When it comes to home improvement, you need information you can trust. Inside each issue of The Family Handyman, you’ll find see-and-solve expert repair techniques, a variety of projects for every room and step-by-step, do-it-yourself photos.
What comes to mind when you hear the word sustainability? Resourcefulness? Creativity? Community? Quality? Those are some of the defining terms we use when discussing sustainable home improvement here at Family Handyman. If they hit home with you too, perhaps you’d also agree with the idea that sustainability has become an overused word, yet an under-realized practice in our world. Our team aims to change that. We want to help demystify stigmas around sustainable products and empower readers to find new ways to embrace sustainable living. We want to help you truly live out the word’s meaning, and we’ve dedicated this entire issue to that goal. We believe sustainability isn’t just one thing. It’s not simply using “green” materials, recycling soda cans, owning a rain barrel or powering your path…
facebook.com/thefamilyhandyman pinterest.com/family_handyman youtube.com/thefamilyhandyman instagram.com/familyhandyman tiktok.com/@familyhandyman READER PROJECT LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Inspired by Brad Holden’s editor’s letter recounting his backyard doover (June ’23, p. 2), reader David Moore shared his family’s story: “When I was growing up, my dad was not one to pass up on anyone’s offerings. One day, someone offered him some used brick—A LOT OF BRICK. He loaded up me and my brother, and off we went. We filled the truck with as many bricks as it could hold, and back home we went to unload them. In the ensuing days, it was our chore to clean and stack them. After what seemed like an eternity, we finished handling the approximately 2,000 bricks. “This was in about 1970 to 1972 when I was 11 or 12, but…
MODERNIZE YOUR TOOL BELT I’ve had the same old tool belt for about 15 years. My only real complaint about it is that it’s constantly trying to pull my pants down, so I’m always adjusting it. When my colleague showed up wearing a fancy tool belt with suspenders, I immediately wanted to jump on that bandwagon. But it cost way more than I wanted to spend. And my current tool belt is in perfectly good condition, so I didn’t need to replace it. While shuffling through the options at the home center, I found that I could buy just the suspenders for less than $15 and fit them to my old tool belt! I made haste to the checkout with my new ToughBuilt GelFit Suspenders. Once on the job, I…
Smog, smoke, allergens and even viruses have homeowners wondering about indoor air quality and what they can do to improve it, especially if they’re spending more time at home. So I was excited to try the Honeywell HPA300 HEPA Air Purifier. HEPA stands for “high efficiency particulate air.” These filters are proven to remove microscopic particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander and smoke. HEPA filters are often used in air purifiers, but you can also find HEPA vacuums and furnace filters, although they may not be the best choice for your furnace. The model we tried, the HPA300, is intended for rooms up to 465 sq. ft. There are four filters inside the filter housing—three certified HEPA filters and one odor-reducing prefilter. This air purifier is just under 2…
Twenty years ago, I didn’t think twice about toting heavy sheet goods around in the standard body-breaking fashion. Today, however, I do think twice (or more) about it. If there’s an extra body around, I ask for help. The folks at Kreg are always coming up with innovative products; notably, they’re the go-to brand for pocket hole jigs and accessories. Their Panel Carrier is a real back saver. You just slip it over the edge of the sheet you want to carry. Lifting up on the handle closes the jaws securely. With your hand right at shoulder height, just lift and walk away. If you’re under 5 foot 6 or so, the Panel Carrier is less convenient. It’s available at home centers or online for about $25.…
Have you ever used a 5-gal. bucket as a sawhorse? I think most of us have been down that road. The team at Bucket Builder took that idea and ran with it, creating a heavy-duty molded plastic universal lid. It’s modeled off of the Home Depot bucket, but it fits most 5-gal. buckets. The top securely holds two 2x4s flat, or one 2-by on edge. The bottom is molded for holding pipes or other cylindrical items. The lid can snap on to either the top or bottom of a bucket, providing lots of versatility. With two buckets and two 2x4s, you have a sturdy assembly bench or sawhorse. Need a taller work surface? Start with two buckets, each capped with a Bucket Builder, then stack another upside-down bucket on each…
