Family Handyman April 2020

My goal for every issue of Family Handyman is that you learn something that makes you a better, smarter homeowner. As a part of that effort, I get smarter too, learning from the editors and experts who build this magazine. Here are a few things I learned this month. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 1 MICE ARE AMAZING (IN A BAD WAY) Pest control guru Joe Stampley met with us to share his tools and tips. When we asked Joe to name his toughest adversary, he didn’t hesitate: mice. They can get into just about any house and go anywhere within the house. They can squeeze through openings just ¼ in. wide, climb walls and jump 12 in. straight up. (That would be like a person jumping up two stories!) But Joe knows how to defeat them.…

BECOME A FAMILY HANDYMAN INSIDER Get INSIDER Access to: ✓ 100+ Project Plans✓ 24/7 Online Classes✓ Monthly E-Newsletter JOIN TODAY: FHINSIDER.COM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE TRIAL LEARN MORE. BUILD MORE. Calling DIYers who want to tackle it all! Get unlimited access to Family Handyman’s complete library of quick DIY University online classes. This includes two exciting new projects per month—things you’ve been dreaming about, and projects that may not have occurred to you. Get ready to build a wall-mounted bike rack or your own workshop, add elegant kitchen storage and a tile backsplash, install a sleek USB charging station, and much more! Start your seven-day FREE Trial at DIYUniversity.com GET HOME SMARTS NOW Sign up for our new Home Smarts newsletter to stay on top of the latest advancements in smart tech, sustainable building materials and energy-efficient…

Fast & easy ceiling makeover These Armstrong WoodHaven Ceiling Planks easily install right over a suspended ceiling system. The clever Easy Up clips snap onto the grid and into grooves in the planks. The only nails you need are for any trim against the wall. You can go from bland accoustical tiles to a beautiful planked ceiling in a weekend without breaking the bank. WoodHaven Ceiling Planks are available in several styles and colors and start at about $2.50 to $4 per sq. ft. For more information, visit armstrongceilings.com. Compact square A rafter square is standard cargo in most tool belts, and until now, you actually needed a tool belt to carry one around. Enter the Milwaukee 4-½-in. Trim Square. This is a precision-milled aluminum rafter square that will fit in your back pocket.…

SHARE YOUR HANDY HINT WITH US! submissions@familyhandyman.com Catch detergent drips To keep detergent from dripping all over your laundry room floor, add a wire handle to the cup. Poke two holes in the cup, thread wire through the holes, and hang the cup from the spout to catch the drips. CHRIS BOULE INSTANT INK REMOVER Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do a good job of removing permanent marker ink. They reactivate the ink, allowing you to easily wipe the stain off. Cover the entire ink stain with hand sanitizer. Let it sit for about a minute and then wipe off the ink with a soft rag. RAY WESTERHOFF DIY EDGE-BAND CLAMPS I could buy clamps ready-made for gluing on edge banding, but I came up with a way to make my own while working on a project recently. All you need…

Carpet excels at holding dirt. Even with frequent vacuuming, it’s hard to remove dirt deeply embedded into the matted fibers. Recently, I came across Mohawk Air.o hypoallergenic carpet, flooring that claims to release more dust and dirt with each vacuuming, thanks to its unique design with better airflow. This sounded like a great concept to test, so I bought a two-yard sample of the Air.o ($2.51 per sq. ft.) and a comparable standard carpet ($1.69 per sq. ft.) and got them dirty. The homeLAB test I cut a sample of both carpets, then fastened foam pad to the standard carpet (the Air.o has an integrated felt pad). I weighed each sample on a food scale, poured 7 oz. of sandy dirt on them, massaged it deep in the fibers, then vacuumed. I…

WHAT IT TAKES TIME 2 days COST $800 SKILL LEVEL Intermediate TOOLS Circular saw, cutting guide, miter saw, drill, Forstner bits, handsaw, metric tape, nailer If you’re tight on living space or you want your guest room to double as an office, here’s a piece of furniture you’ll want to check out. This bed quickly converts to a desk without increasing its footprint. When you switch it back to a bed, the desk stays level, so you can leave all your stuff on it! A company called Hiddenbed sells bed kits with all the parts precut and ready for assembly. You can also purchase just the hardware kit, which includes the plans, and that’s the option shown here. Building the bed yourself instead of buying the precut kit can save you about $1,200! To make this furniture even more user-friendly,…