These 8 Exterior Renovation Projects Add the Most Value

When it comes to selling a home, the first impression is everything. The way the exterior looks and functions can play a big role in its overall value. But not all exterior renovations are created equal. The 2019 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the National Association of Realtors analyzed the eight most common exterior renovation projects and found these are the ones likely to add the most value to a home at resale.

The post Which Exterior Renovation Adds the Most Value to a House? appeared first on Family Handyman.

Wind and Hail Damage

Severe weather poses all kinds of risks for homeowners, but wind and hail damage caused the most insurance claims between the years 2014 and 2018, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

If you live in a place prone to hurricanes, the risk is especially pronounced. Tornadoes are another severe weather risk homeowners need to be aware of if they live in parts of the country where that’s common. But you don’t need to live in Tornado Alley or along the coast to be at risk, thunderstorms lead to widespread wind-related claims. The average claim came in at $11,200.

Fire and Lightning Damage

Damage from fire and lightning ranks second for frequency but account for the most expensive claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The average claim for fire and lightning damage is a whopping $79,785.

One of the most important things you can do is to asses your home for risks and take steps to eliminate them to help prevent home fires.

Water Damage

Water damage can result from rain or snowmelt, along with interior issues such as a burst pipe or leaking plumbing. Travelers Insurance analyzed eight years of insurance claim coverage data and found water accounted for 31 percent of its claims. If you live somewhere that’s at risk for flooding, it’s important to have flood insurance as well.

Non-Theft Property Damage

The Insurance Information Institute puts property damage, such as a tree falling on the roof or a utility truck that backs into your garage, as one of its top reasons for homeowner’s insurance claims. While this type of claim can take a number of forms, the average claim cost $6,598.

Break-ins and Theft

Travelers notes that break-ins and theft of personal property account for six percent of its insurance claims. Surprisingly, the average cost of these claims doesn’t even break the top five. You can do a lot to prevent break-ins and theft at your home. Simple additions like outdoor lights on a motion sensor or adding a deadbolt to your door can improve your home security without much cost.

Other Insurance Claims

Wonder where dog bites and trampoline accidents fall? Well, the Insurance Information Institute says liability insurance claims made up just two percent of total claims. Liability refers to your duty toward other people, such as when a guest suffers injury or property damage while visiting your home. Although infrequent, these claims can be expensive averaging a hefty $26,872.

The post What Are the Most Common Home Insurance Claims? appeared first on Family Handyman.

Add Paint

Choose a paint color and give a room a fresh look. Be sure to choose a high-quality paint, which will cost you $30 to $60 a gallon, but is totally worth it. While you have the painting supplies out, brighten trim with a light-colored, high-gloss paint.

The post 12 Most-Bang-for-Your-Buck Home Improvement Projects appeared first on Family Handyman.

Enhance Decks with Lighting

Landscape lighting may seem like a complicated DIY project, but low-voltage lighting systems are actually a job any beginner can tackle. And if you make your deck the focus, the extra visibility will even add a certain level of safety. Low-voltage systems are much less dangerous than standard household wiring because the system relies on a transformer plugged into a standard GFCI receptacle. That converts power from 120 volts to 12 volts, then the current travels through outdoor cables to supply power to the fixtures.

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Home Equity Has Risen, Expanding Opportunities

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How to Cut Perfect Miter Joints: Use a Sharp Saw Blade

The post 14 Pro-Approved Tips for Achieving Tight Miters Every Time appeared first on Family Handyman.

Maximize Your Truck’s Storage Potential

A pro’s truck is their castle. And as king of the castle, everyone rigs up their truck to fit their unique needs. I’ll show you how I keep my everyday tools handy and secure while still being able to haul around lumber and sheet goods. It’s good to be king!

About the author:

David Radtke is a trim carpenter, custom cabinetmaker, woodworker, freelance editor, and design consultant living in Minneapolis, MN. In the off hours you can find him enjoying archery, bow making, guitar playing and canoeing.

The post How To Build Your Own Truck Storage System appeared first on Family Handyman.

Chalk lines… does one size fit all?

The kind of chalk line you want to use depends on the job you need to use if for. The larger model has a string as thick as a bootlace and holds 1 pound of chalk, perfect for marking up a lot of long lines. The smaller model has a 3-to-1 rewind ratio and is just the thing for pros who only snap an occasional line and don’t want to sacrifice a lot of space in their pouch. The compact chalk reel comes with a 30-foot line and a bottle of blue chalk, while the large capacity chalk reel has a 100-foot line.

The post Must-Know Pro Tips and Tools for Measuring and Marking appeared first on Family Handyman.

Don’t Drill too Close to Edges

Two mistakes you really want to avoid are busting off a chunk of a concrete stair step and cracking the corner of a patio slab. To avoid these disasters, don’t drill any closer than 4 in. from the edge. If there’s no other option, turn off the hammering action on the drill. Also, avoid wedge-type anchors. They exert a ton of outward pressure, which could literally wedge the concrete apart.

The post Tips for Concrete Fasteners and Masonry Screws appeared first on Family Handyman.

How to Cut Outside Drywall Corners

It’s tempting to cut the first piece of an outside corner flush with the framing and run the perpendicular piece flush with the first. Don’t do it. If you run the first piece just a little too long, the second piece will flare out. If you cut the second piece a bit too long, it will have to be shaved down to accommodate the corner bead. A good-quality metal corner bead will cover a gap and hold up as well as a perfectly flush cornerwithout the fuss.

The post How to Hang Drywall: Pro Tips for Cutting and Installing appeared first on Family Handyman.

ConsiderMaintenanceas an Investment

Keeping tools and equipment clean and performing recommended maintenance can add years to their useful lifespan and prevent on-site surprises. Sudden failure of critical tools costs your business downtime and reduces the earning potential of your workforce. According to Don Barrows of Roto-Rooter in Stoughton, Massachusetts, performing regular maintenance and paying attention to the operation of equipment is just common sense.

After more than a decade in the field as a Roto-Rooter technician, Barrows has seen a lot, and recommends taking several steps to keep your drain-clearing equipment in top shape.

The post 5 Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Your Plumbing Snake appeared first on Family Handyman.

Shim and shave miters

How many times have you set your miter saw exactly on 45 degrees and cut miters on a pair of moldings, only to discover they dont fit? Well, dont worry. Theres nothing wrong with your saw or your technique. Miters almost always have to be shaved to fit perfectly.

One method is to simply adjust the angle slightly on your miter saw and recut both moldings. The trouble is that making tiny adjustments to the cutting angle is difficult on many saws. A quicker and easier method is to place a shim against the miter saw fence to slightly change the angle. Move the shim away from the blade for smaller adjustments and closer for larger ones, or vary the thickness of the shim. Remember, both pieces need the exact same cut to fit precisely.

Step 1. Micro-adjust a miter

Close a gap on the top of a miter by placing a skinny shim (1/16 in. or less) against the portion of the fence farthest from the blade. Slide the molding tight to the shim and against the fence near the blade. Hold it in this position while you make the cut. Caution: Keep your fingers at least 6 in. from the path of the blade.

Step 2. Treat both sides the same

Trim the other half of the miter using the same technique. Use the same shim and place it the same distance from the blade. Drop the blade slowly through the wood to shave thin slices.

The post Tips for Tighter Miters and Better Coped Joints appeared first on Family Handyman.

Boost the Airflow

The coldest room in the basement is usually the room farthest from the furnace. Boost the airflow on long duct runs with an in-line duct fan. These fans are easy to install, but they do require a power supply. Some are hardwired and some plug into an outlet, but either way you’ll need to leave access to the junction box, which can be accomplished with a panel or a cover plate. In-line fans can run 24/7 or be installed with an optional thermostat or be wired to turn on when the furnace fan turns on.

The post Pro Tips for Basement Finishing appeared first on Family Handyman.

Taper Both Sides of the Room

When you set about figuring out the size of your starter row you also have to make sure the walls are parallel. You may find yourself installing laminate in a room that is 6-in. narrower at one end than at the other. That means you’ll have to rip a severely tapered last row and it’ll look ugly. Unless one side of the room will be forever covered with furniture, you’re better off splitting the difference and tapering both the first and the last rows so neither side will be so noticeable.

The post Pro Tips and Tricks for Installing Laminate Flooring appeared first on Family Handyman.

The Right Floor Leveler Choice for in-Floor Heat

Self-leveling underlayment is a great choice under any tiled floor, but its the absolute best choice when installing tile over an in-floor heating system. Installing cement board wont work, and if you choose to lay down a mortar bed it takes longer, its harder to achieve an even surface, and the screeding process can damage the heating cables or mats.

The post Tips and Techniques for Pouring Self-Leveling Underlayment appeared first on Family Handyman.

How To Find the Best Cordless Circular Saw for You

Tools with brushless motors and lithium batteries with monster amp hours have more power and longer runtimes. This increase in performance has led to more and more construction pros choosing cordless tools over their traditionally more powerful corded counterparts. But once the decision to cut the cord has been made, the next decision is which brand and model to choose. If you are in the market for a new cordless circular saw, you have come to the right place.

As with any tool, we always recommend you actually pick it up and see how it feels in your hand. Better yet, try out a buddys or a coworkers saw to see how it works in action. Everyone has different preferences, and theres no better way to make a decision than taking one for a test drive. But that’s not always possible, so we’ve compared the many different features and the pros and cons of a handful of different models from top tool brands to help you decide.

The post The Best Cordless Circular Saws of 2024-24 – A Handyman’s Buying Guide appeared first on Family Handyman.

Seal the Wall

Start by rolling on a masonry waterproofing product. This step is only to help prevent water that naturally migrates through concrete through a capillary effect, not a permanent solution to a bulk water infiltration problem. If the walls are damp from condensation, dry them out with a humidifier before using the product. Are you looking for more options? Check out our guide to waterproofing basement walls.

The post A Pro Carpenter’s Guide to Framing Basement Walls appeared first on Family Handyman.

Clean, Safe Miter Saw Cuts

Dropping the miter saw blade into the workpiece too fast is dangerous and will likely result in a rough cut or splintered wood. This is especially true when you’re cutting thin, narrow pieces. Give the motor a few extra milliseconds to reach full speed, then lower the blade slowly as you cut.

The post How to Make Safer, Better Cuts on a Miter Saw appeared first on Family Handyman.

Finishing Trim

We asked a 40-plus year painting veteran to show us his best practices for perfection. Here are a few of his favorite staining, sanding and finishing tips to help you create rich, silky-smooth trim.

The post Tips and Techniques for Finishing Trim appeared first on Family Handyman.

Practice On Test Pieces for the Perfect Miter

Fine-tuning a miter for a perfect fit is often a trial-and-error process. Practice on smaller test pieces and work on eliminating imperfections until you get your miter saw set to exactly the right angle, then cut the actual parts.

The post 8 Carpentry Tips and Advice From Actual Professionals appeared first on Family Handyman.

Avoid Cheap House Wrap

Perm rate is the rate at which a house wrap allows water vapor to pass through it. Bargain house wraps often have low perm rates and they should be avoided. In cold climates, this is especially true for older homes with little or no moisture barriers. Moisture will escape through the wall cavity and sheathing, and if the house wrap doesn’t allow it to pass through fast enough, it will condense and accumulate in the form of frost and ice. When the ice thaws, you’ll end up with wet sheathing and/or wall cavitiesnot good.

Bargain house wraps have perm ratings in the 8 to 12 range. Instead, choose a quality house wrap like Tyvek, with a perm rating of 54.

The post 14 House Wrap Installation Tips You Need to Know appeared first on Family Handyman.

Quick Table Legs

If you need to build a quick table, here’s a great way to make the legs. We’ve used this design to make tables for cabins, and utility tables for the shop and yard. Each leg is made from a 1×6, ripped to make two tapered pieces. Glue and nail (or screw) the two pieces together, sand as much as you feel is necessary, and you’re done. The taper jig is quick to make, but it works only for this particular taper.

The post 13 ‘Cutting Edge’ Table Saw Tips appeared first on Family Handyman.

We asked Jerome Worm, an experienced installer, to show us what it takes to install basic box cabinets successfully. His tips can save you time and help you avoid costly mistakes on your next installation.

The post 11 Kitchen Cabinet Installation Tips From a Professional appeared first on Family Handyman.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Skid Steer vs. Hiring a Pro?

A medium-size skid steer costs about $200 to rent for one day (not including the trailer or delivery fees), or about $600 per week. A pro operator will charge $65 to $95 per hour. So think it through. It may cost less to hire a pro than to rent a machine and operate it yourself. If all you have to do is smooth out some black dirt in a customers suburban backyard, hire a pro. Achieving a smooth, dip-free grade is trickier than it looks, and it will likely take you much longer than a pro and end up costing more. And it takes many hours of practice to become proficient at complex jobs like working on slopes or building boulder walls.

Digging and moving dirt are relatively easy, and you can get the hang of them pretty quickly, so renting a skid steer makes sense for those jobs where you have to move copious amounts of soil from point A to point B. Renting also makes sense if there will be a lot of downtime between uses of the skid steer, like intermittently hauling sand and pavers for a large patio or other landscaping projects. Renting isn’t cheap, so make sure everything is ready to go the minute you get the machine to the site.

The post How to Operate a Skid Steer appeared first on Family Handyman.

Tools for Drywall Taping

Day 1

On the first day of taping and mudding drywall, have these tools on hand:

• • 6-inch taping knife
  • Staple gun with 1-inch staples

The post Create Smooth Walls: A Mudslinger’s Guide appeared first on Family Handyman.

Give your tools an ugly makeover

Used tool buyers gauge the value of a power tool by its appearance. That means they look for the familiar “Milwaukee red”, “DeWalt yellow,” “Ridgid orange”, “Makita blue,” and “Bosch blue” brand color as well as name plates and the visual condition of the tool. Your new job is to rough up your tools’ appearance, making it far less valuable to the crook and their buyers.

Start by removing the brand name plate (but leave the plate containing the tool’s serial number). Next, buy a can of bright neon colored green or pink spray paint, and spray the entire tool with that neon color. Finish the job with clear coat to protect the paint, and take pictures of your unique works of art to help police track them down if they’re stolen.

Bottom line: Thieves don’t steal tools they can’t fence and they certainly don’t want ugly tools that can be traced because of their unique look. Mark tools to prevent theft!

The post 15 Tips to Prevent Tools From Getting Stolen appeared first on Family Handyman.

Building Face Frame Cabinets

A classic way to make cabinets is to build plywood boxes (aka carcasses) and cover the front with a hardwood face frame. Cabinets like this are strong and handsome and relatively easy to build, granted you get your face frame dimensions and overhang measured correctly. Here’s a list of tips that we felt could help experienced cabinetmakers as well as those just starting their first one.

The post Face Frame Cabinet Building Tips appeared first on Family Handyman.

Pick the right paint

Stumped by the wide variety of paints on the store shelf? You’re not alone. Whether youre out to paint your whole house or simply touch up the back fence, selecting the best exterior paint or stain for the job can be confusing. No one type of paint or stain is best for all surfaces, especially on the exterior where it takes a beating from the weather. (Check out the best temperature to paint outside.)

We’ll list the common exterior painting tasks and then recommend the best exterior paint or finish for the job. But keep in mind that certain materials or weather conditions may warrant different choices, especially when painting over old coatings. Talk to the staff at a local full-service paint store for additional advice or use an exterior paint calculator. Like the look of worn, antique wood? Check out our guide to outdoor wood stain.

The post Pro Tips For Selecting the Best Outdoor Paint or Stain appeared first on Family Handyman.

Attach Laminated Procedure Cards to the Paint Sprayer

Lets face it, good help can be hard to find and getting new employees up to speed takes time. Slavik protects his investment by printing cards that list his step-by-step procedure for cleaning out a paint sprayer. After laminating them, he attaches one to each device with a zip tie.

The post 6 Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Your Paint Sprayer appeared first on Family Handyman.

Miters: Use a Sharp Saw Blade

Try out the table saw miter sled in the video below to get started.

The post 14 Expert Tips for Tight Miters appeared first on Family Handyman.