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Toni DeBella for Family Handyman Drive-in movie theaters were all the rage in the 1950s and ’60s. Now they’re making a comeback. Turn your backyard movie theater into a blast from the past by staging an unforgettable, open-air viewing party when the sun goes down. Who knew that social distancing could be so much fun? Pre-Party Prep Good planning is the key to any successful and memorable event. Leave nothing to chance by getting a head start with these helpful tips....

 We will show you how to lay out the hole and cut it for a professional fit. Tools You’ll Need Drywall Saw; Utility Knife; Tape Measure; Carpenter’s Pencil; T-Square. Steps for Cutting a Hole in Drywall Measure for the Cut Drywall doesn’t have to be installed perfectly tight in the corner of a room to properly finish it. To account for walls that may be slightly out of plumb, we subtract about 1/8 inch when making our measurements from a corner wall....

antoniodiaz/Shutterstock Before you call a plumber, know that the steady drip, drip, drip of water coming from behind your refrigerator is probably nothing to worry about. It likely means everything is working normally. Here’s why. What is the Noise, and Where is it Coming From? A dripping noise from the back of your fridge is probably your drain pan, or drip tray. A drain pan collects excess condensation or moisture created by the refrigerator....

It has been a long couple of years for window manufacturers. Since 2020, demand for housing has been consistently high while the pandemic has caused a myriad of supply chain issues. This created an environment where building materials like garage doors and windows have been highly sought after and difficult to produce. With that in mind, Marvin Windows decided to give its employees a break. The company recently announced it will give workers one week of paid time off at the end of December....

California-based light manufacturer Violux today launched Luma and Luma Pro, a new line of countertop cleaning appliances that claim to harness UV-C light technology to kill pathogens, including the coronavirus. According to Violux, the new lineup kills 99.9 percent of germs, bacteria and viruses in less than three minutes. The Luma model is designed for consumer households and small offices, delivering simple and dependable cleaning to quickly and effectively disinfect high-touch objects....

Deciding how to safely weed or fertilize your lawn can present plenty of challenges in any yard, let alone one adjacent to a waterway. If your primary residence or summer home/cabin is near a lake, stream or river, know that lawn-care chemicals used to wipe out tough weeds can also be toxic to humans, pets, other wildlife and plant life. “Generally, the biggest issue is you don’t want chemicals and physical items such as clippings or leaves to be in the water body,” says Kirsten Barta, a trained aquatic biologist and project manager for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency....

When I see those tired, bruised bundles of “fresh” herbs at the grocery store, I think about how much better they would look if I grew them myself. Fortunately, anyone can grow fresh herbs indoors with a few plants or seeds and a little effort. Find the Best Spot for Growing Indoor Herbs Consider light, temperature and easy access when determining the best place in your home to grow indoor herbs....

Levels are essential tools, just like hammers and saws, and this has remained the case since the invention of the laser level in the 1980’s. A reliable and true line is always the goal, and the Craftsman Crossline laser level gives you that at a budget friendly price. What is the Craftsman Crossline Laser Level? The Craftsman Crossline laser level comes in a lipstick-red protective carrying case about the size of a hardcover novel....

“I actually love scrubbing for hours with my floor mop,” said absolutely no one, ever. Well, we have some good news for you! You can have spotless floors without ever having to apply elbow grease—all you have to do is push a button. It might sound too good to be true, but that’s the truth when you have the Floor Police Mop. This magical mopping tool works on all hard floor surfaces, like tile, laminate and hardwood....

Family Handyman A keyless entry system can make your life easier, by eliminating the need to carry around a key that you could lose. Another plus is that you can usually install a keyless entry system yourself. However, before you make the jump from a traditional door lock to a keyless system, there are some pros and cons to consider. Pros of a Keyless Entry System A keyless entry system solve all of those missing key problems....

When we built our Getaway vacation home for the September 2021 issue, we used a roll-up glass garage door in lieu of a sliding door to the deck. But we didn’t want a traditional overhead opener track in our kitchen and living space, so we used a jackshaft opener (also called wall-mount or side-mount) that sits discreetly to the side of the door. We opted for the Genie model 6170 wall mount garage door opener....

Yearly brush clearing has become a necessity in wildfire-prone areas, especially the Western states. Most people need a wood chipper to process all that brush. If you own a tractor with a power takeoff (PTO) shaft, as most have, a mobile PTO wood chipper can be a useful accessory. This way, you can take the chipper to the wood rather than the wood to the chipper, while also giving you more power....

CharMoment/Shutterstock Where to Start with Wood Pallets You’ve been eyeing a project that uses wooden pallets, but you’re unsure how to get started. Whether you’re planning to use your pallet to make some raised garden beds, patio furniture or a sign for your home’s entryway, there are some things to consider. witaya ratansirkulchai/Shutterstock Finding the Perfect Pallet While you can purchase wooden pallets, there’s a good chance you can find pallets for free—if you know where to look....

Family Handyman Extend the life of your shop vac filter with this trick Now that I have started wood turning, my shop vacuum gets a lot of work. I stopped using filter bags since they quickly fill with the large volume of chips and other wood debris, and instead I use a pleated filter. However, the filter can get plugged, reducing efficiency of the vacuum. I solved this problem by placing a large sheet of window screen fabric between the tank and the top part, which includes the filter....

The way the veneer was sliced from the log determines its look. The more common cuts—rotary and plain—are also the least expensive. Quarter-sawn and rift-sawn are more labor intensive to cut and are considered more attractive by most people. Rotary-Cut Veneer: Family HandymanFamily Handyman Rotary cut veneer is peeled from the log like paper towels from a roll. It produces a wide, “loud” grain pattern. Plain-Slicing Veneer: Family Handyman Plain-Slicing produces a repeating pattern, typically showing large “cathedrals” in the grain....

Family Handyman Sticking Door No More! Badly aligned rollers inside the bottom of a patio screen door will cause the door to bind or stick when opening or closing. This stresses the corners of the door, and if the corner joints become loose, the door will eventually fall apart. But you can adjust the door to glide smoothly with just a screwdriver. You’ll find two adjustment screws at the bottom of the door, one at each end, that raise or lower separate rollers....

Svet_Feo/Shutterstock Real suede upholstery, made from the soft underside of animal skin, has a beautifully luxurious look and supple texture. Unfortunately, it’s also expensive and difficult to maintain. Many people opt for the more durable and cheaper alternative—microsuede or microfiber. Keep in mind, cleaning microsuede furniture requires a different process. Read about how to clean a microfiber couch here. If you don’t want to settle for anything but the real deal, 100% suede is the way to go....

Vinyl tile and sheet flooring are popular options for homes because of their price, durability and ease of care. For routine cleaning, vinyl floors can be swabbed with plain water and a damp mop, or with a product made for vinyl and other hard surfaces. You can also clean vinyl floors with a mix of one gallon water and one cup apple cider or white vinegar. But for deep-cleaning vinyl floors, you’ll need more tools and more steps....

Even if you don’t own a cabin or summer home, chances are you’ve at least dreamed of owning one. Especially lately! According to Redfin, a national property broker, the pandemic is spurring a surge in mortgage applications for second homes. From lakeside cabins and mountain bungalows to beach cottages and beyond, this comes as no surprise. Who doesn’t want a change of scenery about now? Whether you’re an old pro at cabin life or preparing for your first opening weekend, remember that no summer home is move in-ready just because you are vacation-ready....

I once tried plastic fencing to keep rabbits out of my vegetable garden. The fence material was pretty and green, and I thought it wouldn’t be as noticeable as plain wire mesh. But it didn’t take long for the rabbits to nibble holes in it and help themselves to my lettuce. Lesson learned. Now, it’s strictly wire mesh. Here are my tips for using wire mesh to keep pests out of your garden....