lawn mower, snow

thrower and leaf blower straight. Not to mention

the different tire pressures on my bikes, cars and

trucks fthe little writing on the tires is impossible

to read). So I keep an ongoing iist of these items

(and lots more) taped to the inside top of my tool-

box. When it comes time to do the job, my list is

right where I need it-with the toolsl Now I don,t

spend extra time trying to remember what goes

with what.

Dan Wyttenbach





We'll pay extra for your photos

Take a digital snapshot of your tip, and if we select it to

print in the magazine, we'U pay you an extra $1O0.

That's $lO0 for the tip and anofher gtOO for the photol

Send your tip and photo to Handy Hints", The Famity

Handyman, 29]5 Commers Drive, Suite 7OO, Eagan,

MN 55121 or handyhints@thefamityhandyman.com.

Original contributions become our property upon

acceptance and payment. We're sorry, but because of

the high votume of submissions, we can't respond to

your tetters or return your tips and photos*but we read

and value them att.



82 Aoril2OOg thefamityhandyman.com









A#JI'9I$"'' *:31 Mounts on your deck or patio with

No site prep! No permitsl No taxesln



'Turn your deck or palio into a beautilul ouldoor rooml

'Converls lrom sunroom to screenroom...in iust seconds!

. Easy-Slide windows with lloor to ceiling screens adiust lo

your comlort inslanlly!

. Complete easy-to-assemble kit wilh rool, walls, windows,

screens & door!



Affordable Factory-Direct Prices Make SunPorch

AnericaT Best Sunroon value!





nLUS-,;Thi r$un?orch, Giyes,, YOd,,,,

All.Ybar'Monet,..&' Eneigy SavingSl

".





The SunPorch can help to heat Save on honts heatin0,:i:

your home in :vi'inter..:and.cop! rosls all u{l[iBr! ,,. :, ....]









#

ffit *? your home during the summer

all with ZERO Energy cost! Beal !h6 heal, &,hig'h':l

cosi sf.AC all .s[nim]Bi ,.









tr

:-...-.,.....,,::l::..,-::ilf i

SavB wilh.,a::,Sil n P.itic'h i,,.

Vacali,oilr reti.ihitm gi!'.. ..:. .1









,:Y0tt!,.:0ret..l.ur'or'91901 r:'.:'..,"

.'ililldi,0iiiio{iins:, iir,..snE!:,:



,,'ll'!!!,eatable fa'cl'Qln:r, : :',::

'.d,iiect pii ce$,',& SaVirnSS

i



SunPorch, Dept. 5626, Westport, CT 06880

Fami y Handyman Apr | 09

Stay-put soap dish

around the edges. The foam tape will hold the dish in

Here's a tip for installing a ceramic soap dish on a tiled

wall. Put a couple of strips of double-face foam tape on place until the caulk cures. This works better than put-

the back of the soap dish. Align the dish and press it ting tape across the front and prevents the dish from

against the tile backer board. Then apply silicone caulk sagging while the caulk cures.

Deb Field



thetamityhandyman.com April2oog a3

Disposable funnet

My husband never has a funnel out

in the garage rvhen he needs it. and

he always takes the one I use in the

kitchen (which makes me really

mad). So I've come up with a bril-

liant solution. Whenever he needs a

funnel, I make him a disposable one

from tinfoil. I tear a sheet of heavy-

duty tinfoil in half and mold each

half sheet tightly around my kitchen

funnel. I slip my real funnel out of

the middle and give my husband the

tinfoil funnel. It works great,

nobody gets mad and I don't have to

wash a funnel polluted with who

knows what.

Cleo Rayber









A4 Aprit2ooe

by Gary Wentz and Travis Larson

ed itors@thefami lyhandyman.com









Add style with arches Buy lumber with

If you want high style on a low budget, you can't beat a cut lengths in mind

drywall archway. It takes a few hours to lrame and fin- Whether you're buying wood to

ish an arch, but the materials cost is usually }ess than frame a garage or build an Adiron-

$20. And an arch Iooks Like a milLion bucks. This isn't dack chair, select lengths so you'Il

a complex job; if you've done some basic wall framing have as little waste as possible. Sounds

and drywall taping, you can handle it. To see how to

lrame an arch in a new or exist-

ing wall opening, go to the-

familyhandyman.com and ties with you. The lengths you're after, in the

search for "drywall arch." quality you need, may not be available. For

example, if you were planning to cut 12-ft. boards

into a bunch of +-ft. lengths, you may have to settle

for B-ft. stock. So be smart when choosing lengths.

@ffi*- .,'r',

rffi









Concentrate:526

Premixed:554

(plus free water)



Buy coneentnated [awn chernicals

Manufacturers are always selling convenience, but that convenience costs a

Iot. with lawn chemicals, you're always going to save by buying concentrates

and mixing your own solution. But only mix as much as you need because the

shelf life is short, especially if you use tap water. Tap water isn't acid neutral

and can deactivate the chemicals. so it's best to use distilled water if you think

you'il have leftover solution. That'll help keep the mix effective.









Use the to[l-free nurnbers from yCIur instrucfion manual

This tip could save you a ton of money or be completely worthless, depending

on the company you're dealing with. But the next time something breaks,

either get out the instruction manual or go online to find the ioll-free help line.

You could get a knowledgeable person at the other end who can help you trou-

bleshoot your problem and save on professional repair bills. or you might get

the part you need for free-especially if your product is still under warranty.





So you have a frugal tip you'd like to share? We't[ pay you 5100

E-mail your tip to editors@thefamilyhandyman.com, or mail it to

Dotlar SavW Homeowner,2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan, MN

55121. Please include your name, address and phone number, Original

contributions become our property upon acceptance and payment.





86 Aprit2oog thetamilyhandyman,com

Use less salt-and water measures gallons. Some older softeners Water Qualiiy Report. It

Many water softeners are set to recharge don't have meters and can use twice the will list the range of water

way too often and may not be adjusted amount of salt and water used by a hardness in your city's

for the best salt and water efficiency. metered type. Both types are set up system. You must use the

That could be costing you g100 or so according to the hardness of the water and highest number. If you

annually in salt and water costs. How the number of people living in the house. have a well, get a test for

often a water softener recharges is based Do you have a houseful of kids or an hardness and iron lrom

on two things: water hardness and the empty nest? Either way, it may be time to any softener dealer.

number of days or water usage between tune up your settings. Start by looking for Your softener manu-

regenerations. A day timer counts days, the utility company's Web site on your al may have instruc-

and a demand-initiated/metered type water biil. On the site, you can find the lions lor changing

your hardness ** ,fh

and salt dose

settings. If not, "* F{"

call the company

that sold you the

softener or the sof-

tener manufacturer.

T9

It may tell you how

to reset your soften-

er control. If not,

have a technician

come out to your

home to do it and

teach vou how.









Cheap paint

is no bargain

Buying low-quality paini may

save you five or ten bucks a gal-

@@@@@ lon. bui it's one of the worsL



@w@uG moves you can make. It not only

leads to lots of extra work, but









re

can actually cost you more

money. Cheap paint-whether

interior or exterior-doesn't

wwryryry cover as well as pricier paint, so



wwregilc you end up buying more for

extra coats. Even worse. cheap









re

paint doesn't stand up to Molher

The Home ProlectCalc Nature for long. A high-quality

gives you measurements in exterior paint typicaily lasts two

Feet-lnch-Fractions and works as to three times as long as cheap

a standard math calculator. paint. So over time, the cheap

. Quickly calculate Linear, Area, and Volume dimensions stuff costs you at least twice as

. Works in, and converts between, Yards, Feet, lnches, Fractions, much money-and days of

Decimals and Meters paint-scraping drudgery. To find

. Dedicated functions give fast material quantities and costs for high-quality paint, look for "100

Paint, Wallpaper, Tile, Carpet, Concrete and more! percent acrylic" on the label.

Price is usually a good indicator

of quality, too. Spend at ]east

$tS per gallon for interior paint

and $25 for exterior. That's a true

bargain. ii3









88 April2ooe

by Roy Doty

wordless@thefamilyhandyman.com









Tot toy totes









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Our thanks go to Adam Fenenga, lnver Grove Heights' MN, for this idea'

We'lt pay $lOO for any ideas published, so send in those sketches and notes!

N/N 55]21'

Submit your idea to wordless@thefamityhandyman.com or Wordtess, The Famity Handyman, 29'15 Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan'

payment.

Onty ideas we purchase witI be acknowtedged. Originat contributions become our property upon acceptance and







thefamityhandyman.com Aprit2oog 95

from our readers

greatgoofs@thefamityhandyman.com



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I built a tree fort for my son and made the roof out of

fiberglass panels. The probiem was that birds and bees

loved to use the openings along the underside of the roof

t

a

for nests. After my son got stung, I bought expanding foam v $,

to fill the holes. It was a great idea-until I decided to

\J,_, i

smooth the foam with my bare fingers (yes, I ignored the dis-

posable gloves that came with the can).

When my fingers stuck together, I tried wiping off the foam on T1 [, ,,

14, tli

my pants. My hands stuck to my pants. Well, alter two hours in

the emergency room with the doctor and the nurse trying every- j \- .



thing they could think of, I had to have my fingers separated

/ ttl , ,j '

byaknife. Thenlworerubbergloves foracoupleof days - .fl;.{-, I) , j

until most of the foam wore off. My wife *f."irir.p-fy, . *$i* ' i

"Didn't you read the warning label?,, Oh, please. Did she ' . j,.-*'\

\

really need to ask? .1,t,; '\ \

* t ' ,' I

- Richard W. Alcorn

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A new toilet to go with that seat

My dad waited until I came home from college to ask me to install the z

Not the brightest

soft-cushion toilet seat he'd just bought. I sprayed the old, rusty toilet Y

seat bolts with a heavy dose of lubricant and then got out the wrench butb in the pack t

,o

and went to work on them. Unfortunateiy, the wrench slipped off the I decided to add a photocell sensor to m

E

lubricated bolt and the handle busted a nice hole in the toilet, send- my new porch lights. I installed the sen- U

F

sor and wired the lights. and in all mod- a

ing water all over the floor. With my tail between my legs, I had to telt

my dad that he needed a new toilet to go with his new seat. esty, I musI say the workmanship .a

g



I replaced the toilet, but haven,t had my dad ask me to do anything looked great. Then I waited for the sun

+

around the house since. (I guess that means it worked out for the besi to go down to admire the results. t

U

Once it was dark, I eagerly ran out to o

after all!) z

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look at my new lights. But they were

Martin Todd Dorris I

=

- barely working. The lights kept getting U

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brighter and then dimming. After 10 E



\,-h-\

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minutes of waving my hand over the

,t'rrr't

c:\

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{

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installed the sensor so it faced the light.

When the light got brighter, the sensor

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ciosed the circuit, which shut off the tr

iight and started the cycle over again,

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Brilliant! F

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Sean Arnold

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6ot your own do-it-yourself mistake?

We pay 5100 for each one we print.





$

e*n@

Send an e-mail to greatgoofs@thefamilyhandyman.com

or write to: Great Goofs, The Family Handyman,

2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan, [/N 55121

OriginaI contributions become our property upon acceptance

and payment-



96 Aprit2OOg thefamilyhandyman,com