Handyman Life

March 4, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

Need To Step It Up? Check out this Vanity Step Upgrade!

Whether a household is full of kids, people of shorter stature or abnormally tall vanities, Ana White’s vanity step drawer is a simple way to make any bathroom more accessible. With a few tools from around the home and some inexpensive materials, any vanity can be upgraded to suit any house.

Here’s the required supplies:

1 set of heavy duty 16″ door slides
1 1X3″ @ 8 feet long board
1 3/4″ plywood 16″ and the width of the board
2-inch finish nails
1 1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
Wood Glue
120 grit sandpaper
Measuring tape
Pencil
Hammer
Kreg Jig
Drill
Circular Saw
Brad Nailer
Countersink Drill Bit

vanity-drawer-step-stool-7 Begin by removing any doors from the vanity as well as the toe kick. Before beginning the rest of the project, make sure to fill any holes with wood filler and sand with the 120 grit sandpaper in the direction of the woodgrain. Following this preparation, take measurements of the height and width of the drawer and toe kick areas to assure all the wood board pre-cut sizes will work.

Once all the measuring precautions are taken, attach plywood on top of the drawer and secure it with 2″ nails and wood glue. Using the directions on the wood slide box, attach the slides to the step drawer and the opening for the drawer. Reattach the toe kick to the front of the drawer for aesthetic consistency using a Kreg Jig and finished nails.

After this step, any bathroom will be an asset to homeowners and overnight visitors alike.

Ready for even more bathroom renovations? Call Chicago Handyman today!

March 3, 2015 in Home Automation, Tech Toybox

A Solution For All Plug-Ins: Pop-Out Outlets

Sure, outlets are flush with the wall. But honestly, they’re not much to look at. The solution? Pop-Out Outlets!

This user-friendly device can easily be pushed into the wall, looking like a chic, silver square. When needed for hair dryers, razors or any other random bathroom supplies, simply push the square again and out pops not 2 but 3 outlets.

Not only is it user-friendly, but can be user-installed, as long as there is 22 cubic inches available for the hardware. This standard feature in the majority of new homes can now be installed in any old build.

For just over $50, change the style and function of a bathroom in just a few quick steps.

December 26, 2014 in Uncategorized

Add Some Mystery To Your Home With This Secret Bookcase Door

Final product by OhSkizz

I don’t know about you all, but I’m always looking for clever storage solutions. I think everyone has a little pack rat in them and for those of us who have a little more of it than others, we need simple, cool ways to clean up our space. And this bookcase door from Reddit user, OhSkizz, managed to do just that. Not only does the bookcase add visual interest but makes the most of the square footage in any room.

The supplies for this awesome project won’t cost you much either! All you’ll need is two 2″x4″x8’s, one 2″x6″x8’s, three 1″x6″x8’s, wood paneling, wood trim, screws, gorilla wood glue, hinges, a gate latch and a staple gun. These can all be picked up from your local hardware store and cut to size for your door’s measurements.

Your first step is to build the doorframe. You will use two 2″X6″X8′ for the sides of the frame and two 2″x6″x8’s for the top and bottom of the frame. Attach these pieces with your screws and gorilla wood glue.

Next you will start working on the shelving. Cut your three 1″x6″x8’s to create the top, bottom and sides of the frame of the shelving insert. The remaining wood will be cut to size and used as the shelves. Secure the pieces of woods to each other with more screws and gorilla wood glue.

Initial Cuts by OhSkizz

When you have created both the door frame and shelving insert, it is now time to fasten them to each other. This will again be done with screws and gorilla wood glue. Warning: if you don’t like glue, this project might not be for you.

Before you continue to the final steps of the project, test fit the frame to the door. If it fits, awesome. If not, you will have to do some adjusting to make it flush with the doorway.

Staining frame and shelving by OhSkizz

The next steps involved are staining and connecting the wood panelling. Apply as much staining as you deem necessary. Once the stain dries, you can screw the paneling into place. With all badocams the pieces fit together, you will now begin to fit it into the doorway.

After screwing in the two hinges to the door, it is time to cover them up with the trim. The trim should be stapled down and make it flush with the doorway and outer trim. Then you will stain the trim to match the bookshelf.

The final step is to create the secret book latch. This is done by choosing your book and cutting a wedge to insert a piece of wood into it, secured with glue and a screw connected to the back of the bookshelf. By mounting the latch on a 2X4 block of wood, the latch sits close enough to the door to catch the metal catch pin and make the door open simply by pulling a book.

Secret Book Lock by OhSkizz

All that’s left to do is add the rest of your books and accessories. Once you’re done, this door not only gives extra storage but a magical touch to your house.

For all your other door needs, call Chicago Handyman for a free estimate on door installations!

October 21, 2014 in Uncategorized

Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Before Refinishing from wkendrider

Hardwood floors are undoubtedly the one feature any renter or prospective home buyer is looking for when searching through pages and pages of listings. However, destroyed hardwood floors tend to detract some buyers from investing in an otherwise great home. Their first instinct is to completely scrap the floors and invest unnecessary money in new flooring. But a smart buyer knows that with a few tools from their local hardware store, they can make their floor look like new again.

Take for instance this Reddit user, wkendrider. An admitted home improvement novice, this renter was able to improve the look of his home completely with $250 and less than a week of work refinishing hardwood floors.

After first pass through with sander by wkendrider

Depending on how damaged the floor is, you may have to experiment with what sander and grit to use. A random orbital sander with 60 grit will work just fine for slightly damaged floor, a 120 grit being more appropriate for completely ruined floors. Be warned, the sander you rent from your local hardware store will probably weigh upward of 110 pounds. So if you struggle with carrying laundry up the stairs or have existing back problems, you may want to get a helpful friend or neighbor to give you a hand.

Once the scratches, stains and damages have come up from the floor, you will want to decide on what kind of stain to refinish the floors with. This of course depends on how close you want to remain to the original floor color. For a warmer hue, you will want to go with red oak. But if you’re going for a lighter look, limed oak might be more your speed. Apply as many coats as it takes to get it to the color of your liking.

After staining by wkendrider

After the stain dries, you will want to apply Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors to finish your floors. Depending on what look you want the hardwood to have, you will again have to choose from multiple options. From glossy to satin, apply this poly evenly with a roller to get your hardwood shiny and presentable.

After adding poly by wkendrider

Once the poly dries, it’s time to put the furniture back in the room. You have completed the task of reviving the seemingly unsalvageable. The time you invested will be invaluable and allow you to have a larger budget for some other home projects.

And if you pull up some carpet and find you don’t have the hardwood you desire, reach out to us for all your Chicago flooring needs!

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July 27, 2014 in Uncategorized

What Would You Do With Your Own Ghost Town?

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Kitsault, British Columbia, is a town not unlike many written about in fantasy novels and movies. However, this place and its history is entirely real. U.S. mining conglomerate, Phelps Dodge, founded this community for the workers of its molybdenum mine in 1979.

Only 18 months after the residents established their place in this community, they were forced to evacuate in the middle of the night. With the prices of molybdenum crashing, Phelps Dodge could no longer afford the town and ousted his residents without notice.

Follow this virtual tour and discover this gorgeous relic from the 1980’s:

This rustic sign leads you into this town preserved by time and vacancy.

These picturesque views of mountains and lakes surround you as you drive into town.

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Apartment buildings were available for those who didn’t need a single family home.

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And while weather may have worn on the outside of this home…

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…the inside, while dated, is in great shape. Must be the lack of people lousing it up!

And now, this once deemed worthless town has just been sold to businessman Krishnan Suthanthiran to the tune of 7 million dollars! Check out this video below where he shares his vision for the future of this ghost town: