FamilyHandyman December2023

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EDITOR’S LETTER
FROM OUR HOME

TO YOURS
WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU WITH EVERYTHING
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE YOUR WALLS.
T
here’s paontong. And then If you’re a seasoned paonter,
there’s, mell … painting. you’ll also malk amay feelong
You knom mhat I mean. onspored for your next project.
The half-hour spent doong a Thanks to our artocle on poly-
fresh coat over a lottle poece of urethane fonoshes, you’ll never
furnoture. Versus the multoday have to scratch your head on the from our errors. And, most of
(or yearslong!) project of doong paont aosle agaon. all, you’ll enjoy all the a-ha
the entore exteroor of your home. As almays, thos ossue oncludes moments on betmeen.
We’re here for ot all. And you personal storoes from our edo- To that end, be sure to check
FDQEHWRR,QWKLVLVVXHP\ÀUVW tors. We’ve almays beloeved on out Brad Holden’s forsthand
as the nem deputy edotor at comong to you moth authorotatove account of paontong the exteroor
Family Handyman, me cover knomledge (chalk ot up to our of hos house, tmo days and
some very omportant basocs, nearly 75 years on the ondustry), one sode at a tome (page 17).
meavong on tops that only the as mell as the desore to open And don’t moss Nona Brocko’s
pros knom. Thonk: hom to paont our homes to you. You’ll see roundup of surprosong alterna-
uncommon surfaces loke rusty our successes. You’ll follom us toves to paont (she’s troed them
metal, toles and glass. through the troals. You’ll learn all) on page 30.
Speakong of personal storoes:
I moved onto a charmong lottle
Cape Cod home on the edge
of Molmaukee around tmo years
ago. Whole there masn’t any
major paontong to be done (for-
tunately, the old omners had just
apploed a nem coat of a lovely
sandstone hue everymhere), I dod
try my hand at another may to
cover some terrotory: mallpaper.
By “try my hand” I mean I
pocked out a vobrant palm-frond
pattern for my offoce and then
decoded to let a pro take the
mheel. I’m glad I dod. Thos mas
no peel-and-stock affaor. The
pro paonstakongly used a trado-
toonal pastong technoque over
the course of three days, even
pattern-matchong the aor duct
BOTTOM LEFT: PHOTO SUPPLIED BY KELLY AIGLON
and loght smotches. You can see

the result on the photo at left.
I’m lookong formard to shar-
ong even more adventures on
home omprovement storoes, and
hearong yours, on the months to
come. Reach out to me anytome
at kelly.aiglon@tmbi.com.
KELLY AIGLON
DEPUTY EDITOR
FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM WINTER 2024 1

winter 2024
EXPERT
ADVICE
S I N C E 1951
D E PA RT M E N T S
6 HANDS ON
Discover a wheelbarrow
that makes heavy work
feel light, plus more.
12 HANDY HINTS®
Clever solutions from
our readers will get your
home through winter.
50 BEST PRO TIPS

Avoid snafus while
painting, with expert
advice on safety, mixing
and more.
54 HOME CARE
13 items you need at the
ready to create a winter
car survival kit.
60 GREAT GOOFS®
Spray-painted grandpas?
Frozen toilets? And we
thought we had seen
it all.
FEATURES
17
EXTERIOR
20
EXPERT
26
SKIM-COATING
30
WALL
36
UNCOMMON
44
POLYURETHANE
GBRUNDIN/GETTY IMAGES
PAINTING SECRETS Learn how to DRESSING SURFACES 101

An insider’s How to master smooth out 10 surprising Yes, you can A buyer’s
trick: Take brushes, roll- bumped and alternatives paint glass, guide to the
it two days ers and spray cracked walls. to painting. vinyl, iron perfect finish.
at a time. paint. and more.
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WHAT’S NEW?
facebook.com/thefamilyhandyman
pinterest.com/family_handyman
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tiktok.com/@familyhandyman
BRAD ALLRED
STREAM IT NOW:
AT H O M E W ITH
F A M I LY H A N D Y M A N
T
wo new series on the At Home with Family Handyman channel
will help keep you inspired this winter. Settle in and stream
Workshop It, hosted by maker Brad Allred of Project Build Stuff,
and Income Property with Scott McGillivray, which is coming soon.
On Workshop It, Brad Allred takes complex projects and breaks
them down into manageable steps anyone can do in their own
home. Growing up, Brad was a self-professed “master tinkerer,”
always tearing apart and rebuilding anything he could get his
hands on. Then, when he started teaching high school engineering
in 2018, he needed an outlet. So he started Project Build Stuff, his
popular Instagram and YouTube channel focused on showing new
DIYers how to tackle projects step by step.
In Workshop It, Brad shares the builds that mean the most
to him and bring his family together. “I was able to showcase
some of my favorite projects I’ve done around my home, from
making a little library to help my community, to a dining room
table made out of an actual bowling alley lane,” he says.
Have an entrepreneurial spirit? You’ll love Income Property.
Host and renovator Scott McGillivray shows homeowners with
cash needs how to create rental suites in their home as a way to
generate additional revenue and defray mortgage costs.
Stream these series for free on the At Home with Family
Handyman channel, available on Samsung TV Plus, The Roku
Channel, LG Channels and more, including the Family Handyman
app. For more info, visit familyhandyman.com/tv.
ENTER TO WIN $500 SHOW US

YOUR PROJECTS
H
ave you recently done an upcycling project? Maybe
it was as simple as repurposing an Ikea bookcase ... and you may get
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here: If you turned something old into something new ahead: Share what you’ve been
for your home, show us—you could win $500! working on at home. It may
To enter, send us a short video of the project, no more appear in an upcoming issue
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1920s Style for a 1920s Price
I t was a warm summer afternoon and my wife and I
were mingling with the best of them. The occasion
was a 1920s-themed party, and everyone was dressed to
the nines. Parked on the manse’s circular driveway was
a beautiful classic convertible. It was here that I got the
idea for our new 1920s Retrograde Watch.
Never ones to miss an opportunity, we carefully steadied
our glasses of bubbly and climbed into the car’s long front
seat. Among the many opulent features on display was a
series of dashboard dials that accentuated the car’s lavish
aura. One of those dials inspired our 1920s Retrograde
Watch, a genuinely unique timepiece that marries
timeless style with modern technology.
With its remarkable retrograde hour and
minute indicators, sunburst guilloche face
and precision movement, this design is truly
one of a kind. What does retrograde mean?
Instead of displaying the hands rotating on
an axis like most watches, the hands sweep
in a semicircle, then return to their starting
point and begin all over again.
Retrograde watches by the big brands can
set you back thousands; one recent offering
from a big French fashion house is selling
for more than $150,000! But because we’ve
designed the 1920s Retrograde Watch in-house,
we can offer it to you for just $99!
This watch is so wildly popular with our customers that
we’re actually concerned about running out; we only
have 937 729 left for this ad!
Watch Specifications:
• Precision movement
• Stainless steel case, caseback and crown “An elegant and exciting timepiece that
• Retrograde hour and minute indicators every collector will love.”
• Water-resistant to 5 ATM
• Brown genuine leather band — George Thomas, internationally
• Fits wrists up to 8" renowned watch expert
1920s Retrograde Watch
$399 $99* + S&P Save $300
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
“[A] unique and
beautiful timepiece.”
1-800-333-2045 — Carlos C., Los Banos, CA
Your Insider Offer Code: RGW169-01
Stvuer, 545p5 Southcross Drive W., Ste 555, Dept. RGW569-p5, Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com
AFFORD THE EXTRAORDINARY

HANDS ON
TOOLS, GADGETS + GEAR WE RECOMMEND
BY BRAD HOLDEN
BUILT-IN LEG HANDLES

MAKE FOR EASY TILTING TO
FULLY EMPTY YOUR LOAD.
H E AV Y- D U T Y D E S I G N
TO M A K E W O R K F E E L L I G H T
T
he Gorilla brand is well known for inno- and Gorilla makes a no-flat tire for swapping out
vative ladders, so when the wood handles if needed. One of my favorite features is the built-
rotted off my old wheelbarrow last year, in handles on the legs. Once you’ve lifted the
I picked up the new Gorilla 6 cu. ft. PRO Gorilla to vertical dumping position, you can grab
Steel Wheelbarrow. The first thing I the leg handles to easily tilt the wheelbarrow for-
noticed is that it has a very wide stance, giving ward for a full emptying. At press time, the Gorilla
excellent loading stability. The tub is steel, and it’s PRO Steel Wheelbarrow had earned 4.8 stars,
well braced for heavy loads. Long steel handles with reviews indicating that it is equally suitable
with easy grips provide good leverage for lifting for homeowners and professionals. As someone
and keep you from bumping into the tub while who straddles both worlds, I couldn’t agree
you’re maneuvering a heavy load. The 16-in. more. Available online or at home centers
pneumatic wheel is perfect for rough terrain, for $150.
PAINT LIKE A PRO
My exterior walls are deeply
grooved cedar shakes, and they
take forever to paint by hand.
After painting a couple of walls
with brushes and rollers, I
decided I’d had enough. I pur-
chased the Graco TrueCoat
360 Variable-Speed Handheld
Airless Paint Sprayer, and I’ll
never go back to brushing. The
canister holds about a quart of
paint, and it’s surprising how
quickly it runs out. But it’s easy
to refill. And yes, I go through
more paint than I would if I were
brushing. But the time saved
(it’s about 75% quicker than a
brush job) is more than worth
the cost of a little more paint.
The TrueCoat 360 is easy to use,
and sprays in any orientation.
The paint reservoir is reusable,
or you can buy extras if you
prefer to save a little cleanup
time. Find the Graco TrueCoat
360 single-speed sprayer at
home centers and online retail-
ers for $175. Dual-speed and
variable-speed Graco sprayers
are available for $210 and $280,
respectively.
GETTING A GRIP
T
here are many brands and styles of slip-on traction for winter
walking. When you’re navigating hard-packed snow, a coil-
spring style works well. But on ice, you need spikes. Last
winter, I picked up a pair of ICETRAX
V5 Ice Cleats. Their short tungsten
cleats kept me upright the
whole season. I’ve had
others with similar
cleats, but less robust
straps, and they broke
after a couple of
months. My ICETRAX
are ready for their
second winter. The
tungsten cleats wear
down over time, but you
can buy replacements
that are simple to pop in.
Look for ICETRAX from
online retailers for around
$25.

HANDS ON
TWICE THE LIGHT WHERE YOU NEED IT
G
etting a job done right can clip the base onto any battery runs out of
requires seeing clearly, 2x framing member for con- juice, you can plug
even in dark places. venient height adjustment. the light into an
The Ryobi 18V One+ Speaking of adjustments, the outlet via an exten-
Hybrid 20-Watt LED Work Light light rotates a full 360 degrees. sion cord. Simply
is a go-to for me, as it checks a Coupled with its mounting remove the battery
lot of boxes. First and foremost, capabilities, the illumination and you’ll find a
it’s bright (2400 lumens), which possibilities are virtually end- two-prong plug
is essential for any work light. less. Now, let’s talk about the hidden in the bat-
This Ryobi Work Light is also “hybrid” part of the name. tery compartment.
highly portable, owing to its What does that mean? Well, as The Dual Power
light weight and compact you can see in the photo, the light is available
design. Next, with a sturdy product runs on a battery— online and at home
base, it sits solidly on any specifically the ubiquitous centers for about
surface, but can also be Ryobi 18-Volt One+ platform. $90.
mounted to a tripod. Or you But in the event the charged
AN EDGE FOR ICE

Sometimes the typical plastic scraper isn’t aggressive enough to scrape ice off the
windshield. Enter the Snow Joe Edge. Its 43⁄4-in. brass blade is sharp enough to
cut through ice without scratching your windshield. Because the brass is a
soft material, you could wear out one of these scrapers over the winter. But
they’re only $5 each—so you can buy a few and stick them in the glove com-
partment. Available at home centers and online retailers
Sacred Stone of the
Southwest is on the
Brink of Extinction
C enturies ago, Persians, Tibetans
and Mayans considered turquoise
a gemstone of the heavens, believing
B.
the striking blue stones were sacred
pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and
most valuable turquoise is found in the
American Southwest–– but the future
of the blue beauty is unclear.
On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke
with fourth generation turquoise
26 carats
traders who explained that less than five of genuine
percent of turquoise mined worldwide
can be set into jewelry and only about Arizona turquoise
twenty mines in the Southwest supply
gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving ONLY $99
industry, many Southwest mines have
run dry and are now closed.
We found a limited supply of turquoise
from Arizona and purchased it for
our Sedona Turquoise Collection.
Inspired by the work of those ancient
craftsmen and designed to showcase the
exceptional blue stone, each stabilized
vibrant cabochon features a unique,
one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in
Bali metalwork. You could drop over
$1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you
could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99.
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you aren’t completely happy A.
with your purchase, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund
of the item price.
The supply of Arizona turquoise is limited, don’t miss your chance to
own the Southwest’s brilliant blue treasure. Call today!
Jewelry Specifications:
• Arizona turquoise • Silver-finished settings
Sedona Turquoise Collection
A. Pendant (26 cts) $299 * $99 +s&p Save $200
B. 18" Bali Naga woven sterling silver chain $149 +s&p
C. 1 1/2" Earrings (10 ctw) $299 * $99 +s&p Save $200
Complete Set** $747 * $249 +s&p Save $498
**Complete set includes pendant, chain and earrings. Necklace
Call now and mention the offer code to receive your collection. enlarged
to show
1-800-333-2045 luxurious
color
Offer Code STC847-09 Rating of A+
You must use the offer code to get our special price.
*Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the
S t a u e r … A f f o r d t h e E x t r a o r d i n a r y .®
price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. STC847-09,

Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
HANDS ON
ENTERTAINING
HEARING
PROTECTION
I’ve always preferred ear
plugs to earmuffs while
I work. These ISOtunes
Free 2.0 True Wireless
Earbuds are just the ticket.
They offer an OSHA-
compliant 25-decibel A P O W E R F U L WAY T O M O V E S N O W
A
reduction in noise while Minnesota winter often brings a whole lot of the white stuff. Unlike most
delivering music from my of my neighbors, I’ve been putting off buying a snowblower. My SnowPlow
phone at a volume level Snow Pusher handles anything winter dishes out. The blade is made from
that caps off at 85 deci- UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight) plastic, which is extremely durable, non-
bels. I get up to 13 hours of stick and safe to use on all surfaces. It’s also hard-wearing and unaffected by
battery life before having cold weather. Instead of just a handle and a blade, the Snow Pusher incorpo-
to recharge. And my rates a sturdy brace, making this a truly professional-grade shovel. It’s available
ISOtunes can recharge in widths ranging from 24 in. to 48 in., priced from $50 to $80. To accompany
right in their charging the Snow Pusher, I’d recommend the Snow Dominator ($40), which is made for
case, giving me an addi- scooping instead of shoveling. Find all of these snow removal products at home
tional 25 hours of battery centers, hardware stores or online at thesnowplow.com.
life before the case needs
to be recharged. ISOtunes
Aware technology also
sorts through the sounds MASKING MADE EASY
around you, limiting loud A friend of mine has done a lot of paint-
and constant tool noises, ing work and has found some products
and amplifying other that make the job quicker and more
sounds, such as voices, profitable. One is the 3M Masking Film
so you can hear when and Paper Cutoff Blade (aka the 3M
people are talking to you. Masking Machine). Because it uses an
Waterproof and resistant industrial-sized airless sprayer, every-
to dust and sweat, each thing needs to be masked off. After
pair comes with a charg- using the tool on one of my friend’s
ing case, USB cord and jobs, I bought one for myself (along
three pairs of tall ear tips with a small airless sprayer) to make
and short ear tips in my own home painting jobs quicker. The Masking Machine holds a roll of 3M
small, medium and large plastic film and a roll of painter’s tape, which it dispenses together. A ser-
lengths. Pick up a pair at rated blade cuts the roll neatly. It also has a hook, so you can hang it from a
online retailers for about ladder or tool belt. You can buy the 3M Masking Film and Paper Cutoff Blade
$200. at home centers and online retailers for about $90.
GET HOME REPAIR HACKS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
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READY TO WORK
OFF THE SHELF COMFORT.
ON THE JOB TOUGH.
WRANGLER.COM
HANDY HINTS CLEVER SOLUTIONS FROM OUR READERS
C O AT Y O U R
SNOW SHOVEL
WITH CAR WAX
M
ake shoveling snow easier by first coating
your metal shovel with car wax. Follow
the application instructions on the car wax
package. Then the snow and ice will slide
right off the shovel after each scoop.
ALLAN BARNETT
USE STAIR GAUGES

AS A CROSSCUT GUIDE
Stair gauges are usually used to lay
out stair jacks. You can clamp them to
a carpenter’s square to match the rise
and run of a stair jack and then mark
the notches. But if you put them both
on the same tongue of a carpenter’s
square, the combination makes a
great crosscut guide for circular saws.
SUZANNE TOUHEY

fa m i ly h a n d y m a n . c o m / s u b m i s s i o n s
SHARE
YOUR
HANDY
HINTS
WITH
US
PUT RAIN-X IN
SNOWTHROWER
CHUTE
Keep your snowthrower at
peak performance by spraying
Rain-X inside the chute as part
of your tuneup routine. That’s
what reader John Gossard
does! Rain-X helps to prevent
snow and ice from clogging
up the chute, so you can move
more snow faster.
DAWN ROBINSON
TRY PVC FOR

SANDING FILES
S
tick sandpaper to cutoff
pieces of PVC water pipe
and you’ll be able to
sand concave curves to per-
fection. PVC pipe is labeled
by inside diameter; here’s an
index for the outside diameter
of useful pipe sizes.
1⁄2-in. i.d. = 7⁄8-in. o.d.

USE A CONCRETE 3⁄4-in. i.d. = 1-in. o.d.
1-in. i.d. = 11⁄4-in. o.d.
FORM FOR 11⁄4-in. i.d. = 15⁄8-in. o.d.
WRAPPING PAPER 11⁄2-in. i.d. = 17⁄8-in. o.d.
Using a 6-ft. cardboard cement
form cut in half, I created two To apply sandpaper to the
wrapping paper storage con- pipe, cut through one side of
tainers. I cut the cylinder in half the pipe and slide the sand-
and cut pieces of heavy card- paper through the slot. Just
board for the base of each, pull off the sandpaper when
attaching them with duct tape. it’s worn out, add a new strip
Then I spray-painted them to and go back to having fun.
look presentable. DEB SMITH
PETER TURNER

HANDY HINTS
TRY DOWEL
ORNAMENT
STORAGE
Use dowels inside a stor-
age bin for organizing
your holiday ornaments
when the season is over.
Measure the length of your
bin from one lip to the
other; then cut a wooden
dowel into two or three
pieces of that length.
LISA CROSLEY
MAKE A TREE
BASE FOR
WOOD
FLOORS
W
inding the lights
around your
Christmas tree
can be a pain. Here’s a
great way to rotate the
tree in its stand without
scratching up your hard-
wood floor. Put a bath
rug underneath the tree
stand, fabric side down,
rubber side up. You can
easily turn the tree to
string your lights and
place your ornaments
just where you want
them. It makes ‘undeco-
rating’ the tree a breeze
too. Fold the rug under
the tree skirt to keep
it hidden.
JOSEPH AND GRACE NATALE

Survive Just About 20
Anything for Under $20 Regularly priced at $99, take
O n any outdoor adventure, Mother Nature’s job is to present

you with challenges. Some days she’s more demanding than
others. And on those days, you’d better come prepared. The Stauer
Survival Box is a near-guarantee you’ll be up to the challenge.
The stainless steel multitool offers wire cutters, knife, bottle opener,
file, a set of screwdrivers, a pair of pliers and much more. The
powerful flashlight has three different settings, and the tactical loop
watch is a reliable, water-resistant timepiece that clips to your hip
and never leaves your side. All told, opening the Survival Box gives
you instant access to nine different tools for JUST $19.50.
Regularly sold for $99, we’re offering this collection of survival
essentials to you for A FIFTH OF THE NORMAL PRICE! Why?
Because we’ve had an incredible year and we feel like giving back
to our valued customers. As this kit has proven to be one of our
all-time best sellers, we can only extend this offer while supplies
last. Of our initial run of 1,737, more than half have already sold.
Your move, Mother Nature. ÌÌÌÌÌ
Survival Box Specifications:
• Multitool: 3 ¼" x 1" folded
• Flashlight: 3 ½" x 1", 260 lumens, takes AA batteries (not included),
three LED light modes: strong, medium and caution flashing
• Watch: 2 ¾" x 1", battery type SR626SW (included)
Survival Box $99 $19.50* + S+P Save $79.50
*You must use Insider Offer Code: SVB149-01 to get this price.
California residents please call regarding Proposition 65 regulations before
purchasing this product.
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: SVB149-01
Stauer, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. SVB149-01,
SVB Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com

PAINT YOUR
WHOLE HOUSE
IN TWO DAYS
… TWO DAYS AT A TIME, THAT IS!
BY BRAD HOLDEN
P
ainting a whole
house is a huge
task, but the work
isn’t hard. Anyone
can paint! That’s
why I don’t hire the job out.
Instead, I tackle it by doing
one wall over the course of
two days every summer.
That’s right—depending on the size
of the wall, you can paint it in two
to three days. As long as you’re
not changing colors, this is a great
option. If you are changing colors,
you’d have to be OK with your house
being different colors until all the
walls are done, four years later. My
wall took a little extra time because
of my cedar shakes. To make the job
easier, I invested in an airless paint
gun. Here’s how I go about things.

CARBIDE
SCRAPER
1 SCRAPE LOOSE PAINT
After pressure-washing all
the surfaces, I let everything
dry for close to 24 hours. Then I
scraped all the loose paint off
the flat surfaces using a carbide
scraper. If you don’t remove all
the loose paint, your new paint
won’t adhere very well, and will
actually peel off much sooner.
But I didn’t bother scraping the
cedar shakes.
1 2 REMOVE BAD SHAKES

If you have shakes, don’t
bother scraping them. This
type is deeply grooved and
impossible to scrape sufficiently.
For this job, I decided to replace
REMOVING any shakes with badly peeling
OLD paint. To remove them, I had to
SHAKES cut some nails using an oscillat-
THAT
WERE ing multitool.
SCRAPED
3 INSTALL NEW SHAKES

Slide the new shakes into
place and nail them on using
siding nails through the top and
galvanized finish nails at the
bottom. These shakes are dou-
bled up, so the visible shakes
slide up underneath the base
layer shakes.
2 4 INSTALL NEW CORNERS

To trim out the corners, I
bought aluminum corners
made specifically for this type of
siding. You can find them at most
home centers. These corners
hook around the bottom of the
shakes, and get nailed on at the
top. They’ll get primed and
painted along with the wall.
ALUMINUM
CORNER TRIM
3 4
5 MASK OFF
Because I was spraying the
whole job, I spent some time
masking any adjacent surfaces
using a 3M Masking Machine
($90) and masking film. The
machine applies tape and film
at the same time. When I’m
working on a ladder, it’s difficult
to put the film up in one piece.
So in this case, I tore off smaller
pieces that I could apply in
reachable sections before mov-
ing the ladder.
6 PRIME SURFACES
Next, I primed the soffit, fas-
cia and wall. I used Peel Stop
Triple Thick Primer from Zinsser
($53/gallon), which is perfect for
MASKING
MACHINE
older wood surfaces where you’re

not scraping and sanding down
to bare wood, as it fills some
gaps, hiding imperfect surfaces.
5
I used a Graco TrueCoat 360
Single Speed Airless Sprayer
($174). It was an expense, but the
time cut off the job was worth it.
6 7
I’ve done them by hand before,
and the sprayer cuts the time by
about 80%.
AIRLESS
7 PAINT THE WALL

After letting the primer dry, I
sprayed color on the wall.
Instead of masking off the soffit, I
just shielded it from the spray
SPRAYER
using an old cedar shake. When

you’re spraying, just make sure
that the nozzle is perpendicular
to the surface that you’re spray-
ing. Start the painting stroke
before squeezing the trigger, and
let the trigger off before stopping
the stroke.
8
8 PAINT THE SOFFIT
I painted the soffit last,
because it was easier to
mask the wall than to mask the
soffit to paint the wall. Again, the
sprayer saved a lot of time here.
What would have taken me an
hour with a brush was done in
five minutes. Spraying overhead
like this makes it more difficult to
keep the nozzle perpendicular to
the surface, so apply the paint in
a light coat to avoid drips and
runs. And make sure you don’t
wear your good glasses!
PAINT LIKE A PRO
APPLICATION METHODS FOR ANY SURFACE
MEET THE EXPERT

JENNIFER KITCHEN,
SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER
PORTRAIT SUPPLIED BY JENNIFER KITCHEN
AT PURDY; OVER 14 YEARS

OF EXPERIENCE IN THE
PAINT & COATING INDUSTRY

BY SAMUEL ROSENMAYER
P
ainting is one of those projects
you can tackle yourself to
avoid spending the money on
a professional, which can be
very pricey. Companies such
as Purdy have been creating tools and
materials to make it easier and more
HIÀFLHQWIRUKRPHRZQHUVWRGRWKHLURZQ
painting. K spoke with Jennifer Kitchen, a
senior project manager with Purdy who
has over 14 years of experience. Kitchen’s
tips will make any paint job run smoothly
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O W S E W W O
MATERIAL
Ceramic tiles X
Drywall X X
Glass X
Masonry X
Metal X X X X
Plaster X
Plastic X
Soft wood X
Stucco X
Wood X X
LOCATION
Bathroom X
Cabinets X X
Ceilings X X
Doors X X X
Exterior surfaces X
Exterior trim
Hard surfaces X
Heavy used areas X
Interior doors X
Interior drywall X
JGI/TOM GRILL/GETTY IMAGES
Interior trim X X
Interior walls X
Kitchen X
Molding X
Windows X X

CHOOSING YOUR BRUSH APPLYING PAINT
Material, shape, size, ergonomics and price—there are a lot
of things to consider when choosing the best paintbrushes for WITH BRUSHES
your project. Kitchen says that paying the extra money for a good Paintbrushes are commonly
used for painting edges, tight
paintbrush is worth it: “We come across pro painters who have spaces, trim and anywhere
had brushes in their toolbox for 20-plus years.” a roller can’t go. Hand-held
paint containers are available
BRISTLES: NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC? to help you avoid having to
carry around a heavy gallon
of paint when you are using
a paintbrush for edging into
NATURAL (HOG HAIR) corners, painting wood trim
Good for oil-based paints, stains, poly- or doing touch-ups. A clean
urethanes, wood conditioners, lacquer glass jar works well too.
thinners and other alkyd products. To paint an accurate cut-in
line, you have to see the line
NYLON/POLYESTER BLEND clearly. When cutting in
Works well with latex- and oil-based against a ceiling, molding
paints, primers and stains. or other surface where a
straight line is required,
SYNTHETIC start by sweeping into the
A good option when you are using acrylic line to unload some paint
paints, oil-based enamels/stains, and onto the wall. Don’t worry
water-based paints. about getting close on the
first pass. Without reloading
POLYESTER your brush, make a second
Used with both latex- and oil- pass to coax the paint closer
based paints. to the line. Fan the bristles
so you’re using the tip of the
taper to spread the paint in
a straight line. You may even
have to make a third pass to
SHAPE AND SIZE get a perfectly straight cut-
in line.
STIFFNESS
The stiffer the brush, the
crisper your lines will be.
Softer bristles, however,
BRISTLE IMAGES, SQUARE BRUSH, AND ANGLED BRUSH: COURTESY OF PURDY COMPANY
give a smoother finish.
SQUARE
• 3-4" for fence, panels,
large wide flat
surfaces
• 2-2½" for base- ANGLED (SASH)
boards, doors, • 2-2½" for edges and tight
cabinets corners, detail work, window
• 1-1½" for edges of frame and molding
furniture or fences • 1-1½" for precision projects,
crafts, narrow spaces
CHOOSING YOUR ROLLERS ROLLER NAP (PILE DEPTH)
If you are painting a room, use both a brush and a roller. Choosing
the incorrect roller cover could leave your walls rough and covered 3⁄16" 1⁄4"
in fuzz, and could cause an uneven shine. Here is a breakdown of

when to use certain roller covers based on your surface and paint. VERY SMOOTH SMOOTH
(metal, smooth (smooth
wood) drywall)
ROLLER MATERIAL
SYNTHETIC BLENDED 3⁄8" 1⁄2"
nylon, dacron polyester/
or polyester: wool blend:
latex paints all paints SEMI-SMOOTH SEMI-ROUGH
(most drywall, (rough wood,
ceilings, paneling) acoustic tile)
3⁄4" 1"
ROUGH VERY ROUGH

NATURAL (stucco, (concrete, tex-
mohair or sheepskin: textured tured wooden
oil-based paints ceiling, decks) fence, brick)
APPLYING PAINT WITH ROLLERS

START WITH A GOOD PAINT TRAY THEN, THINK TECHNIQUE
You can’t use a paint roller without a paint tray, and When painting a wall, roll up and down, from
there are multiple options. Plastic trays are common floor to ceiling, and move over about three-
because they are easier to clean than metal trays quarters of a roller width each time so you’re
are. You can purchase plastic liners for your trays always slightly overlapping the previous stroke.
so you can toss them out without having to clean the When you reach the corner, roll as close as you
tray after use. However, this is not the most environ- can to the adjacent wall without touching it.
mentally friendly option. Double-check that you are The key to avoiding lap marks when painting is
purchasing a roller tray that fits your roller size— to maintain a “wet edge,” so each stroke of your
otherwise you’ll be running back to the store. roller overlaps the previous stroke before the
Once you pour paint into your tray, load the paint paint starts to dry. To maintain a wet edge, start
roller cover by dipping into the paint about 1⁄2 in. and near a corner and run the roller up and down the
then rolling it against the screen or tray. Filling a dry full height of the wall, moving over slightly with
roller cover with paint will require five or six repeti- each stroke. Don’t let the roller become nearly
tions. After that, two or three dips are all you need. dry; reload it often so that it’s always at least
TRAY BRUSH AND ROLLER: COURTESY OF PURDY COMPANY
Leave the roller almost dripping with paint. half loaded. Keep the open side of the roller
frame facing the area that’s already painted. You
put less pressure on the open side of the roller,
so you’re less likely to leave paint ridges.
images
requested
oct 4
PRO TIP
If you’re working on a room that has high
walls or a high ceiling, use an extension pole.
Kitchen recommends extension poles so you
can avoid having to get on a ladder. And that
additional extension allows you to work faster.
PROS & CONS OF AIRLESS SPRAYERS
An airless sprayer, or a spray-paint machine, is beneficial if you want
to speed up a job that requires several gallons of paint. You can apply
it at least twice as fast as with a roller or brush. This makes an airless
PURCHASING VS.
sprayer particularly well suited for large painting jobs, like priming
RENTING?
bare drywall in a new house or painting a 300-ft.-long fence. A reputable airless paint
sprayer can be expensive,
An airless sprayer works by OPERATING AIRLESS but if you are planning on
pumping paint at a very high SPRAYERS using it for many projects
pressure, up to 3,000 psi, Every airless sprayer works a little it could be worth the cost.
through a hose and out a tiny differently, so it’s important to Brands like Graco, Wagner
hole in the spray gun tip. Using follow the instructions that come and Titan are the most com-
different tips, you can spray thin with the model you are using. Lay mon airless paint sprayers
liquids like stain, lacquer and out tarps and protect any areas at hardware stores. All
varnish; or thicker liquids like or objects you don’t want painted. include specific instructions
latex house paint. It’s important Spray a strip of paint across a for prepping, operation and
to consider that using an airless piece of cardboard to check the cleanup. An entry-level air-
paint sprayer can reduce the spray pattern. If the spray pattern less paint sprayer costs
amount of time it takes to com- has tails, the pressure is set too $180-$300. Pro models
plete a job, but it will use more low. Turn up the pressure. Plan range from $500 up to
paint and could end up being your spraying sequence before you several thousand dollars.
more expensive. When I used an start. On doors, for example, spray Renting is a good option if
airless sprayer for the first time, the edges first. Then spray top to you don’t expect to use the
I wish I had known how quickly I bottom. Then spray at right angles sprayer very often and want
would go through paint because side to side. Squeeze the trigger to avoid the extra mainte-
it would’ve saved me another trip while the gun is off to the side, and nance. You can rent a Graco
to the store. Also, despite how then move it onto the work. Move medium-duty airless sprayer
many tarps I put out on the floor the gun parallel or horizontal to for about $80-$95 per day.
before spraying cabinet doors, the surface so it remains at a con- Make sure the hose and
I still noticed areas where paint sistent distance from the surface. pump are clean and that the
bypassed the tarps to the garage Keep the gun perpendicular to filters have been cleaned
floor, so beware. I found that the surface, not tilted. Move fast or replaced. Ask for help in
using an airless sprayer was to prevent runs. Several thin coats choosing the right spray tip
well worth the hassle because are better than one thick one.
COURTESY OF GRACO, INC.
for the job. Some rental

I had a lot of cabinet doors to Overlap your strokes about 30% stores won’t allow you to
paint, and they turned out flaw- to 50% to prevent too much paint spray oil-based products like
less. But if it was a smaller proj- buildup. Once you are done, allow lacquer, oil stain or oil paint,
ect, I don’t think I would’ve used enough dry time before disturbing so be sure to ask.
the sprayer. any surfaces you painted.
ARE YOU A FAN OF
FAMILY HANDYMAN?
COME JOIN US.
TMBINNERCIRCLE.COM
Terms and conditions apply. Open to U.S. residents age 18 and over who qualify through a screening survey.
SIMPLER
SKIM-
COATING A NEW APPROACH
THAT’S EASY TO MASTER
BY JEFF GORTON
WANT
TO SEE
A VIDEO
OF THE
PROCESS?
SCAN THIS
CODE.

B
efore you START BY PREPPING THE WALLS
paint your
bedroom
1 Don’t just spot-prime; roll the entire wall with a water-based
stain-blocking sealer (Photo 1). If you’ve ever used solvent-based
sealers like traditional BIN and KILZ, you’ll instantly notice that the
water-based products have a far less offensive smell. That’s good
that soothing news because you need to take your time with this prep step; let the
shade of sealer dry thoroughly. Next, using a setting-type joint compound,
begin by fixing holes and torn-away paper, and by making uneven
robin’s egg blue, you sections level. Let the compound harden (it doesn’t have to be dry)
need to smooth out those before you start skim-coating.
old, cracked, bumpy

walls. It’s a process
called skim-coating—
covering the walls in
a thin layer of drywall
joint compound (aka
mud)—and it’s typically
a tough skill to master.
That’s where our method
comes in. It isn’t faster than
traditional skim-coating, which
requires you to cover drywall
with two or three coats of joint
compound and let each one dry
in between. But it is ideal for
beginners or anyone who wants
an easier way to ensure walls
will end up flat and smooth. All
you need are a regular paint
roller and a squeegee knife. The
14-in.-wide squeegee knife we
used is called a Magic Trowel. It
costs $25 and is available at
some Sherwin-Williams stores.
To find online shopping sources,
search for “TexMaster 9927” or
“squeegee knife.”
W HAT IT TA KES
TIME COST SKILL LEVEL
3 days $150 Beginner
TOOLS & MATERIALS
4-in-1 screwdriver (to remove
outlets), mud pan, paint roller,
roller sleeve, safety glasses,
sanding pole, squeegee knife,
taping knife, 120-grit sandpaper,
drywall compound, masking
tape, primer 1
2 ROLL ON THE MUD
Mix all-purpose joint com-
pound to about the same
consistency as mayonnaise—
just thin enough to roll on the
wall. You’ll get shrinkage if you
mix it too wet. Don’t worry if you
get cracking on the first coat;
just mix the next coat a little
thicker by spooning in some
fresh mud from another bucket.
Use a ½-in.-nap roller to roll
mud on an area about 4 ft.
square (Photo 2). Try to keep it
as even as you can so the
squeegee work will go better
for you.
3 WIPE IT SMOOTH
Smooth the mud with the
squeegee knife. Keep a
damp rag and a mud pan handy.
Use the rag to wipe the blade
after every few strokes and the
mud pan to wipe off excess mud
that builds up on the blade.
Starting at the top corner, set the
squeegee knife against the wall
and pull it down (Photo 3).
Overlap each vertical pass until
you finish the section. You may
have to go over some areas a
few times. It won’t take you long
to get the hang of using the
2 squeegee knife.
3
PRO TIP
Give this squeegee-like taping
knife a shot for smoothing out
tape joints next time you tape.
It tapers the edges and you’ll
4 have no trowel or taping knife

marks.
PULL UP FROM
4 THE BOTTOM
When you’re done with the
top section, roll joint compound
on the lower half. Pull the squee-
gee knife from the bottom up
(Photo 4). Touch up along the
edges as you go.
SCRAPE OFF LUMPS

5 Let the first coat of joint
compound dry. To speed up
drying time, especially if the air
is humid, use a space heater
and a box fan or two. You don’t
have to sand between coats;
just knock off lumps or proud
5
mud lines with a 5- or 6-in. putty
knife to avoid streaks in the next
coat (Photo 5).
CHANGE DIRECTIONS
6 FOR THE SECOND COAT
It sounds like a lot of work to
apply two or three coats of joint
compound, but the process is
quick and the thin layers dry
fast. The smoother you get the
wall, the less sanding you’ll get
stuck with. Trowel off each suc-
cessive layer at a right angle to
the previous one. After the last
coat dries, pole-sand the wall
with 120-grit paper. If you have
too many peaks and valleys, hit
the walls with 100-grit first.
6
10 SURPRISING
ALTERNATIVES
TO PAINTING
A WALL
THINK OUTSIDE THE PAINT
CONTAINER WITH THESE OPTIONS
BY NINA BRICKO
I
f you’re like me, you want your space to
exude personality. You might like calm
and neutral tones, or maybe you want
to see bursts of color all around you. The
good news is that whether you’re renting
or you own your home, there are plenty of
ways to bring out the “you” in your space.
1 FOR A UTILITARIAN LOOK

What? Plywood?! Yes! A sheet of plywood mounted to a
portion of your wall can be the standout look you’ve been
searching for. Use it to create a natural and cozy ambiance,
have it contrast with an already brightly painted space, or add
artwork to the plywood to create a unique focal point. Be picky
when choosing your decorative plywood, and screw into studs
if possible.
2 FOR A NATURAL VIBE

This one is a favorite. I love the organic look of cork
boards; add some artwork, and I think it’s gorgeous. All
it takes is a roll of cork at push-pin thickness, some large
brass escutcheon pins to mount it to the wall, and some
sharp scissors or a utility knife and straightedge to make
clean cuts. Once up, use cute pins to showcase your kid’s
artwork—or your own! 1
3 FOR PLAYFUL FLEXIBILITY
Pegboard comes in varying
sizes and shapes, from full
4 x 8-ft. sheets to 2 x 4-ft. pieces.
Smaller pieces give more layout
3
options and are easy to transport
if you don’t have a truck or van.
Choose between metal or wood
pegboard; either can be painted
or left unfinished. Because you
can easily alter what is placed on
the board, this is a playful option
for people who love changing
things up throughout the year.
4 FOR A MODERN TWIST

Affixing a large sheet of gal-
vanized steel to your wall is
a clever way to create a magnetic
display for photos, art and other
visual elements. It can be painted
any color—even chalkboard paint!
If you have little ones, it’s perfect TOP: BONGKARNTHANYAKIJ/GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM: VIA KOFFLER SALES COMPANY
for fine motor skills and creative

play. Just make sure the magnets
are not small enough to be swal-
lowed. Go to a hardware store
and purchase sheets of galva-
nized steel, like these from
Koffler Sales Company, that can
be pieced together to cover a
wall, or reach out to your HVAC
suppler and have them cut a
larger sheet to perfectly fit your
wall. Fasten with hex-head
screws or nails. If you choose to
paint the sheet, wait about a week
to allow the paint to cure. Then
add magnets and artwork!
FOR REFINED ELEGANCE
5 5 Venetian plaster has been
around since the rise of
Greece and Egypt. Rediscovered
in 15th-century Venice, Italy, it
became a staple during the
Renaissance era. A mixture of
water and limestone, it’s applied to
walls to create a soft marbled look.
While it’s more expensive than
paint, it brings a lovely ambiance
and almost regal finish to any
accent wall. With reinvented mix-
tures, the plaster is no longer just
for professionals. Any DIYer can
apply it successfully. You
just need plaster—which you can
buy premixed or as a powder—a
rounded steel trowel and a few
painting supplies to get the
job done.
6 FOR AN ARTISTIC TOUCH

6 This might seem like quite the
leap if you’re not an artist. But
a mural doesn’t have to be baby
cupids dancing across a meadow.
It can be simple hand-painted
strips or dots. Use varying colors
or different shades of one color to
create dimension and add some
pop to your space. All it takes is
a bit of courage, a paintbrush and
painting supplies.
FOR TEMPORARY WOW

7 People who swore off wallpa-
per in the ’90s after having to
strip the ancient glued-on variety
from every room in their home are
starting to rethink their decision,
7 thanks to peel and stick wallpaper,
like this one from Next Wall at
Home Depot. The idea that it goes
on and off easily is extremely
exciting, especially if you’re inter-
ested in creating a unique and
eye-catching wall. I love the bright
colors and loud prints out there
BOTTOM: COURTESY OF NEXTWALL (VIA HOME DEPOT)
right now, but I was hesitant to

take the dive since I’ve never put
on a sticker straight in my life. The
good news is that if a mistake was
made, I was able to pull it off and
reposition it until it was perfect.
Just make sure to order more than
you need when matching up a pat-
tern, and turn off the power when
cutting around any light switches
and electrical outlets.
8
8 FOR ENDLESS CREATIVITY

Chalkboard paint is a great addition to any room;
plus, it can be tinted to other colors, not just the
standard black. A couple of things to consider when
adding a chalkboard wall: Make sure to use two to
9
three coats of paint. Wait about three days to cure;
then prep the board by rubbing the entire wall with
chalk and then erasing before use. I did this for my
daughter’s bedroom, and she loves it. Her friends
leave her little messages, and she has spent hours
making creations. Just make sure to purchase dust-
free chalk. I gave her outdoor chalk to use, and the
dust went all over the new carpet and even stained
it. This is why I can’t have nice things, I often like to
joke to myself.
9 FOR A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

Repurpose something broken or old and turn it
into something beautiful. You’ll do the environ-
ment a good service in the process. Case in point: an
accent wall created from bamboo. Whether you dis-
TOP: KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ/GETTY IMAGES
cover old bamboo blinds at a store or notice the

ones hanging in your bathroom have broken bits,
save them from the landfill by turning them into nat-
ural wall decor. Simply remove the bamboo strips
from the string that holds the blinds together. Cut
the strips to fit and use hot glue for wood to adhere
it to the wall. Of course, you could also purchase
lovely bamboo wall paneling or mats to use as wain-
scoting or for an accent wall if you can’t find blinds
to repurpose.
10 FOR AN IMPERMANENT EDGE
When I think of fabric walls, I think of beautiful silk stretched across
grand rooms in multimillion-dollar homes, but anyone can add a bit
of texture and dimension to their home with fabric. Some opt to wrap fabric
on wood panels to mount on walls, but I love using thinner textile fabric or
upholstery fabric to cover entire walls or a half-wall with board and batten.
To do this, use liquid starch to roll (with a paint roller) onto the wall, place
the fabric against the wall, then roll the starch onto the fabric. Once dry, use
a utility knife to cut away extra fabric. The neat thing about this technique
is that it comes off by applying a wet sponge to the fabric, so this is a great
way for renters to spruce up their walls as well.
10
Mesmerizing Design
Exceptional Beauty
0,.$'2
The distinctive flow pattern of
the MIKADO faucet aerator
will add elegance to any
bathroom. Now available in a
new higher flow rate
of 1.2 gpm.
0.35 gpm 1.2 gpm
in stores and online at

www.homedepot.com
YES, YOU CAN
PAINT THAT
TACKLE ANY UNCOMMON SURFACE
WITH THIS QUICK GUIDE
BY BRAD HOLDEN
WINDOWS AND GLASS
W
ant to transform windowpanes, glass- You should also focus on these key things:
ware, vases and other glass objects? Q Type: Acrylic, lacquer, tempera, chalked, spray,
You can do it with paint, but not just pens or markers, etc.
any paint. Why? Smooth, shiny, glass Q Preparation: For every painting project, prep mat-
surfaces are nonporous and don’t have much “tooth,” ters. Clean glass surfaces of dirt and oils with soap
making it difficult for regular paint to stick. Although and water and/or rubbing alcohol, then towel- and
many people claim that traditional latex house paint air-dry before painting.
works fine on glass, be prepared: It won’t last long. Q Application method: Via bristle or stencil brushes,
After a while it will lift off and peel like nail polish. sponges, sprayers or fingers. Note: Consider topping
Katrena Luoni, a window display professional with a clear coat to seal and protect your work.
and senior visual designer at Design-O-Might, Q Adherence: If the paint needs to be permanent,
has painted lots of windows over the years and look for products containing bonding agents or that
has learned that the secret to success comes down are bakeable to render surfaces resistant to heat,
STOCKPLANETS/GETTY IMAGES
to a must-have paint ingredient. “Painting glass is a washing and scratching.

tricky business,” she says. “Look carefully at the kind Q Cost: A small bottle or pot of glass paint can
of paint you’re buying. Read the label and choose range from $2 to $10. Commercial-quality paint
one specifically formulated with bonding agents.” costs more. “You don’t have to use expensive paint,”
These are chemical compounds that will securely says Luoni. “I always go with reasonably priced
adhere to glass, ceramic and porcelain surfaces. products like DecoArt.”
APPLIANCE HANDLES
Y
ellowed handles can make a refriger-
ator or another appliance look old
before its time. Fix the problem easily
with a spray paint designed for plas-
tic surfaces. We recommend Rust-Oleum
Specialty Paint for Plastic. You’ll also need
a bottle of degreaser and a scrubbing pad.
1 REMOVE PARTS AND CLEAN

Pry off the vanity caps that cover the side
screws. Then open the fridge door and
remove the other screws. Remove the handles.
Then wash them with degreaser and hot
water. Use a scrub pad on textured areas
to remove the dirt. Pay particular attention
to dirt in crevices. Then wipe the handles
with a dry cloth and let them air-dry.
2 SPRAY-PAINT
Mask off any emblems or chrome trim
and paint the handles. Spray the sides
of the handles before doing the flat surfaces.
Allow the recommended “flash” time before
applying additional coats. Let dry, flip them
over and paint the other side. Paint the vanity
caps at the same time. Then reinstall the
handles. You may have to repaint them in
1 a few years. But in the meantime, they’ll

look a lot better.
2
VINYL FLOORING
BEFORE AFTER
C
an you paint vinyl flooring?
Yes! Rust-Oleum Home
Floor Coating is specifically
made for painting tile, vinyl
and linoleum floors. It didn’t
require any cumbersome prep
work like sanding or priming,
so I completed the transformation
in less than two hours over the
course of two days. For a reason-
able cost, we took our mudroom
floors from dingy and dated to
clean and modern.
Note: The Rust-Oleum Coating
comes in several colors, along
with a matte or semigloss top-
coat. Whether you purchase it
in person or online, be sure it’s
tinted to the color of your choos-
ing, otherwise you’ll be painting
your floors white.
1 CLEAN THE FLOOR
This is the most important
VWHS<RXUÁRRUVPXVWEH
extremely clean, with no dirt
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area, use a mop. Use a clean
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2 APPLY PAINTER’S TAPE

Adhere painter’s tape to
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transitions, air vents or any
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tape.
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3 APPLY BASE COAT
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your ÁRRU6WDUWE\FXWWLQJ
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roller with a shorter nap that
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APPLY TOPCOAT
4 With the base cnat cnm-
pletely dry, apply the tnp-
cnat. Use the same painting
technique as the base cnat,
wnrking in sectinns and rnlling
nut any brush marks. I was a
little alarmed by hnw the tnp-
cnat lnnks as it’s applied—
bubbly and uneven. Dnn’t wnrry.
It dries clear and even. If paint-
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applying twn cnats fnr added
durability. We did because nur
mudrnnm is used cnnstantly.
Wait nne tn twn hnurs befnre
applying the secnnd tnp-
cnat layer.
ALLOW FLOOR
5 COATING TO DRY
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applicatinn, wait 24 hnurs
befnre walking nn the surface.
Use cautinn and nnly allnw light
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drying perind. Wait three days
befnre putting furniture nn the
ÁRRU$IWHUVHYHQGD\VWKH
painted surface is fully cured
4 and ready fnr nnrmal use.
5
TILES & GROUT
O
ne of the advantages of the perimeter of the wall or
a tiled floor, wall or back-
splash is its permanency.
Once properly installed,
grouted and sealed, tile is there
2 MAKE REPAIRS
Fill chips and cracks with
a durable repair putty like
Bondo All-Purpose Putty. Use a
putty knife to force it into cracks
backsplash and cover anything
you don’t want to paint, such as
faucet handles or soap dishes.
to stay. The durability of tile,

however, can also be a drawback
when it loses its luster or you’re
just tired of it, because demolish-
ing tile is a major project. Rather
in the tile and voids in the grout.
Then scrape off the excess and,
when the putty hardens, sand
down the repairs with 120-grit
6 APPLY PRIMER
Use a high-quality bonding
primer like Insl-X Stix or
Behr Bonding Primer. Apply it
with a 4-in.UROOHUÀWWHGZLWK
sandpaper.
than go to the trouble, many a long-nap ( 1/2 in. or longer)
3 SAND THE TILE

homeowners leave tile as is and roller. Keep an angled trim
cover it with another material. Get out your hand-held brush handy for cutting in,
An even easier option is to orbital sander, put on a painting around obstructions
paint the tile, which we did years sheet of 120-grit sandpaper DQGÀOOLQJLQYRLGVOHIWE\
ago to the bathroom in a rental and sand the entire area you the roller.
unit. The paint gave the bathroom plan to paint. The sandpaper
a fresh, new look and has stood
the test of time.
dulls the shine and makes
micro etches that provide
traction for the paint. 7 PAINT THE FIRST COAT
Wait two or three hours for
the primer to dry. Then scuff
1 CLEAN THE TILE

Wash the tile thoroughly
with a degreasing cleaner.
A household cleaner containing 4 CLEAN AGAIN
Wipe down the entire area
you sanded thoroughly
with 220-grit sandpaper, wipe
RIIWKHGXVWDQGDSSO\WKHÀUVW
coat of paint.
ammonia is good, but a solution

of ½-cup trisodium phosphate
(TSP) substitute per gallon of
with a damp rag to remove
sanding dust.
8 PAINT THE SECOND COAT
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grit sandpaper when it’s dry,
warm water is better. This strong
5 LAY DROP CLOTHS AND which may take eight hours or

KB79/GETTY IMAGES
detergent really cuts through the MASK WITH TAPE more depending on the temper-
grease, and it helps to dull the Put drop cloths (preferably ature and humidity. Apply
shiny surface of glazed tiles. FDQYDV RQWKHÁRRUWRFDWFK a second coat, which should
Wear gloves and goggles. drips. Lay painter’s tape around be the last one you need.

R U ST Y M E TA L
T
hat old wrought-iron fence
1 or steel gutter may look

terrible, but most rusty
metal surfaces can be
restored to almost new with the
right preparation and primer.
1 LIGHT RUST
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3
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WHICH
POLYURETHANE
SHOULD I USE?
A BUYER’S GUIDE TO THE FINISH
THAT’S RIGHT FOR ANY PROJECT
BY CHRIS DEZIEL
G
o to a hardware store on 3RO\XUHWKDQHÀQLVKLVVXLWDEOHIRU
any given day and you DOOEXWthe highest-quality interior
might see people standing furniture and woodwork, and it’s
in the polyurethane aisle SUREDEO\ the most popular option
BANKSPHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES
scratching their heads. for exterior woodwork. Let’s start

It’s no wonder: There are a lot of ZLWKWKHEDVLFVDQGORRNDWSURGXFW
options, and it’s a newer innovation options to help you choose.
as compared to traditional varnishes.
WHAT IS POLYURETHANE? CHOOSING THE RIGHT products go on contoured sur-
polyurethane is the main PRODUCT faces (such as curved chair
component in modern varnish. Consider the following before legs), while brush-on polyure-
Unlike lacquer and shellac, you buy: thane is generally for flat sur-
which have been around for Use: Indoors, polyurethane faces. Spray-on products work
centuries, polyurethane is is good on furniture, woodwork for both and guarantee stroke-
a product of 20th-century lab and wood floors, or as a pro- free finishes, but are usually
technology. In some ways, it’s tective coating over a layer more expensive.
better than traditional coatings of paint. Outdoors, you can Interior or exterior: Never
like lacquer. It’s a curing finish use it on woodwork, furniture, use an indoor product outdoors.
instead of a drying finish, so it decks and railings. It lacks the extra sun-blocking
can’t be undone. The best poly- Drying time: Water-based solids, wears off in a year or
urethane has excellent chemi- products tend to dry to the touch two and does little to protect
cal and moisture resistance. faster than solvent-based prod- the wood.
polyurethane comes in sol- ucts, so you can apply more
vent- and water-based formula- coats in a day. Curing time
tions. Both are easy to apply. runs three to five days for
Water-based formulations dry most products.
more quickly, release fewer Sheen: polyurethane comes
volatile organic compounds in a variety of sheens, including
(VOCs) and are easier to clean gloss, semigloss, satin and
up, so they’re more popular. matte. Gloss finishes are more
That doesn’t mean you should reflective, making blemishes
always opt for a water-based more noticeable. They’re also
product, however. Solvent- a little more dutable.
based products level out better, Wipe-on, brush-on or spray-
creating a smoother finish. on: Wipe-on polyurethane
B EST WATER- BAS ED

BOTTOM: CHUCKSCHUGPHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES; PRODUCT: COURTESY OF MINWAX
FOR INTERIOR
WOODWORK
There are many good products for interior woodwork,
but we like the price of Minwax One Coat Polyurethane.
It comes in quart cans and in three sheens: full-gloss,
satin and semigloss.
Milky in the can, this product dries to a crystal clear
finish that hardens in about two hours. It cleans up with
soap and water and produces few VOCs. A single coat
covers as well as three coats of a comparable product,
but you’ll still probably want to apply at least two coats
so you can sand in between.

BEST FOR EXTERIORS
Solvent-based polyurethane formulations perform better outdoors
than water-based ones, and Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane
contains all the UV-blocking solids you need. The extra solids give
the finish an attractive dark amber appearance.
This product contains natural oils that allow
it to expand and contract with the wood. It
cleans up with mineral spirits and is ready
to recoat after four hours. It is great for
exterior doors, trim and furniture, but
isn’t recommended for decks or fences.
Semitransparent stains usually provide
better coverage for those large surfaces.
TOP: BUSÀ PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES; TOP PRODUCT: COURTESY OF MINWAX; BOTTOM: VALENTYN SEMENOV/500PX/GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM PRODUCT: COURTESY OF VARATHANE
BEST
S O LV E N T -
BASED FOR
INTERIOR
WOODWORK
A solvent-based polyurethane like
Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane dries
more slowly than a water-based
formulation. The extra time
allows for smoother leveling
and a better-quality finish.
This product gives wood a
rich amber hue, reminiscent
of old-style alkyd varnish.
Great for bar tops, tabletops
and wood stairways, it’s ready
to recoat in only four to six
hours. It cleans up with
mineral spirits.

BEST FOR
WOOD
FLOORS
If you’re willing to pay more,
Bona Mega Waterborne Wood
Floor Finish gives your floor
top-grade protection and a
professional finish. The low
VOCs are especially
important when finishing
a large area like a floor.
It may seem like a small
detail, but we like that this
product comes in a plastic
bottle. That means you
can pour it straight on the
floor without transferring
TOP: BANKSPHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES; TOP PRODUCT: COURTESY OF BONA; BOTTOM: KENJI MORI PHOTOGRAPHER IN JAPAN/GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM PRODUCT: COURTESY OF MINWAX
it to another container. It’s

ready to recoat in only two
hours so you can apply
several coats in a day.
BEST FOR WIPING

Minwax Wipe-On Poly comes in a convenient can that
makes it easy to transfer the product to your rag. It’s a
solvent-based product that cleans up with mineral spirits.
It’s ideal for railings, moldings and turned wood features.
The formulation is thinner than
brush-on poly, allowing the product
to seep into wood pores like a pene-
trating oil and harden within. After
several applications with sanding
in between, you’ll get the smooth,
protective film coating you expect
from polyurethane.

BEST FOR
S PRAY- O N
Minwax Polycrylic combines the
hardness of polyurethane and
acrylic to create a super durable
finish. Application doesn’t get any
easier than pressing a button on
a spray can, and this water-based
product dries so quickly that multiple
coats can be applied in a single day.
Unlike some spray products, Polycrylic is
rated only for interior use. Still, it’s one of the
most popular and highly rated polyurethane
sprays on the market. It’s also available
in cans for brush applications. It comes
in gloss, semigloss and satin finishes.
TOP: CINDY SHEBLEY/GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM: TAIGA/SHUTTERSTOCK; PRODUCTS: COURTESY OF MINWAX

BEST
P O LY U R E T H A N E /
STA I N C O M B O
Minwax Polyshades is a solvent-based
polyurethane with various wood-tone tints.
That allows you to adjust the color of your
interior woodwork at the same time as you
apply a protective coating.
Because the color fades away when the
finish wears off, this will never take the place
of two-step staining and top-coating for wood
finishing purists. However, it’s a great option
for anyone who has a lot of interior woodwork
to stain without a lot of time to do it.

BEST FOR MARINE
A PPLI CATI O N S
TotalBoat Gleam 2.0 Marine Spar Varnish combines
the hardness of polyurethane with the rich luster
of tung oil and other additives. It gives a maximum-
protection coating for boat decks, railings and other
above-the-waterline components.
Its high resistance to salt, air and prolonged mois-
ture exposure make it a desirable finish for all resi-
dential exterior woodwork in coastal communities. If
TOP: CLAFFRA/GETTY IMAGES; PRODUCT: COURTESY OF TOTALBOAT
you want a satin-sheen finish

with maximum endurance, the
manufacturer recommends
applying undercoats of gloss
and topping off with a final
coat of satin.

BEST PRO TIPS EXPERT ADVICE FROM THE JOB SITE
PA I N T I N G M I S TA K E S ?
HERE’S HOW TO
HANDLE THEM
WITH MARK KOBRIGER
PORTRAIT SUPPLIED BY MARK KOBRIGER; SKY BACKGROUND: AARON FOSTER/GETTY IMAGES
BY NINA BRICKO
M
ark Kobriger feels nostalgic Kobriger muses that perhaps That’s where learning happens,
whenever he smells paint he got into painting because once we get comfortable with
thinner—it reminds him of his grandfather had done so, or being uncomfortable. Kobriger has
his grandfather’s basement. His because his dad emphasized the been a professional painter for
grandfather was a painter: “He importance of learning a trade. over 20 years, and much like us
painted warships in Sturgeon Bay, “You have to have something to DIYers, he had to try and then fail
Wisconsin, during World War II.” fall back on, whether you work on a few times to have the wealth
A Navy veteran, he ran his own cars or houses,” says Kobriger. of knowledge that he has today.
painting business after the war. Anyone can learn a trade or at I asked him to tell us about
Kobriger’s grandfather passed least gain a new skill. One thing some of the most epic fails he
away when Mark was 8, but that is clear, though: We can’t be afraid experienced that the rest of us
basement smell stuck with him. to make mistakes along the way. could relate to and learn from.
JUST ADD WATER
Years ago, Kobriger painted metal
fire doors on a hot day. He says
he should have waited and done
it first thing in the morning, but he
didn’t. The paint dried while he
brushed it on. “I ended up pulling
the paint … I had to sand the whole
door down again and start over!
The trick I would have used today,
if I had to paint that door in the
afternoon sun, is add water to
my paint.” Kobriger explains that
house painters are constantly add-
ing water to the paint. It’s not to
thin it out or stretch the paint fur-
ther. It’s because when it’s hot, the
water in the paint is evaporating
as you’re painting, so it dries out
faster. So just add water!
KEEP YOUR EYES

ON THE BUCKET
When he was younger, Kobriger
was painting a vaulted ceiling.
“Number one rule when you’re
rolling a room: You don’t have a
tray of paint anywhere—that stuff
TOP LEFT: DESIGN56/GETTY IMAGES; TOP RIGHT: PETER CADE/GETTY IMAGES
gets spilled.” Instead, painters

use a 5-gal. bucket with about 4 in.
of paint at the bottom and a verti-
cal screen to squeeze out excess
paint from the roller. The bucket
was on the floor, and he was using
an extension pole so he could dip BE SAFE ON LADDERS
the roller into the bucket while on I don’t need to tell you that extension ladders can be dangerous. “I had
his ladder. “I just remember get- a buddy break both his arms by falling off a ladder,” says Kobriger. In
ting sidetracked,” he said. “And as this instance, his buddy hadn’t noticed that the rung lock hadn’t latched.
I’m climbing down the ladder, I put “He shifted on his ladder a little bit and his whole ladder started sliding.
my foot right into that bucket!” Not He had to jump.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more
only did he scrape his shin on the than 22,000 ladder-related injuries occurred in 2020. So while it seems
screen, his shoe was saturated. So like common sense, any time a ladder is involved, you have to take the
stay alert, and pay attention to the time for safety. “I have kids. I want to live,” says Kobriger. “I don’t want
location of your tools. to get hurt, you know?”
BEST PRO TIPS
TAKE STEPS TO PREP

Prep work can include sanding, scraping, caulking, bubbles of water! Water got behind the paint because
priming or power-washing. But essentially, it’s getting it hadn’t adhered to the wood. In this case, the cedar
the surface ready to paint. Sometimes it takes days to was treated so it wasn’t permeable. “I peeled it all
make sure a house is ready to paint, but it’s an impor- off and started over,” Kobriger said with disdain in
tant step in making sure the finished project is beauti- his voice. If he had known, he would have prepped
fully done. That was a lesson Kobriger learned early the surface with a primer or used a self-priming
on in his career. He was painting a house with cedar paint that adheres to the surface, so a treated wood
siding, but “I misunderstood what the siding was, and wouldn’t have mattered. So be sure to examine the
because of that I used the wrong product.” It rained surface you are painting to map out what is needed
that night and when he went back to the house the to prep, and know that prepping is just as important
next day, everything looked beautiful—except for giant as painting.
INVEST IN TOP: KLAUS VEDFELT/GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF PROVISIONTOOLS
SAFETY TOOLS
“I’ve seen painters do the craziest
stuff, like putting a bucket under-
neath the feet of the ladder so
you can line your ladder up,” says
Kobriger. And that doesn’t always
end well. “There are tools out
there that do those same things
that make it safe,” he says. For
example, the PiViT LadderTool
helps to level out the ladder when
you’re working on roofs or other
uneven surfaces. So instead of
being creative, check out solu-
tions that are already available
and have been tested for safety.
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HOME CARE
MAINTENANCE & REPAIR | STORAGE & ORGANIZATION | HEALTH
C R E AT E A W I N T E R
C A R S U R V I VA L K I T
13 Items You Need at the Ready
BY MIKE BERNER
A
s the saying goes: something to illuminate the
Always be prepared. interior of the cabin for writing
You’ll be able to deal down notes and phone num-
with most winter bers, etc. In some cases, you
roadside break- can use the flashlight to signal
downs, and avoid getting frost- oncoming cars or help a tow
bite or freezing, by gathering truck pinpoint your location.
some essentials. You probably
already have a lot of these 3. CELLPHONE CAR CHARGER
items in your garage. Just pop Cellphones are welcome life-
them all in a box and put it in lines when winter driving goes
the trunk of your car. wrong, but they’re only effective
when they’re charged. So keep
1. CANDLE-POWERED a spare cellphone charger in
HEATER your survival kit to keep your
When your car is stuck, keeping phone charged up. A simple
it running to stay warm can be USB car charger lets you charge
dicey. For one thing, you’ll even- any phone as long as you have
tually run out of gas. But more the right cord.
importantly, snow and ice can
block your engine’s exhaust and 4. NOTEPAD WITH PEN
lead to deadly levels of carbon OR PENCIL
monoxide in the car’s cabin. So When you call for a tow, there
are likely additional phone
5. PORTABLE
pack a simple candle-powered AIR COMPRESSOR
heater. All you need is a metal numbers a dispatcher will give
Powered by the 12V outlet in your
can, an emergency candle and you, as well as a possible inci-
car, a portable air compressor
a lighter. A candle can make dent number. Or if you’re in an
doesn’t take up much space and
a surprisingly effective ad hoc accident, you’ll need the other
FDQKHOSÀOOORZWLUHVRUPRUH
heater in the confined space of person’s driver’s license and
LPSRUWDQWO\ÀOODÁDWRUORZ
a car. plate number. If your pen isn’t
spare tire. Failures related
writing, it could be frozen, so
to tire pressure are surprisingly
2. SMALL LED FLASHLIGHT warm it up between your hands.
common, so it’s always a good
Flashlights are key for chang- Or you can use a trusty pencil
idea to check your tires regu-
ing flats or seeing under the (though it might be more diffi-
ODUO\<RXPD\QHHGWRÀOOWKHP
hood to find any quick fixes. cult to read in poor lighting).
more often when it’s cold.
Once the sun sets, you’ll want

6. SIMPLE TOOL KIT 7. SAFETY ABSORBENT 8. JUMPER CABLES
There are a few roadside fixes A small bag of safety absorbent You should never count on
that can be accomplished with can help your car regain trac- another motorist to have jumper
common tools. Pack a couple of tion when you’re stuck on ice. cables for you to borrow. Carry
screwdrivers, pliers, an adjust- Cat litter also works, but floor your own. They’re inexpensive
able wrench and some duct sweep absorbent works better. and could mean the difference
tape. If you can get your car (Sold at auto parts stores, it’s between having a kind motorist
moving again and to a service sprinkled on garage floors help you get your car started
station with a few MacGyver before sweeping to absorb or paying a tow truck to do it.
tricks, you may not only get oil and grease.) Do you have Make sure you also know the
home safe and sound, you’ll four-wheel drive? Make sure right way to jump-start your car.
save yourself the cost of you know how to use it, espe-
a tow. cially in winter.

HOME CARE
9. FOLDABLE SHOVEL
Digging out compacted snow from under your car or around
the wheels is much easier with a proper shovel. Plus, using
your hands—even in gloves—can cool you down fast. When
you don’t have room for a full-size shovel (and really, who
Statement of ownership,
does?), the next best thing is a foldable shovel. Pick them management, and circulation
up online or in military surplus stores. Statement required by the Act of August 12, 1970, Section
3685, Title 39, United States Code, showing the ownership,
management and circulation of FAMILY HANDYMAN
10. FIX-A-FLAT (USPS 515-930) published seven times per year (March,
April/May, June, July/August, September, October/
Sometimes, when you’re lucky, a can of Fix-a-Flat (or two cans November, December/January/February) at 1610 N. 2nd
St., Suite 102, Milwaukee, WI 53212-3906, as filed on Sept.
for larger tires on SUVs and trucks) can get you back on the 30, 2023. Annual subscription price: $28.97.
The names and addresses of the publisher, editor and
road without having to put on your spare. Just remember: Fix- managing editor are: Executive Vice President, Sales &
Marketing, Lora Gier, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2210,
a-Flat isn’t intended to be a permanent solution, just a stop- Chicago, IL 60601-4601; Editor, Brad Holden, 2915
Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan, MN 55121; Senior
gap measure until you can find a tire shop. But Fix-a-Flat has Editor, Donna Bierbach, 2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700,
Eagan, MN 55121.
to be warm to dispense. So either keep it in the cab or warm it The owner is Home Service Publications, Inc., 750 Third
over the defroster before using. Ave., New York, NY 10017.
Known bondholder: WRC Media, 750 Third Ave., New
York, NY 10017.
11. FIRST-AID KIT Family Handyman
Issue date for circulation data: Oct/Nov 2023
Keep the essentials in your car—including spare medications Average number of copies of each issue during preceding
if you need them—to make sure you can stay alert while 12 months, and of the single issue published nearest to
filing date, respectively, are as follow:
you’re waiting. Brush up on your first-aid skills so you’re ready Average Single Issue
Total number of copies
if the situation calls for something more than a bandage. printed (net press run) 812,913 712, 110
Mail subscriptions 745,416 638,583
Paid distribution—sales
12. WARM HAT AND GLOVES through dealers and
carriers, street vendors
Staying warm is the most important survival tactic when and counter sales 9,852 10,157
Total paid distribution 755,268 648,740
you’re stranded in the winter. It’s always a good idea to have Free or nominal-rate
extra hats and gloves so you and those with you can keep distribution 14,412 23,028
Total distribution 769,680 671,768
warm while getting your car out of a ditch, changing a tire Copies not distributed
Total
43,233
812,913
40,342
712,110
or taking a look under the hood.
Percent paid and/or
requested circulation 98.13% 96.57%
13. BLANKET Paid electronic copies 84,634 85,000
It could be a while before help arrives, so you’ll need another Total paid print copies
Total print distribution
839,902
854,314
733,740
756,768
layer to keep warm. A spare blanket will help you do just that. Percent paid 98.31% 96.96%
Keep in mind it’s likely to get dirty, so choose an old comforter I certify that the statements made by me above are correct
and complete.
or quilt.
Adam Vanderhoef
Senior Manager, Magazine Planning
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READER INFO
DO YOU CRAVE MORE
FAMILY HANDYMAN?
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Milwaukee, WI 53212 renewals, gifts and other inquiries, email:
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FAMILY HANDYMAN® ISSN: 0014-7230, USPS: 515-930. Vol. 73, No. 7, 628th Edition. Published 7 times per year: March,
EDITORIAL OFFICE April/May, June, July/August, September, October/November, December/January/February by Home Service Publications, Inc.,
1610 N. Second St., Suite 102, 1610 N. 2nd St., Suite 102, Milwaukee, WI 53212. We may also occasionally publish extra issues and special issues (which count
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registration number R123771891. CPM agreement number 40065693. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright ©2023 Home Service
Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited. Family Handyman, Handy Hints,
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out of receiving such offers via email. Please see our Privacy Policy at www.tmbi.com/privacy-policy

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LAUGHS AND LESSONS FROM OUR READERS
COLD COMMODE
Last winter I brought home a new toilet. I
stored the box outside on my porch along
with the new wax ring, flange bolts and new
water line until I got around to installing it a
few days later. I mounted the wax ring and
set the toilet over the flange, but the toilet
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base of the toilet until I nearly
cracked the toilet base, but the
toilet just would not sit flush. I gave
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The next morning, I walked out-
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empty toilet box sitting on my
unheated porch. As I shivered in my
bare feet, the explanation suddenly
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IS IT JUST ME, OR IS IT HOT IN HERE?

COLORFUL GRANDPA A friend was opening a coffee shop, and I offered to help
him out by taping the drywall. Since it was late January
My grandchildren were visiting
our home in Pennsylvania. Since in Michigan, with no heat in the building, I brought in
the kids are creative, we decided a big commercial propane heater to keep things warm
to build a birdhouse together. We enough to tape.
figured we’d hand-paint the walls I noticed it was getting pretty warm up near the ceiling
of the house and spray-paint the at the front of the store, but I didn’t pay it much mind. I
roof with whatever was lying around. went on to mud the back of the store, thinking how nice
A can of red paint—perfect! Trouble DQGWRDVW\WKHVKRSZDVJHWWLQJ:KHQ,ÀQLVKHGXSWKH
was that the spray head on the can ÀUVWFRDWLQWKHEDFN,ZHQWXSto
was bad. No problem. Grandpa the front to check how well
knew what to do! Since there was the mud was drying in
clearly paint in the can and no pres- the heat. It looked
sure, I thought I’d just drill a hole in pretty good. But just
the can and pour out the remaining as I was starting
paint. Bad idea. I drilled a hole and the second coat,
the paint came spraying out. I was I heard a loud
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEVE BJÖRKMAN
covered in red paint—all over my snap and hissss

clothes, face, arms, everywhere— as the overhead
but I couldn’t stop laughing! In sprinklers came
fact, everyone had a great laugh. on. That very long
Eventually, we poured out the paint day turned into a
and the birdhouse got its red roof. very long night.
KEITH WOLF JOHN KLUBE

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SMART HOME IMPROVEMENT ™

DEC | JAN | FEB 2024 W I N T E R

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