Finding an apartment or condo to rent can be daunting. And the current rental climate has made things even more challenging. An influx of college graduates who need a place to live, the financial fallout from COVID-19 and climbing inflation rates preventing many from qualifying for a home loan all lead to one thing: more people are renting than ever before. That’s according to Nicole Ryan, spokesperson for the National Apartment Association....
Your bathroom is a special space. When you think about it, you spend a good portion of your life in your bathroom, whether that’s getting ready for your day, showering or taking a leisurely bath. It needs both form and function, and the decor matters, too! Because your bathroom’s decor can make or break the tranquility of the space, you may want to refresh your bathroom. An update can solve space issues or bring some needed calm to your day-to-day, and one of the best ways to get some inspiration is to look at the top bathroom decor trends for 2023....
If ice and snow are in the forecast, chances are you’ll spot parked cars with their windshield wipers elevated and pointed outward like spindly arms. The trend may be on the rise, if Farmer’s Almanac Facebook followers are any indication. In response to a poll on their page, at least 425 people said that they go wipers-up when the forecast is icy, while close to 200 reported leaving them in place....
It’s a debate for many families during the holiday season — should the Christmas tree be real or artificial? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of buying a real Christmas tree vs. an artificial Christmas tree. Real Christmas Trees Real Christmas trees have been a popular choice for years. You don’t have to store them once the season is over, and they bring a comforting, natural scent into your home....
Lex20/Getty Images Backup Power When the electrical grid fails, backup generators can keep your refrigerator running and power your lights, microwave, air conditioners, TVs, computers and cell phone chargers. You can even run your washer and dryer off of an emergency generator if you need to. And in the aftermath of a storm, it will allow you to run circular saws and other power equipment. All in all, having a backup generator can significantly improve your ability to comfortably manage a power outage and quickly recover from a storm....
Family Handyman What is a Trunk Line? The word trunk often conjures up images of big things carrying lots of stuff: Car trunks crammed with suitcases, travel trunks packed with clothes, elephant trunks full of water. So, it comes as no surprise that the trunk line of a heating system is the large duct leading out of the furnace that delivers the massive amounts of air it takes to heat or cool a house....
My grandmother was a connoisseur of quality wooden furniture. So when my mom sold one of her family heirloom tables to pay the delivery bills for my birth, it created a kerfuffle in her family. Luckily, my grandmother ended up loving me, and soon decided it was an excellent trade. However, sometimes the choice of saying farewell to a piece of furniture that no longer fits the space or serves a purpose is not so pragmatic....
Running out of hand sanitizer during cold and flu season is a potential nightmare for anyone anxious to keep their hands 99.99 percent free of germs. The good news is that you don’t need to dash to the store the next time you run low. With a few simple ingredients and a few containers to mix them in, you can cobble together your own hand sanitizer from the comfort of your home....
As a master electrician and retired chief electrical inspector, I’ve seen my share of underground wiring over the years. Most projects were successful and are still in operation today, something that still brings a smile and makes me proud. But there were a few painful lessons along the way. Common sense is always a good guide when installing underground wiring. However, the National Electrical Code (NEC) contains some less obvious yet important rules that ensure underground wiring is installed safely and provides years of service....
Family Handyman Your Shoes Will Look New All you need is an old toothbrush and a little toothpaste to learn how to clean sneakers and get your old sneakers looking like new! Non-gel white toothpaste works great for cleaning white-soled sneakers (colored toothpaste may stain rather than clean sneakers). Apply toothpaste to an old toothbrush and then work the paste into the dirty spots. Leave the toothpaste on the shoes for about ten minutes, and then wipe it off with a damp towel....
Courtesy of Werner Throughout September, Werner is hosting virtual safety training sessions for construction professionals. The training sessions include sections on ladder safety and fall protection and can be accessed for free here. The ladder safety sections include a collection of videos on how to use climbing products safely, highlighting topics such as ladder inspection and operating aluminum pumpjack systems. The fall protection videos focus mainly on how different kinds of harnesses are designed and operated....
Each fall, boxelder bugs and Asian lady beetles search for a warm winter shelter. Unfortunately, your house may be the place they pick. While you may find these red and black bugs throughout the year, fall is when they really become pests. Learn about these annoying fall pests as well as four other black and orange beetles that could be lurking in your yard. Once you know what you’re dealing with, keeping fall pests out becomes much easier....
Imagine you’ve just finished your deck with a traditional wood sealant. The surface is glossy and waterproof, and the wood grain is beautifully visible. Fast forward a year or two. Seasonal precipitation and sunshine have left that once-beautiful finish cracked and peeling. Now you’re doomed to hours of stripping, sanding and refinishing. Wonder if there’s a better way? Yes! Exterior wood stain. What is Exterior Wood Stain? Stains, unlike film-forming finishes like paint and sealants, soak into a wood surface and impart color without forming a layer that can crack and peel....
Many homeowners use garage space as an extension of their indoor living space; the garage is a workshop, laundry room or recreation area. An uncoated concrete floor is an unattractive option if you spend significant time in your garage. Coat the floor and you increase its durability, make it easier to clean and improve the look, as well as a home’s resale value. Epoxy is an increasingly popular floor-coating method for garages nationwide....
Selecting the right firewood for your next bonfire can make or break the experience for everyone involved. Deciding how you plan to use your fire pit will help you select the best wood to burn. Does It Matter What Wood You Burn in a Fire Pit? While there are many safe wood options for burning in your fire pit, they won’t all burn the same. Before selecting a wood type, consider the fire’s purpose: Is it for ambiance, or are you cooking dinner over the open flame?...
Kitchen cabinets take a lot of abuse. We open and close them a hundred times a day. And judging from the fingerprints, we don’t always use the knobs and handles. Cooking adds even more grime in the form of food splatters and oil-laden steam. Even if you have a vent hood or use a splatter guard when cooking, oils leave a residue on cabinets. Dust and dirt in the air get stuck in that residue, coating your cabinets with a sticky mess....
Family Handyman Christmas Tree Basics Check the height of the tree before you bring it into the house to make sure it’ll fit under the ceiling. Then if you have to shorten the trunk, the sawdust will stay outside. Cut an inch or so off the bottom of the trunk. The fresh wood can absorb more water, so the tree will stay fresher longer. Check the trunk diameter by test-fitting the stand....
New homeownership brings plenty of excitement — and responsibility, too. A toolkit stocked with inexpensive, hardworking basics ensures can you do whatever you need to make the home yours, like hang pictures, then tackle future maintenance tasks and repairs. Here are your must-haves: Toolbox or Tool Bag Select a toolbox or tool bag with multiple sections or compartments. That ensures tools and supplies won’t get lost or buried under other items....
If you grow food in one part of your yard and your kids play in another, it’s important to know what’s in your soil. Soil testing, whether DIY or mail-in, is the best way to find out. Optimal soil is rich in micro-nutrients, organic matter and certain minerals that interact to provide plants with the right ingredients for growth. You can’t see if your soil is deficient, but you’ll know it when your plants fail to thrive or don’t produce fruit or flowers as expected....
You’ve probably heard of a Little Free Library, or at least seen one in your neighborhood and wondered what it was. It’s a simple concept: A box on a post in a front yard with free books for your neighbors to borrow and return, like a regular library. Little Free Libraries work best when there are several in the same neighborhood, so you’ll typically see a few near each other....
