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Peshkova/Shutterstock What’s not to like about slicing and dicing on wood. It’s kind to your knives, and cleanup’s a breeze. But once in a while, you need to show some love to your wood surfaces, to keep them in prime condition. Whether you’ve got a 10-inch cutting board or 5-foot butcher block countertop, regular oiling conditions the wood and helps create a barrier that keeps Check out our complete how-to instructions for making a beautiful cutting board from wood scraps....

Family Handyman Required Materials for DIY Car Horn Repair Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s the list: 16-gauge wire Clamps In-line fuse holder Connect a Fused Jumper Vehicle horns sit up front where they’re exposed to rain and road chemicals. Once that spray gets into the horn’s innards, it can short out the coil and kill the vehicle horn (and blow the fuse in the process)....

Question: Does the electrical code require that electrical panel circuit breakers be labeled? Answer: Absolutely. There is no gray area here. Labeling a new electrical panel only takes a few minutes. Tracing circuits and labeling an existing panel is a task that is best done with two people and could take hours. A complete directory helps to ensure the safe operation of the electrical system, especially in an emergency. The code requires that every circuit and circuit modification be legibly identified as to its clear, evident and specific purpose or use....

Construction Pro Tips Every project evolves with its own individual set of surprises. Construction professionals regularly rise to the challenge, resolving each situation based on that job’s circumstances. Through their experience, our experts provide valuable guidance to these reader-submitted issues. Question #1 From Garland: I recently purchased a 10 ft. x 16 ft. storage shed and want to have it built on 16-inch pillars. I plan to have a 16 x 16 x 3....

Things in your home will wear down, break and need to be out right replaced — NOT fixed. But how long should expect that new dishwasher to last, or the deck you built a couple summers ago? Here’s how often you can expect, and should, replace everything in your home. Exterior Replacements Deck Like your roof, your deck’s life expectancy depends greatly on climate and maintenance. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors estimates decks made from wood planks will last about 15 years, while structural wood will give you 10 to 30 years....

Gas stoves have long been popular with professional and home chefs. But as our planet warms, the need to decarbonize our energy sources means cooking with gas is falling out of favor. Governments across the nation are offering incentives to make the switch to cleaner, more efficient appliances. Now consumers may have another reason to reconsider gas: indoor air pollution. Recent studies indicate gas stoves contribute to asthma and other respiratory health issues....

Francesco Cantone/Shutterstock Have you ever wondered about that hole near the top of your bathroom sink? Hole In Sink: Explained Depending on the design of your sink, it may have one, two or three holes, and they may appear between the faucet valves, facing toward you, or under the near rim, facing the mirror. They serve two functions: to prevent an overflow with the drain stopper engaged and to provide an escape route for air in the drain....

Current interest in vegetables and other home-grown produce is at its highest level in decades. But to bring your produce to your table, you need to plant at the right times. So how do you know when to plant? We’ve got you covered! Suggested planting times vary by hardiness zone, as determined by the USDA and based on annual low temperature averages. The continental U.S. includes Zones 3 to 10, with most falling into Zones 4 to 9....

This FH series spotlights the women and nonbinary tradespeople who make up 11 percent of the construction workforce in America. Know someone we should feature? Email us here. Soph Davenberry left college with a liberal arts degree but without an instantly employable set of skills. While barely scraping by, Davenberry saw a newspaper ad for an apprenticeship in sheet metal. Davenberry, who uses the pronoun they, had no idea what it entailed, but decided to apply....

If your idea of the perfect location for your primary residence or second home is off the beaten path, you’re not alone. For vacation homes especially, many people dream of building on a remote lot, far from city lights, noise and traffic. It sounds like an ideal plan until you’re faced with getting building materials to that secluded plot. Being realistic and budgeting for materials transportation will make your remote build less difficult and stressful....

A pressure washer is an amazingly useful tool for home projects, whether it’s seasonal cleaning, job prep or tidying up after an especially messy chore. And with global sales expected to approach $3 billion by 2024, pressure washers are becoming standard equipment for DIYers worldwide. It doesn’t take much training to use a consumer-grade pressure washer, but it does require caution to avoid injury or accidental property damage. Make your life simpler and safer by avoiding these six common mistakes committed by pressure washer newbies....

Why the Weller Soldering Gun is the Best Weller is known as the best in soldering guns and the 9400 model is awesome. This gun features three LED lights for better views of your soldering projects. It cuts in less than 6 seconds and comes with three tips. Perhaps the best part—it comes with a 7-year warranty. It’s lightweight at 3 pounds and there’s a hex wrench stored on the grip to make changing tips easier....

A chainsaw is a powerful tool that can save countless hours of manual labor. If you’re in the market for a chainsaw, it’s vital to factor in chainsaw safety, budget and user experience to make sure you’re choosing the perfect tool for you. What Is a Chainsaw? A chainsaw is a portable saw that cuts with a set of teeth on a continuous chain that rotates over and around a guide bar....

For many homeowners, keeping their lawns emerald green and lush throughout summer and into fall is a matter of personal pride that takes hours of careful work. If your region is going through a drought, however, that can be problematic. In cases of severe drought, it’s a challenge simply to keep your grass alive. But if you’re resourceful and consistent, you can still care for your grass during a drought while remaining environmentally conscious....

Space is limited in my greenhouse in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone 7a. Instead of knocking it down and building a bigger one, several years ago I assembled two cold frame greenhouses from kits and placed them against the structure. I’m glad I did. Whether you have a big garden or a small one, you can probably benefit from a cold frame greenhouse. Here’s what you need to know....

Family Handyman If you have aluminum wiring in your house, you might have a fire waiting to happen. Many houses built between 1965 and 1972 were wired with aluminum instead of copper. The wiring itself isn’t a problem; aluminum conducts electricity safely. The trouble is at the connections. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that homes with aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to have “fire hazard conditions” than homes wired with copper....

sraphotohut/Shutterstock Drivers typically don’t think much about airbags unless they go off in an accident. But these safety features can age just like other car components, and may even need to be replaced. How do you know if your airbags have gone bad? Here’s what you need to know. Some Airbags Have Replacement Dates An Airbags lifespan depends on the age and brand of your car. That’s why we suggest you take a look at your owner’s manual, or research your specific model online to find out the details....

We’ve all been there, when closing your closet door becomes an all out war. It’s time to go through your closet, organize and get rid of some things. Decluttering can feel overwhelming, but by breaking it down into smaller steps can lighten the load. Take an afternoon and follow these easy steps to declutter you closet! Assess Your Closet Space To start, pull everything out – yes, everything. Even the shirt you just wore last week....

Know the Air You Breathe We spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. It’s worth knowing how clean your indoor air is and what’s in it, so you can take action to improve it. The Airthings Wave Plus monitor provides real-time air quality data to your phone with six sensors that monitor: Temperature – Being able to see your home’s temperature while you’re away – particularly during the winter – can prevent a frozen plumbing pipe catastrophe....

Courtesy of RenoRun Every construction project, whether you’re a carpenter, plumber or electrician, starts and stops with having the correct materials on your jobsite at the right time. Running around picking up screws and lumber is a waste of time that could have otherwise been spent working and building. But what if someone else did the materials shopping for you? Well, that’s where RenoRun comes in. What is RenoRun? RenoRun, founded in 2017, provides same-day delivery of materials and supplies to jobsites....