How to Avoid A Scam
The economic crisis has left many Americans deep in debt and looking for a deal-or a savior-to get them through tough times. But instead of a white knight, many are getting a shady scammer. Inspired by the headlines, con artists slap new stories ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Smooth Out Those Ugly Nail Pops For Good
By Jeff Gordon From The Family Handyman Popped drywall nails and screws are common in old and new homes alike. It's tempting to just pound the fastener back in and fill the divot. But this is a short-term solution. To permanently fix the problem, ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Make Your Bathtub Less Slippery
Q Is there something I can apply to my tub and my shower stall to make them less slippery? A We found a spray-on product called Johnny Grip that you can apply to shower stalls, bathtubs and tiles to create a nonslip surface. The product is ready ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Home Improvement Disasters
I had just pulled into a parking spot at the huge home improvement store when smoke and flames began pouring from under my hood. Frantic, I bolted into the store and ran up to the first clerk I saw. As luck would have it, he was standing behind ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Color Me Flummoxed: Choosing a Paint Color
I am a fan of the Sherwin-Williams Company, if only for the crazy audacity of their logo: a giant paint can spilling its contents over Earth. What I want to know is, how did they decide on the color? Painting the earth is a big job. You don't ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Replace Old Switches With Electronic Switches
In rooms that you often enter with your arms full, like the kitchen or laundry room, it's handy to have the light come on automatically when you enter. No one around? It turns off the light and saves on those energy bills. This class of switches ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
11 Quick and Easy Home Repairs
By Jeff Gordon From The Family Handyman Whether you're a fledgling do-it-yourselfer or a veteran, here's a collection of home repairs and fix-ups you can do in a few hours or less for under $25 each. 3. Outlets: Make your old two-prong outlets ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Use Oversize Cover Plates To Hide Gaps Around Outlets
by Gary Wentz From The Family Handyman When you're installing drywall or paneling, small mistakes can leave big gaps around electrical boxes. Luckily, there's a product made just for this situation. "Oversize" cover plates ($1) for switches and [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Installing Carpeting In A Finished Basement
Q We're planning to finish our basement. The floor is a concrete slab. Can I install carpet in some of the rooms even though they're below grade? We've never had any water problems. A Any carpet that can be used in other areas of the house can be ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Lay Your Own Extraordinary Hardwood Floor
It's hard to beat the natural beauty, warmth and durability of a hardwood floor. A well-laid floor will last for a century or more and can be rejuvenated by resanding and finishing to look brand new. A real wood floor isn't cheap, but neither is ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
Common Drywall Installation Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Our enthusiastic but clueless handyman here doesn't know it, but there are 7 mistakes in this photo-can you find them? Framing at inside corners is often inadequate or lacking altogether, making it impossible to fasten the edge of the ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
The Manager Who Couldn't Write
What launched Amy Tan's career was not a big break, but a kick in the butt. Before the million-copy sales of The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife and The Hundred Secret Senses, Amy Tan was a writer. A business writer. She and a partner ran a ... [... more]
Reader's Digest |
