Family Handyman

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.

A VIEW FROM THE PATIO • PULL UP A CHAIR, SIT BACK, RELAX, AND VIEW THE BACKYARD FROM OUR EYES.

WHAT’S NEW?

HIKE WITH A FOLDING CHAIR

CREATE A NO-FLY ZONE FOR MOSQUITOES

GET HOOKED ON STAY-PUT MAGNETS

PULL UP STUBBORN SHRUBS

TOTE AROUND A HEAVY-DUTY WORKBENCH

MAKE YOUR DRILL PRESS SHINE WITH A SELFIE LIGHT

DIY PADDED VISE

MAKE DURABLE SANDPAPER FOR TIGHT SPACES

UNCLOG A SHOWERHEAD WITH VINEGAR

HOW TO ADJUST TIGHTLY SPACED PAVERS

THE DECK DOCTOR IS IN • 3 WAYS TO SPRUCE UP YOUR SPACE BEFORE SUMMER ARRIVES

REPLACE A BAD BOARD • Even if your deck has seen better days, a complete rebuild probably isn’t necessary. Replacing problem boards is faster and cheaper. Whether you have one problem spot to replace or many, the process is the same.

RESTORE A SHABBY SURFACE • Even if you stain or seal your wood deck, the boards can still crack and splinter, making the surface look old and worn. That’s where deck paint restoration products come in, if you’re up to doing some handiwork.

DECK RESURFACERS 101

REPAIR A WOBBLY RAILING • A wobbly railing isn’t just an annoying quirk of an aging deck—it’s a safety concern worth addressing before warmer weather arrives. There are a few usual suspects when it comes to the wobble, and most can be fixed in a day.

SWING INTO SPRING • THIS SWING’S SMOOTH, GENTLE GLIDE WILL KEEP YOU DAYDREAMING FOR HOURS. BETTER YET, YOU CAN BUILD IT IN A WEEKEND.

SWAY YOUR WAY • WHETHER YOU BUILD IT OR BUY IT, A SWING CAN FIT YOUR PORCH—AND YOUR LIFESTYLE

DINING ON DECK • EATING OUTSIDE? COUNT US IN. HERE’S HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE TABLE AND CHAIRS WORTHY OF FAMILY MEALS AND ENTERTAINING.

THE CHAIRS

THE TABLE

PLANTER BOXES 3 WAYS • THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SHOW OFF YOUR GREENERY. HERE’S HOW TO CREATE PLANTERS FOR A RAILING, PATIO AND WINDOW.

WINDOW PLANTER • This stripped-down window planter can be built in less than an hour, and the simple design resists rot far better than traditional window boxes.

3 - SEASON PATIO PLANTER • This project is lined with an ordinary plastic planter box—the kind you can get at any home or garden center. That means you can lift out one plastic box and drop in another, instantly swapping container plants.

RAILING PLANTER • Got leftover wood? Try this compact project. It takes about a day to build and you don’t need a lot of woodworking skills to give it a try.

FIRE PITS: A PRIMER

Build an In-Ground Fire Pit • GATHER AROUND AS PRO BRICKLAYER DOUG MONTZKA SHARES HIS TIPS FOR BUILDING A LASTING OUTDOOR GATHERING SPOT

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FIREWOOD

CLEAN A DIRTY FIRE PIT

Style Your Solo Stove • THEY’RE HOT, AND THEY’RE HERE TO STAY. HERE’S HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT BACKYARD SCENE WITH THIS SMOKELESS FIRE.

DOG - FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE DESIGN • 4 “PETSCAPING” PRINCIPLES TO HELP YOU LIVE IN HARMONY WITH YOUR FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS

PLANT WISELY (AND SAFELY)

OPERATION: ORGANIZATION • REAL-LIFE IDEAS FOR CLEVER AND PRACTICAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT YOUR HOUSE

BATHROOM • My bathroom tends to be a travesty, with damp towels on the floor, curling iron cords dangling and just waiting to be stepped on, crumpled tissues strewn about and all-consuming bath toys. These ideas helped me change things.

KITCHEN • My husband has uttered a few unsavory words in our kitchen as he pulled out piles of bowls and dishes to find the one small thing he needed. Use these tips to...