Not only does Cub Cadet offer excellent quality machines at great price points, but they also carry both electric and gas-powered mowers. Cub Cadet’s gas-powered riding mowers are powerful enough for those with large yards and fields. On the other hand, electric Cub Cadet Riding Mowers offer a battery-powered function, which means a quieter ride with zero emissions.

To decide on the best option, consider the area you’ll need to cover and the cost of gas versus electricity. Regardless of the version you choose, Cub Cadet mowers come with a best-in-class three-year, unlimited-hour warranty.

What is a Cub Cadet Riding Mower?

Cub Cadet is an American company that manufactures and sells outdoor power equipment, including riding mowers. Currently, there are three Cub Cadet Riding Mowers types: lawn and garden tractors, zero-turn mowers and electric riding mowers.

Lawn and garden tractors are the highest-powered versions of riding mowers that Cub Cadet offers. They’re best for larger areas and come with various attachments and accessories for year-round versatility and utility.

Zero-turn riding mowers allow users to get mowing jobs done 50% faster and are engineered to handle a range of terrains. They can cover up to five acres, with steering wheel options that make the user experience easier.

Electric riding mowers offer the same powerful performance with zero emissions, thanks to a powerful and convenient lithium-ion battery. The absence of a gas engine makes these machines some of the quietest on the market.

How to Use a Cub Cadet Riding Mower

Cub Cadet Riding Mowers come in gas and electric versions, meaning you will either need to charge the batteries or fill the tank with gas before using it for the first time. Electric model batteries are fully charged in four hours and last up to one and a half hours or up to two acres. On average, gas-powered Cub Cadet Riding Mowers use about three gallons of gas for every 2 hours of use.

As with any new machinery, it’s essential to  thoroughly read the user manual before use. To help you learn how to use your Cub Cadet riding mower, we recommend viewing the instructional videos and troubleshooting tips on the Cub Cadet website.

Here are the stats on some of their most popular models that will help you decide which machine is right for your job:

Cub Cadet Electric Mini Riding Mower

The Cub Cadet Electric Mini Riding Mower has a powerful 56-volt max lithium-ion battery that can be charged using a standard 110-Volt outlet. The battery lets you mow up to one acre (or for one hour) on a single charge without power fade, and it recharges in about four hours. As with all electric machines, there’s no need for oil, filer or spark plug changes (which can become costly).

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Cub Cadet Zero-Turn Riding Mower

Cub Cadet’s gas-powered Zero-Turn Riding Mower has a premium 23-horsepower twin-cylinder OHV engine, which boasts commercial-grade power to meet the toughest demands. The dual-hydrostatic transmissions allow for a quick 7 mph forward (or 3.5 mph reverse) ground speed that leaves your lawn with a professional-quality finish. Its 50-inch AeroForce fabricated deck delivers a signature cut with fewer clumps, finer clippings and increased evenness.

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Cub Cadet Enduro Lawn and Garden Tractor

The Cub Cadet Enduro Series Lawn and Garden Tractor has a gas-powered, 23-horsepower Kohler 7000 Series twin-cylinder engine. It features a 46-inch stamped, 12-gauge twin-blade deck with 12 cutting positions. It also has an optimized steering system for responsive handling and a 16-inch turn radius with a zero-turn feel.

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The Best Cub Cadet Riding Mower Reviews

Five-star reviewer Clark R. says assembly of his Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Gas Powered Riding Lawn Mower was “straightforward and painless.”

“After checking all fluids, pins, etc, some gas and fired right up,” he writes. “What use to take over an hour with the old 30 inch cutter now takes 20 minutes with far less gas consumption.”

J. Blair is on his second Cub Cadet Riding Mower (a CC30E Electric Mini Riding Mower) and says, “Cub Cadet never has disappointed. This is my second cub cadet tractor, and I believe there isn’t a better one out there.”

When it comes to using the electric version, Maeck Dude says, “The Cub [CC30E Electric] mini is amazing. It mows like a champ, even the thick stuff. The mulcher works like a charm, and the electric motor is easy to clean and lasts over an hour. I would highly recommend it for towing stuff as well. It will not mow steep hills and tends to want to slide on a steep slope but it’s really a marvel I’m so impressed with the quality of the machine.”

Where to Buy a Cub Cadet Riding Mower

You can buy a Cub Cadet Riding Mower directly from the company’s webpage, or from Walmart.

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The January 2023 report included a section of special questions about the most significant problems builders faced in 2022 and are likely to face in 2023. The results show builders are less concerned about materials costs and labor availability than in 2022, when the effects of the pandemic slowdown were still being felt. On the other hand, they’re more worried now about financing problems and the difficulty of attracting homebuyers.

A large percentage of home builders expressed ongoing concerns about inflation, which affects material costs and interest rates. As a writer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis put it: “Two-thirds of the residential segment identified [inflation] as one of the two greatest challenges they face, not including customer demand.”

Survey Methodology

For the survey, the NAHB sent a questionnaire to 3,100 builder members. Of these, 442, or 14 percent, responded. Problems were grouped under five headings — Builder Costs, Financing Problems, Problems Attracting Buyers, Federal Government Policies and Local Land Use Policies. Respondents were asked to check the ones they considered important in 2022 and/or 2023.

Builder Costs

The outlook among builders was generally optimistic, with concern about materials costs and the time required to get them dropping roughly 35 percent from 2022 to 2023.

The top concern for 2023, up 12 percent from the previous year, was labor availability. But according to McKinsey & Company, this has been a persistent problem for some time. Builders also demonstrated concern about new building codes and energy efficiency requirements, with about 40 percent of respondents identifying them as growing cost issues.

Financing Problems

Respondents were pessimistic about financing, with 93 percent identifying high-interest rates as a significant problem in 2023. That’s up 27 percent from the year before.

Sixty-one percent predicted home buyers would have difficulty securing mortgages. And a growing number, although not a majority, saw looming problems caused by inaccurate appraisals, unfavorable financing terms for builders and lack of credit for land acquisition, development and construction.

Marketing to Potential Buyers

The survey indicated builders were even more pessimistic about attracting potential buyers than about buyers and developers securing financing. The top concerns going into 2023 were that buyers would wait for interest rates to fall and be affected by negative media reports concerning the housing market.

The survey also predicted the general state of the economy and Washington gridlock would have a more negative effect on home sales in 2023 than 2022. And in a radical reversal from 2022, four times more respondents expected buyers to have trouble selling their existing homes, and 10 times more predicted competition from distressed sales and foreclosures.

Federal Government Policies

The No. 1 expected problem for home builders related to government policies in 2023 is inflation, same as in 2022. A majority of builders were also concerned about the impact of environmental regulations and policies on the housing market.

Fewer than one-third of respondents cited other government-related issues — immigration policies, federal intervention in local land-use decisions and taxes on home builders. On all counts, however, more cited them as problems for 2023 than in 2022, which indicates growing concern.

Local Land Use Policies

The outlook for problems caused by local land use policies in 2023 rose slightly. More than half of respondents foresaw problems with inspection, hook-up and impact fees. Slightly less than half indicated concern about environmental regulations, difficulty obtaining permits and changing development standards.

About one-third of builders cited problems arising from inadequate public infrastructure, and about one-fifth were worried about attempts to move development to undesirable locations.

D’ondra Howard had no background in the trades when she made her first piece of furniture. She just enjoyed learning to build things for her family’s home. But her furniture projects soon piled up and eventually no longer fit into the house. That’s when she decided to try to sell one on Facebook Marketplace.

“I put a fluted table on there and people went crazy for it,” Howard says. “I realized I could really sell them because people liked them so much.”

In 2021, she decided to make custom furniture crafting a career and started Workboots & Glasses out of her garage in Sacramento, Cal. Today, she makes everything from dining tables and desks to platform beds and charcuterie boards.

Howard still sells some on Facebook, but the rest are custom creations she builds in her garage workshop. Thanks to her ever-growing reputation for quality and creative designs, most of her sales come via word of mouth. She also showcases her work on Instagram.

We asked Howard for her thoughts on the state of the woodworking industry.

Q: What made you start DIYing and building furniture?

A: My husband joined the military and I didn’t want to be miserable without him at home, so I made my home my canvas.

At first I loved putting together IKEA furniture. I took pictures of the kids and put them on the wall. Then I bought rugs, refurbished our outdated furniture and even flipped some of it. It was fun, and I realized I wanted to do more than just paint.

I eventually wanted to get rid of the IKEA furniture and build nice pieces for the house. But the power tools scared me, so at first I didn’t try.

Q: How did you get over that fear of power tools?

A: One night a woman’s DIY Instagram popped up on my feed, Our Nest on Powell. I watched her videos into the middle of the night. She was using DIY to help cope with the death of her sister. She inspired me so much that the next morning I went to get the materials to build a sofa table.

I had no idea what I was doing, and it was the worst sofa table ever. But once I realized what my downfall was, I had to try to make something else. So I built a console table. Then I built a workbench. A storage cabinet. A club chair. And every day after, I just kept building, because I enjoyed it so much.

I also learned that all I need to do is to cover my ears when I use the table saw, so I don’t jump every time.

Q: What’s it like being a woman in furniture-making?

A: So far, I haven’t had any jerks or anything. When I’m at building stores, I see the same people over and over because I’m constantly getting supplies. They’re curious and they strike up conversations, asking me what I’m making this time. So that’s always cool.

But when some men see a woman making something, they feel the need to explain or tell me what I should be doing because they think their way is better. Guys? Don’t do that. Don’t say, “You should do this,” or “This tool is better.”

I would prefer if you ask a question, like “Hey, why don’t you use this instead?” Then I can be like, “Shoot, I didn’t even know I could do that. Thank you for the tip.” There are many ways to do things; many tools the get the same end result. So please ask a question, don’t just tell.

Q: What changes would you like to see in the trade?

A: It kind of goes back to what I was just saying about asking versus telling. I hope that we can all bump elbows and not judge based off how we do things differently.

Nobody in this world is the same. We may do some things similarly, but there’s still a twist. You may rub a circle and I may swish or swirl. You may use the specific brand of finish that you like, and I might not use the same brand, but it’s still going to look nice in the end.

So I hope we just welcome everybody’s differences and make room at the table for everybody. Even if we learn differently or understand differently, we’re still ultimately doing the same thing.

Q: What’s your advice for young women considering entering the trades?

A: Do it. You have to just start. Put yourself out there.

If you realize you don’t like it after you’ve tried it, you can move on to something different. But if you just sit there hoping and wishing and expecting something to happen without putting in the time or the work to learn, you’re never going to be able to get good enough to enjoy it, or even to just say, “I tried this.”

Also, don’t be too hard on yourself. We all have to start somewhere, and how we get better is by doing.

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: My Ryobi drill is my right hand, and I have a couple of them so I don’t always have to be changing out bit sizes.

Another tool I use often is my brad nailer. My five-in-one tool is good for opening up cans of paint, prying pieces of wood and getting a nail or a screw unstuck. Of course I need my circular saw with a track to cut straight lines. Then a cloth, because I need some type of cloth to finish or stain, and then to get that stuff off of my hands.

For clothing, I’m a fan of Dovetail, because it fits me the way I’m supposed to. I especially like their overalls and flannel workshirt. I had been wearing Dickies and I was just being swallowed in them. I also just became a brand ambassador for Timberland and Truewerk. I especially like Truewerk’s work pants and performance shirts, and Timberland’s pro hoodie.

D’ondra Howard Bio

When D’ondra Howard discovered a passion for furniture, she overcame her fear of power tools to become a furniture maker, woodworker and DIY professional. She sells her custom furniture creations through her company Workboots & Glasses. She’s also a consultant on Matriarchy Build, an online consultation platform connecting women and LGBTQ experts with people needing advice on DIY projects.

Howard confidently builds benches, TV consoles, Murphy beds and more. She especially enjoys designing and building tables.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to Family Handyman. She spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary The Guerrero Project.

Unfortunately, painting quickly leaves walls and furniture susceptible to nicks and scratches. Luckily, touch-up paint pens save the day–and my peeling paint. One of the most popular options on the market, the Slobproof Paint Pen, is available on Amazon. This means I easily got my paws on it to test for the general population.

Best of all? Since I’m not an expert painter, my thoughts and recommendations are applicable to the average person. If I like this paint pen and think it’s simple to use, it probably is. Let’s get into it, shall we?

What is the Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pen? 

The Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pen is a pen-like receptacle for touching up dings and scratches around your home. The upper part of the pen is made of see-through plastic, which is where your desired paint is inserted using the included syringe. On the bottom, you’ll find a small tip where the paint comes out, which is similar to that of a paint brush. To disperse paint, twist the upper part of the pen.

Besides being able to easily touch-up paint on places like walls and ceilings, the Slobproof can also be used for general arts and crafts. Need to entertain your nephew for an hour? Hand him one of these (and a piece of blank paper). If you’re lucky, you may have a masterpiece to hang on the fridge.

Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pen Features

Although Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pens aren’t exactly feature-rich, like the latest smart home devices, these pens still have a lot going for them. For starters, you’re able to refill these. Yes, contrary to the belief of some reviewers, you can clean, dry and reuse each of these pens. To do so, simply turn the end piece until it pops out. You’ll also need to pull the brush out of the pen (and wash it) in order to prevent unwanted color mixing.

The pens come with a plastic cap, which is designed to fit easily over the brush. This is useful for those who want to keep their paint fresh for easy touch-ups. And since the brand claims the paint stays fresh for up to seven years when properly used, you can store these with your other painting supplies.

How We Tested It 

As someone who can’t bring items up the stairs without dinging them on the wall, I had countless opportunities to use the Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pens. A headboard, chair rail, wall and even my ceiling were subject to my intense scrutiny and subsequent painting. In fact, I walked around my home for weeks with my eyes peeled for opportunities to use this handy painting tool. Truth be told, using this pen was so easy that I wanted to do each nook and cranny in my home, leaving no stone unpainted (er, unturned).

My excitement aside, here are the main pros and cons to be aware of prior to purchasing these touch-up pens:

Pros 

• Reasonably priced
• Keeps paint fresh for up to seven years
• Available in a two- or five-pack
• Simple to use
• Works with latex- and water-based paints
• Useable on a variety of surfaces
• Refillable

Cons 

• Small brush tip may not work for larger dings

FAQ 

How do I fill the touch-up paint pens with paint?

Luckily, you won’t have to have the talent of a circus Houdini to fill the pen. Simply use the included syringe to dispense your desired paint into the plastic end. (Remember to hang onto any leftover paint you used to paint your home for when touch-ups are needed!)

How long will my paint stay fresh inside the pen?

According to Slobproof, paint stays fresh inside of the pen for up to seven years. However, I cannot personally speak to that, as I’ve only used the pens for a few months.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say 

Still not sold on touch-up paint pens? You don’t have to take my word for it. Check out what other verified purchasers from Amazon really think.

“Highly recommend these touch-up pens,” writes five-star reviewer, Sarah Lynn. “Easy to use. I’ve been using them in my new construction home for around eight months now on the drywall and trim. With dogs and young children, these are a must-have to fix little spots. Love these pens.”

Amazon reviewer, Samantha W., writes, “I am IN LOVE with this product. It made touching up my house so easy before I listed it for sale. It was super easy to use and the paint blended seamlessly, it looks like there was absolutely never anything stuck into my walls. Love it, definitely a gem.”

“These are the coolest little things,” explains purchaser, L. Grimes. “The paint stays ‘fresh’ and the brush doesn’t dry out in between uses. This is literally the perfect paint pen for everyday touch-ups and scratches. You get two in a package, so you can fill them with two different paint colors to have on hand for the higher traffic rooms of the house.”

Final Verdict 

Whether you own or rent your home, the Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pens are a staple I recommend. Keep them alongside your primer, roller and paint brushes. They’re about to become your handy best friend.

Where to Buy Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pens

Budget-conscious individuals: It’s our time to shine. The Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pens won’t leave a gaping hole in your pocket as many retailers sell them for around $20. Pick up a two pack from Amazon to fix your own paint dings and scrapes today.

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Best Overall Lawn Mower Cover

WeatherPRO Covers Lawn Mower Cover

Made with 100% marine-grade material, the waterproof WeatherPRO Covers lawn mower cover is suited for nearly every kind of push lawn mower. This heavy-duty option is durable to protect your machine from the elements, and the draw cord ensures full protection. The best part is that WeatherPRO covers offers a 100% one-year manufacturer guarantee, so you can feel confident in your purchase.

Pros

• Universal sizing for nearly all push lawn mowers
• Waterproof and provides UV protection
• 100% one-year manufacturer guarantee

Cons

• May need two people to put on

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If you’ve got a well-established lawn that’s starting to get a little yellow or tired, the problem might be thatch—a heavy mat of organic material that develops between the grass and the soil underneath. Thatch isn’t necessarily a bad thing! It can hold in water and nutrients, keeping grass healthy and resilient. But when the thatch gets too thick, it can hold in insects and weeds as well, and it can keep your grass from reaching moisture and nutrients in the soil below.

To check, dig a small test patch or take a core sample. If the thatch—the brown area between the green grass and the dirt—is more than 1/2-inch thick, you’ve got too much thatch. Dethatching your lawn can refresh your grass and get it ready for the hot, dry days of summer.

If the issue isn’t thick thatch, it’s still a good idea to clean debris from your lawn to give it a fresh start before summer arrives. That’s where a lawn sweeper comes in handy. The last of the fall leaves, twigs and sticks that fell in winter storms—and that thick mat of grass clippings from your first big mow of the season—might be too much for a bagging lawn mower to handle. A lawn sweeper replaces a rake, making quick work of cleaning up the grass and getting rid of things that might hamper good growth. You can also use some lawn sweepers to clean paved areas, like driveways or sidewalks.

What’s the Difference Between a Dethatcher and a Lawn Sweeper?

Sometimes dethatchers are called power rakes, but they’re not the same thing. Power rakes are heavy machinery used by professional landscapers, and can damage the grass if they’re not used correctly. A lawn dethatcher is a light-duty tool that’s easier to use. It acts like a rake with tines (sometimes called scarifiers) that get under the grass to pull out excess thatch.

There are three styles of dethatchers. Manual dethatchers look like big rakes that you pull across the grass. Tow-behind dethatchers can be pulled behind a riding lawn mower or yard tractor to clean up as you go along. Power dethatchers use a motor to drive the tines through your grass.

Lawn sweepers have rotating brushes with a catcher in the back for gathering debris. You push them across the lawn so the brushes can grab debris and toss it into the catcher. Like dethatchers, you can get lawn sweepers that are manual or motorized, or they can be pulled behind a riding mower or yard tractor. Lawn sweepers are similar to bagging lawn mowers, but some of them can handle heavier debris like small sticks, acorns, leaves and pine needles.

Pros and Cons of Dethatchers

Tow-behind or power dethatchers can be pricey, usually coming in around $130 to $150, and you need room to store them. If you’re willing to put in the work, a manual dethatcher like the True Temper dethatching rake is less than $100, and a fantastic investment for a healthier lawn.

Pros

• Wallet-friendly
• The 54-inch handle is made of sturdy hardwood with a cushioned end grip for comfort and control, and it’s long enough to be easy on your back
• The 15-inch rake head with curved steel tines is double-sided and designed for dethatching on one side and tilling on the other

Cons

• If you have a large yard and a lot of thatch, you may be better off renting a motorized dethatcher
• Dethatching manually can take several days

Pros and Cons of Lawn Sweepers

Tow-behind sweepers are usually in the $200 to $300 range, but they can be worth it if you have a large yard with big trees that shed a lot of acorns. An affordable option for smaller lawns is the Earthwise Push Lawn Sweeper.

Pros

• Sturdy and lightweight, so it’s easy to maneuver
• The 21-inch brush, with two brushes per section, is wide enough to cut down on the number of passes you’ll need to make
• Rake height is adjustable
• Significantly more affordable than a motorized or tow-behind sweeper
• Folds flat for easy storage

Cons

• It’s best for leaves and small debris; but can’t handle acorns, rocks or wet debris

How Long Do Dethatchers Last?

You shouldn’t dethatch your lawn every year. A little buildup of tchatch is good for your lawn, holding in nutrients of water. Since you only use a dethatcher once every three years or so, a good dethatcher should last for decades.

How Long Do Lawn Sweepers Last?

As long as you use it when the grass is dry and keep your lawn cut short enough not to produce large amounts of grass clippings, a lawn sweeper should give you years of use. To prevent wear and tear, you can also mulch grass clippings by mowing over them, so there’s less bulk for the lawn sweeper to handle.

The Bottom Line

If you have a large yard and lots of trees that drop nuts and debris, a lawn sweeper towed behind your riding lawn mower can save a lot of work. A push lawn sweeper is more affordable, and will probably be fine for smaller yards, particularly in areas where you don’t have to fight the squirrels to gather up acorns.

Dethatching depends on how much muscle you’re willing to put into it. You only need to dethatch a lawn once every two or three years, so it depends on whether you have space to store a tow-behind or motorized dethatcher. Before you buy, you can rent a dethatcher from many garden centers and home improvement stores, giving you a chance to find out if it’s something you’ll use, or which style is right for you.

Where to Buy a Dethatcher

Dethatchers are available at home improvement stores such as Ace Hardware or on Amazon. If you have never dethatched your lawn, this is a good year to start. Once you’re done, you won’t have to do it again for a couple of years!

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Where to Buy A Lawn Sweeper

Lawn sweepers are available at garden centers, at home improvement stores like Ace Hardware or on Walmart. If your garden shed is getting crowded, look for one that will fold flat easily.

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While that’s not great news for contractors, there’s still work out there. The following are some of the best ways to attract construction business in this changing climate.

Offer the Materials and Brands Homeowners Want

Some homeowners plan on spending less on home improvement projects, while others want to focus on certain aspects or touches. Knowing what items homeowners are looking for may help attract construction business.

According to Mower’s recent Homeowner Research Report, seven out of 10 homeowners say plumbing fixtures and flooring options are at least “very important” in building a new home. Also, more than three out of five homeowners have some say in brand selection for their appliances. The popular names? Samsung, Kohler and LG.

Another critical point to consider: Homeowners are looking for LED lighting, energy-efficient kitchen appliances and smart thermostats. Advertising that your company installs these items for renovations, additions and new construction projects could attract motivated customers.

Advertise Where Home Improvement Shoppers Are Shopping

The way home improvement customers find their contractors is changing. Word-of-mouth was the old standby. But today, shoppers are hitting the internet and perusing their smartphones to find construction professionals.

Mower’s report states 49 percent of homebuilding shoppers use search engines to find viable builders. Almost as many (47 percent) visit homebuilders’ websites where they can browse portfolios and galleries and get to know the team. Forty-six percent researched potential builders via social media.

Construction companies, remodelers, contractors and other pros looking to attract new business need to use online marketing channels to position themselves where their clients are shopping.

Know What Factors Homeowners Use To Decide

More than half of home improvement and new construction shoppers say price and reputation influence them the most in their decision-making.

More than half of shoppers listed competitive pricing as a factor. Fifty-three percent are looking for fair, market-correct pricing. This means that contractors who outprice their market may struggle to find business in this climate, regardless of the finish level of the home.

Reputation matters as well. Fifty-two percent of shoppers say a reputation for building quality homes is important to them and plays a role in their decision. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but if contractors aren’t building their reputations online with satisfied customers, prospective clients will know.

Use Modern Design Technology

The prospect of building a new home or starting a renovation is exciting, and homeowners often make emotional decisions that don’t always pan out in real life. Forty percent of homeowners say they would change one or more things about their new home after completion. It could be floor plans, size, colors or a bevy of other options.

Smart builders can avoid some of this with technology. Those who employ Building Information Model (BIM) can offer their customers a more realistic view of their project than a floor plan on paper. BIM allows users to navigate the space virtually, ensuring they like every color and the layout and size of each room.

BIM is becoming more and more popular with construction companies of all sizes, so builders working with designers who utilize it will be ahead of the game. Even if BIM modeling costs more, customers are more likely to be satisfied with the end result. That can translate to a better company reputation.

How Can Builders Market Services Online?

Building an online presence is one of the most important things a contractor can do to attract new business. After all, half of all their potential customers are finding contractors online. But the online landscape can be uncomfortable, especially social media. Here are some tips to consider:

• Start a website that includes rough pricing, a portfolio, a blog and customer testimonials. An “About Us” page with details about the business and team is also a good touch.

• Start a YouTube or TikTok channel and walk customers through projects at different stages. Contractors who aren’t comfortable in front of a camera should hire someone who is.

• Use Instagram to post photos of projects and updates to stories to keep people engaged with project progress.

• Use display ads to advertise services and showcase project homes. This can be especially helpful if the company is running a deal for the month or special incentives for a limited time.

• Start an email newsletter that keeps prospective clients up-to-date with your projects and company. Offer special downloadable content such as checklists for home improvement shoppers or DIYers as an incentive for folks to sign up for the newsletter.

• Ensure that the business is listed on “Google My Business.” This is one of the fastest ways to earn a presence on the first page of a Google search — the Golden Goose of internet marketing.

How Customers and Contractors Connect is Changing. Are You Ready?

The way that customers are finding and deciding on contractors today is much different than 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. Contractors who change their approach to attracting construction business will take better advantage of these changes and grow. They’ll convince would-be DIYers that nothing beats old-school experience, even if it’s mixing with a new-school approach.

Greg and Kirsty Vitarelli, Airbnb owners of this mountain getaway in Monroe, Massachusetts, bought the property as a family ski retreat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the house sat empty for much of the year, the Vitarellis started thinking about passive income. They decided to put the property on Airbnb.

Their first year hosting netted $9,000, and that didn’t include ski season when the Vitarelli family used the property.

“We were astonished, really, at the amount of income it generated for us,” Greg Vitarelli says.

Individual revenues depend on many factors, but a typical Airbnb host makes almost $14,000 per year according to 2021 data released by Airbnb. That’s up a whopping 85% from 2019, and the vacation rental market shows no signs of slowing down.

Have you considered starting an Airbnb business? Here’s what you need to know:

Buying an Airbnb

Before you can start your Airbnb business, you need a property. Russell Brandon, a real estate investor and Airbnb owner, says renovating an older property gives the most return on investment if you can do the rehabbing yourself — a DIYer’s dream.

“This is maximum profit,” Brandon says. “If you don’t know how to do the construction yourself, you need good, knowledgeable contractors that you can trust and depend upon that won’t take you to the bank.”

If renovation isn’t an option, prepare to pay a little more for a move-in ready property. Look for up-and-coming neighborhoods with lots of potential, and check out amenities within easy driving distance. Vitarelli’s Airbnb is near the tourist-friendly Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and the weekend of a nearby music festival books up a year in advance.

“It’s really good to know what’s going on in other communities, so you can bring that into your income,” Vitarelli says. Brandon puts it this way: “Location. Location. Location.” His fourplex near downtown Houston sits two blocks from a university campus, and the arts-and-culture filled neighborhood boasts a walkability score of 97.

Before signing on the dotted line, check local laws and ordinances to make sure short-term rentals are allowed. Airbnb offers information about some city regulations on their Responsible Hosting page, but research the specifics of your location yourself. Check local and county websites, be aware of any city council proposals regarding short-term rentals and don’t forget about HOA bylaws.

Airbnb Owner Considerations

So you have the property and you’re ready to give hosting a try. Airbnb offers lots of resources to get you started, and it’s free to list your property.

Don’t jump in too fast, though. Do your research before listing so you’re not surprised by regulatory requirements or requests from guests.

Local or state regulations

If you’re buying a property to use as an Airbnb, research local laws before signing. If you’re converting a home you already own, verify you can use the property as an Airbnb before hanging up your shingle.

Many municipalities require a rental inspection, and you may have to register your small business with the state. For the inspection, you might need to show blueprints of the home, prove the wiring is up to code or demonstrate that the property is safe for children. Railing height is a common safety issue.

Taxes and incorporating

Brandon operates his properties as limited-liability corporations (LLC), which protect his personal assets in the event something happens to the business or property. Incorporating also has tax implications, so check with your financial advisor or attorney if you’re not confident navigating that world yourself.

Hosting choices

What kind of host do you want to be? Will you be hands-off but always available, operating mostly through email or text? Do you want to meet the guests at check in? What perks will you offer? Will you have requirements of your guests, like doing the dishes or picking up after their dogs?

Communicate with your guests up front to avoid misunderstandings or confrontations later.

Pricing an Airbnb

Figuring out how much to charge for your property can be trial and error, according to Vitarelli.

Airbnb’s website features an earnings estimator that analyzes the past 12 months of booking data for similar properties in your area, giving you a rough idea of what you could charge. Vitarelli started there, but ended up adjusting the rate based on the nuances of the property and area amenities.

AirDNA is another website that offers data and analytics on the short-term rental market. Create a free account to explore properties on the map, compare average daily rates and general market trends. Other features, like revenues of individual properties and seasonal trends, are available with an upgrade.

Be fair, says Brandon. “You have to be reasonable in your rents,” he says.

Then there’s the question of offering long-term or short-term rentals. Brandon likes them both. Vitarelli prefers short-term guests. You can generally get higher rates for short-term rentals, but there’s more upkeep and turnaround.

Airbnb Upkeep and Maintenance

All properties require maintenance, but Airbnb properties need special attention. Guests will not be shy about writing a review if the place isn’t up to snuff.

“You kind of live and die by the customer review,” Vitarelli says. “We wait with bated breath for those reviews, and you’re only as good as the latest one.”

Here’s how to keep things running smoothly:

Hire a cleaner

“Get a good cleaner that you can trust and count on,” Vitarelli says.

The first couple of times Vitarelli and his family hosted, they cleaned the place themselves, with mixed results. The first guests were perfectly happy. But the next review was a little more pointed, and it stung. They decided to hire a professional on referral from another property owner in the area. It’s been smooth sailing ever since.

Fix things when they break

Vitarelli says always be prepared for things to break, and plan to constantly fix things. Brandon says typical upkeep includes appliance repair, plumbing problems and maintaining curb appeal.

Whether you’re an experienced DIYer or you don’t know a hammer from a hacksaw, maintain a fund to pull from if the water heater breaks or one of your renters throws a party and trashes the place.

Most important: Be available. Vitarelli says this isn’t the kind of gig where you can jet off to the Bahamas and hope for the best. If your house floods and the renter can’t reach you, count on a bad review. Not to mention, the damage your property incurs will increase the longer you’re unreachable.

Plan for the future

You don’t have a crystal ball, but plan for capital improvements like a new roof, Brandon says. Put costly kitchen and bath renovations on that planning list, too.

How much to save depends on the condition of your property, and your DIY inclinations and abilities. The average cost of a kitchen remodel is $45,000, according to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, a joint study released by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. So plan ahead.

Best Telescopic Arm Car Phone Mount

The iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Dashboard or Windshield Mount features an adjustable arm that pivots, telescopes and locks into place, so you’ll find an angle that works for you. A magnet at the back allows for easy power cord management, and the arms open and release one-handed.

One note: Make sure your power cord can reach your phone’s charging port.

LG Electronics Revamped Residential HVAC Portfolio

One of the most exciting things to hit the residential construction market is LG Electronics’ revamped HVAC portfolio. The brand is focused on electrification and efficiency, utilizing heat pumps, inverter technology and innovative air quality solutions.

There are plenty of products to look forward to with this revamped line from LG. There’s the Inverter Heat Pump Water Heater, which provides an efficient alternative to gas or electric heaters. The Art Cool Mirror also uses inverter technology. It requires little maintenance and is easy to install, unlike routing ducting.

The new portfolio includes other HVAC products like the Heat Pump Multi F Max with LGRED, a split unit that can handle up to eight indoor units, as well as the Multi V S and Vertical Air Handler. These options offer traditional and non-traditional approaches to HVAC.

What is the Bucket Edge?

The Bucket Edge is a piece of heavy-duty aluminum that sits over your trim or other surfaces that you don’t want to get paint on. Unlike masking tape, it takes seconds—not minutes—to set up, and there’s zero risk of paint seeping through.

You can also use this painting tool to cut and mark straight lines, remove bubbles from wallpaper and scrape ceilings. That’s not all: it replaces your dustpan and is even useable as a funnel in a pinch.

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How to Use the Bucket Edge

Simply place the Bucket Edge over the area you’re trying to protect and start painting. It comes in three sizes (12, 20, and 40 inches), so there’s no job too big or too small. The three sizes nest together for easy storage.

To use it as a dustpan, turn it upside down and sweep all the debris onto the flat surface. Pick it up and use the funneled ends to ensure every last bit goes into your trash bag—not all over your floors.

The Best Bucket Edge Reviews

Five-star reviewer Jimmy has been a house painter since the 1990s, and writes that this is one of the most useful tools in his arsenal. “I absolutely hated painting before I found this tool. Why? I hate taping off a room and it cuts into my labor costs…These are well put together, and the edges are not flimsy. I have 2 more sets on the way!”

“The Bucket Edge tools are awesome! I bought them after we purchased a new home,” reviewer Jennifer Mccabe explained. “They worked great to paint the entire home. No doubt they saved us tons of time not having to tape off nearly as much and we didn’t need to tarp off floors. My husband loves the Bucket Edge and will continue to use them in his construction and remodeling business.”

“This tool has been amazing,” customer Justin remarks. “I will never paint without them and definitely recommend this product. Saves a tremendous amount of time as well as money spent on tape. It has been useful on every job so far which is impressive.”

Where to Buy the Bucket Edge

There are three different sized available at Walmart. The 12-inch is great for small projects, like painting furniture or window sashes. The 40-inch is ideal for large jobs. And if you’re a professional—or have a lot of DIY painting projects in your future—it’s worth investing in the Bucket Edge three-piece set that includes 12-, 20- and 40-inch models. If you ask us, it’s worth the price to never worry about paint dripping on our trim.

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Best Overall

Jet Vortex Cone Dust Collector

The Jet Vortex Cone is quite popular, as evidenced by its stellar dust collection reviews. But what gives it an edge over the others? A two-horsepower motor, and vortex cone technology that guarantees continuous, systematic air movement. This feature allows for better chip separation, less clogging of the filter and increased packing efficiency of the collector bag.

It takes a single-stage design approach, adding the separation efficiency of a two-stage dust collection system while still keeping the operation quiet. This machine also features a fully enclosed, fan-cooled two-horsepower motor with continuous duty, meaning there’s more than enough horsepower to make sure you’re getting efficient air movement.

The Jet Vortex boasts a collection capacity of 5.3 cubic feet, and the 1,200 cfm (cubic feet per minute) stands up to its competitors. Collection bags have a sewn-in snap ring for fast and easy installation and removal. Its dual four-inch dust ports allow you to connect two machines at the same time—perfect for any workshop.

Pros

• Fan-cooled motor enables continuous usage
• Quick connect bag system
• Strong steel construction
• Four swivel casters

Cons

• Bulky
• On the heavier side

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LG Appliances and Home8

LG had a large presence at the 2023 International Builders’ Show (IBS 2023), showing off a wide collection of new home appliances. It introduced a new residential system connecting all these appliances that LG calls “Home8.”

Basically, it’s an energy storage system that allows homes to create energy reserves and pull from them during times of peak electricity costs. This system works with existing infrastructure to provide homeowners with efficient, clean and reliable energy.

Sherwin-Williams’s Outlook

Sherwin-Williams CEO John G. Morikis announced during a company earnings call in late January the company expects a “very meaningful deceleration of demand” for their paint products.

“We will not be immune from what we expect to be a very challenging demand environment in 2023,” Morikis said. “Visibility beyond our first half of the year is limited. On the architectural side, U.S. housing will be under significant pressure this year. Slowing existing home sales and continued high inflation also will be headwinds.

“On the industrial side, we have already seen a slowdown in Europe, and the same is beginning to appear in the U.S. across several sectors. In China, COVID remains a factor and the trajectory of economic recovery is difficult to map.”

Morikis has been the CEO of the Cleveland-based company since 2016.

Sherwin-Williams’ stock price plummeted nearly nine percent after the company’s earnings reports, from $247.09 a share to $225.06 by the end of the day. It has since rebounded roughly five percent and was trading at $235.51 when the markets closed on Feb. 8.

According to Natalie Lung of Yahoo, existing home sales have declined year-over-over for 16 consecutive months. Coupled with increased mortgage rates, new residential volume “could decline 10%-20% this year,” she writes.

“(Sherwin-Williams) is focusing on investing, adding stores and growing the market share of its residential repaint business — its largest and fastest growing segment, which includes paints and coatings for inside and outside the home — saying that factors such as home-price appreciation and aging housing stock can help offset the impact from slowing existing home sales.”

Shifting Housing Market

Surging mortgage rates hit record lows in 2021 but increased dramatically in a span of 12 months.

Interest rate increases have major ramifications on mortgage payments. A 30-year fixed-rate loan at three percent on a $400,000 home with a 20 percent down payment, or $80,000, would cost roughly $1,350 per month for principal and interest. A six percent loan for that same home would cost $1,900 a month. That’s a difference of $550 a month.

Bankrate reported December 2022 was the 11th consecutive month with declining home sales. The median home price in the U.S. reached a record high $413,800 in June, but has since retreated to $366,900, according to Bankrate.

Last week, National Association of Home Builders chief economist Rob Dietz said at a press briefing at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas that a “recession is underway” for home builders, according to Construction Dive.

“We’ve never had a period where home prices have declined and there has not been a recession,” Dietz was quoted as saying. “I think the rest of the economy will feel it in 2023 via slowing economic output and rising job losses.”

Cargo Work Pants

You need cold weather gear that’s durable and made for warmth on long days spent outside in the cold. These fleece-lined Carhartt cargo work pants get the job done right. Double-layer front knees stand up to repeated use, and there are even openings for adding knee pads.

The relaxed, stretch fit offers room for movement, and a straight leg accommodates work boots and snow boots. These cargo pants sport a drop-in cell phone pocket and space for utility knives and other tools. Pair these functional pants with other heated gear for ultimate warmth and comfort while working outside in winter.

Shop Now

Before You Start

Adding an egress window is a big job, and it’s important to plan your project to meet the building requirements in your location. Here are the steps I took before starting to excavate:

Apply for a permit

This process could take a few weeks. My city required detailed plans of the well, the dimensions of the window and rough opening, the size of the header and a drawing of the property, including the house.

Engineered drawing

The retaining walls that made up our well were tall enough to require an engineer’s approval. I sent my plans to a local engineer who gave me a new drawing with a stamp of approval to include with my permit ­application. If you buy a manufactured well, this step is likely unnecessary, but your city’s building department makes the final call.

Call the digging hotline

When you’re digging, even just a few inches, call to have underground utilities located and marked.

Digging is dangerous if you don’t know where the utilities are. If you skip this step and hit a gas, water, or power line underground, you’ll risk the lives of yourself and others, and you’ll be on the hook for the costly repairs. So be sure to call 811 before your project. The process varies by state, so call a few days ahead of your project.

Requirements for Egress Windows

Here are the minimum requirements identified by the building code: 

• The opening needs to be 5.7 square feet.
• The minimum width is 20 inches.
• The minimum height is 24 inches. 
• The well needs to provide a clear space of 3-ft. x 3-ft. when the window is open.
• From the inside, the sill height cannot exceed 44 inches

Dig the Window Well

Following my plans, I drew the window well location with marking paint. I rented a mini excavator to make the ­digging much easier. It was well worth the $450 to avoid hand ­digging.

Have a plan for the dirt you’re removing; it will be more than you anticipate. We took the nearly 10 cubic yards of dirt to a nearby compost site.

]]> https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/the-eleven-percent-meet-kelly-gannon-contractor/ Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:01:17 +0000 https://www.familyhandyman.com/?p=506784 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.

Kelly Gannon was an industrious teen. She earned money babysitting, shoveling snow and laboring in restaurants, but also joined her brothers repairing things for her family’s landlord. Then, in her early 20s, she realized she could make better money in construction.

“All of the guys my age were roofing, and I wasn’t afraid of heights or tools, so I said, ‘Put me up there,’ ” Gannon says. She found a contractor who obliged and trained her. “Then I gradually moved from the roof, down into the house, learning everything along the way,” she says.

After fifteen years in the industry, she started Kreate Construction, specializing in residential repairs and remodeling in northeast Massachusetts. “I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” she says.

As @kreateconstruction on Instagram, she encourages other tradeswomen across industries to share tips and tricks, and encourages others to enter the trades.

We asked Gannon for her thoughts on the state of contracting and the construction industry.

Q: How did gender bias set the stage for starting your own company?

A: I was training a male co-worker how to [put up siding] when I found out he was making a lot more money than me, even though I had more experience.

I was pretty frustrated, so I asked the contractor for a raise. He did give me my raise, but it wasn’t a lot. He had assured me he would help me attain my contractor’s license, but when I asked for help, he refused. I was fired shortly after.

Before then, I’d never considered owning my own company, but I knew I still had to work and feed my kids. So that’s how Kreate Construction came about. People started coming to me with jobs, and it catapulted from there.

Q: How are you enjoying running a company, seven years later?

A: It’s exhausting. It’s 24-7. There’s always an email or something that has to be ordered. After the pandemic, I switched gears to keep it on a smaller level.

Most of the time now, I’m doing a lot of the field work myself, with just a guy or two to help out. I don’t want to have a big company. I just want to do what I love. I like working with my hands, and until I physically can’t do that, I don’t see myself coming out of the field.

It’s also challenging today because personalities are more polarized. Plus, DIY networks and social media have created unrealistic expectations. On TV, a remodel is done in three weeks with no hiccups. No one sees the fifty workers running in when the camera’s off. For some clients, that sets a challenging stage to give them what they think they should be getting.

I feel the same about social media for young girls. It sets this expectation that we’re supposed to perfect and pretty all the time, but that’s not real life.

Q: What are some of your more memorable projects?

A: Actually, the one I’m on right now is my favorite, but also one of my most challenging, physically and mentally. It’s an exterior remodel of a 1600s Colonial house in Ipswich [Massachusetts], which was moved across town in the 1800s, then had a tree fall on it. It leans horribly, and another contractor made a mess of it about twenty years ago.

I’m having to go back to old-school techniques. Throw away the levels, and instead string lines across the front to try to get a nice plane. I have jacked up houses with no worries. But just to add some siding and windows on this one, I’m having to hone my skills, think outside of the box and get creative to reach the final destination.

But it’s great. I like challenging jobs, which means I work on a lot of period houses. I’m the person who takes the projects that nobody wants. It can be a lot of work and frustrating, but it’s also super rewarding to fix the problems and transform it from that ugly house that’s falling apart to the nice house on the block.

Q: How does Instagram fit in with your business and career?

A: I don’t use it for getting customers, but rather to network with other trades. I’ve met so many great tradeswomen on Instagram; plumbers, painters, steelworkers and electricians from all over the world.

A group of us actually started the Tradeswomen of Instagram page to highlight some of them. Most of the time, we don’t interact with other women in the field, so it’s nice to not feel alone and have other women to network with.

Q: What challenges do you see coming in the industry?

A: Labor. We have to figure out a way to get kids involved again. For so many years, everybody was pushing for college, college, college, and maybe that kept more young people from entering the trades.

There’s a need for women, especially, because we’re such a big, untapped labor pool. We need to start soliciting more girls when they’re in high school, putting them in shop class and seeing if they like it. There’s so much women can do on a construction site, and not all of it requires being physical and dirty.

Q: What’s your advice for young women considering the trades?

A: Don’t underestimate yourself. You’ll be surprised at what your abilities are. You can crush it. In daily life, try to do things yourself instead of saying you can’t do it, or expecting someone else to do it for you.

Also, be confident going in. It’s OK to ask questions and to be uncomfortable. But you have to be confident in your ability to learn, because the rest of your skills will come from that.

And when it comes to something like equal pay, know your worth and open your mouth. It’s easy to be afraid to say something, but you have to speak up for yourself. You always have to speak up for yourself.

Q: Do you find anything challenging or beneficial about being a woman in your field?

A: Owning a business, I used to have a lot of anxiety because I really needed to sell each job. There were a few customers who tried to take advantage of me financially, I imagine because they perceived me as the weaker sex. But you just have to roll with it.

I’m at the point now where I’m comfortable and confident, and it’s working. But I still sometimes feel like I have to work twice as hard to prove that I’m capable.

As far as benefits, we’re very detail oriented. Working in residential construction, that’s a big deal.

Earlier in my career, I was teamed up with a male coworker who was like a bull in a china shop. He was so strong and fast, he would just smash the work out. Then I would get sent in to clean it up, make it look good, and do the final touch ups to make customers happy. So that’s the benefit of a woman in construction: We pay attention and we’re detail oriented.

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: That’s a tough one because I have a lot of tools, but one of my favorites is actually my tool belt itself. I have a Diamondback Cavetto that was a prototype for their women’s model. They found me on Instagram and I helped with the design, so of course I love it.

I used to have to drill holes in men’s belts to get the waist small enough to fit me, and then they were uncomfortable, heavy and always hurt my hips. It’s nice the industry is starting to evolve and recognize that women are in the trades.

Then I have a titanium Martinez M4 hammer. For years I swung a steel one, and my arm was always so tired. This one is so light, I don’t even feel like I’m working with it. Plus, Mark Martinez actually sent me a custom pink one. The first. So it’s slightly special to me!

I would be remiss not to talk about my Keen Utility work boots, which are one of the most important tools I use every day. Keen has been an amazing company to deal with, and they have really stepped forward for tradeswomen.

Finally, the most comfortable work pants? Truewerk. And they’re really developing their women’s line. The T2s are the most versatile through the seasons.

Kelly Gannon Bio

Kelly Gannon started in the trades more than twenty years ago. She thought it would be a good way to support her sons as a single mom, and that proved to be true.

Today she is a licensed contractor and owns Kreate Construction in Massachusetts. Her projects range from full renovations to quick fluff-and-buffs, and the most important work: repairs. While she loves to make things pretty, there’s no sense in it if that leak destroys a freshly painted wall.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to FamilyHandyman.com. She spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary The Guerrero Project.

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.

It proved a life-changing decision. Now, 26 years later, they’re an industry expert in sheet metal and HVAC. They went back to school a few years ago, working full time while earning their second degree, this time in applied science with a focus on sustainable building and science technology.

“And I paid for them both with my job in the trades,” they say.

We ask Davenberry for their thoughts on the state of the sheet metal and HVAC industries, and the increasing amount of creativity their role requires.

Q: Did you have background in the trades before your apprenticeship?

A: Not really. My mom was a social worker and my dad was a college professor. I was interested in shop class in middle school, but the instructor would make the girls hand their piece of wood to him so he could run it through the table saw and then hand it back to us. I realized I was not going to be learning a lot from him, so I switched to home economics.

I did get a little bit of construction work experience while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity a few times as a teenager.

Q: What are some of your more memorable projects?

A: I’ve worked on a lot of interesting projects over the years, from the rooftops of skyscrapers to a hospital wing addition that lasted off and on for eight years.

One I’m particularly proud of was a large underground transit tunnel with two tracks. We had to measure the airflow in that tunnel when the fire life safety systems were on, which were huge fans that moved hundreds of thousands of cubic feet of air.

We had to figure out the volume, which wasn’t a straightforward formula because it wasn’t exactly a circle, there were platforms for where people would be standing, and the company I worked for wasn’t on AutoCAD (a computer-aided design and drafting software application). And so I calculated it by hand, from the drawings.

Toward the end, when the engineers were double-checking the values I had for the air flows, they finally had a computer program to figure it out. For something that was 80 feet or more in diameter, I was within a couple of square feet. So that was pretty good, and a lot of fun.

Q: What changes have you seen in your trade over the last 10 years?

A: The pandemic brought more public awareness to the importance of indoor air quality, so what I do for a living became more visible to people in general.

Then there have been technology changes with architectural sheet metal. We’re now using electric suction grips to build rainscreen assemblies, detailers are working in virtual 4D models, and as a balancer, I’m using wireless tools and cloud software to make my adjustments and report them more efficiently.

In terms of diversity, I’m also working with women and nonbinary folks more often. Find out about Jessie Cannizzaro, a plumbing contractor.

Q: What sort of changes do you see coming down the industry pipeline?

A: Much of our energy is used by buildings, and I think we can make a significant difference with their efficiency, to shift to a more sustainable use of our planetary resources.

Already, energy codes are changing. Instead of prescribing what materials we use in different buildings, they’re now asking just for the end result of how well a building actually performs. It’s that pivot from telling us how to build stuff to letting us come up with ways to reach the desirable end goal that I’m really interested in. It leaves it more wide open for people to really get creative. Meet Renee Wilson, an insulation contractor and owner.

Q: Where do you then find inspiration for creative building solutions?

A: Last June I was at an international tradeswomen’s conference in London, where the general public is a lot more aware of building systems, how buildings function and the dire need to be able to curb our use of carbon-producing fuels.

One of the innovations I saw there was using the piles driven down to support buildings as heat pumps, which combines what seems like two very different things into the same function. Who would have ever thought that I, as an HVAC technician, would have stuff in common with the pile driver? But we do, and that’s the mix-up we’re starting to see more of.

I’m really excited for us in the trades to work more collaboratively. I think sometimes we get hung up in jurisdiction, but we have a lot to share.

Q: How do you think people in the industry can facilitate these environmental changes more effectively?

A: I see a couple places that are a little fractured. One is that many of the folks pushing for energy codes have a more academic background, coming through college or university, and not as many have worked with the tools.

There can also be assumptions about what those of us putting stuff together out in the field are capable of doing and have a passion about. So having more dialogue with the crews who are doing the actual installation work about their ideas of how to do things better would help. And some folks are realizing this.

Then on the flip side, those of us who are out in the field need to recognize that it’s not just a bunch of bureaucratic rules, but that how we behave and work affects the places we love to be in.

There are so many folks in the trades who enjoy being outside and being in forests, and by lakes and rivers. If we want to keep those things around and healthy, we need to change some of our practices.

Q: Do you find anything challenging or beneficial about being nonbinary in your field?

A: Yes, both!

What’s most challenging for me is people onsite making assumptions about my experience based on my appearance, as especially in safety gear, I can be read as young, even though I’ve been in the trade for 26 years. I’ve participated in many tradeswomen events, and I do my best to represent as someone who has a lot of experience as a woman in the trades.

On the other hand, my genderqueer identity is far more expansive. So while I thrive on my pride as a tradeswoman, even then I am not celebrating my full self.

I think what’s beneficial about being nonbinary is being able to bring forward the aspects of my gender that are helpful in each circumstance, such as when I’m the only non-guy on a crew or when a tradeswoman has been my mentor.

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: There are definitely tools that I load into my work pants every day, like a nine-in-one screwdriver set, my Leatherman (multi-tool) and a flashlight.

As for trade-specific tools, I use an airflow hood, which gets fitted onto an air diffuser, to measure velocity. Then a little handheld meter does the calculations to tell me what their airflow is. That meter can be connected to many options, like a flow hood, velgrid, airfoil or pilot tube.

I also use a magnet and extending paint pole for setting off smoke detectors for Fire Life Safety damper inspections. I can also use the extending paint pole with a Bluetooth flow hood to float the hood up 20 or 30 feet in the air and then have the meter down with me. (Then) I don’t have to get a ladder or lift, or have another worker there to tell me the readout to make adjustments.

Then there’s cloud software like Building Start, Blue Rithm, CX Alloy and TABopts, which ties everything together by recording and reporting all of the data, or product, of my work.

Soph Davenberry Bio

Soph Davenberry have been an active union sheet metal worker for more than 26 years. They’ve worked throughout Turtle Island (North America) and abroad, in shop and field for many aspects of the trade including Architectural, Industrial, Commercial HVAC, Test, Adjust and Balance (TAB), organizing, instruction, business development and certification. They’re now in the field as a TAB tech at McKinstry.

Davenberry have a passion for building systems and social justice, leveraging their dual journey cards, formal education and public speaking talents to advocate for better building systems and human organizations.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to FamilyHandyman.com. She spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary The Guerrero Project.

Eight years ago, Kat Christie took her childhood love of tinkering pro, starting as an espresso machine technician. That ignited her curiosity and desire to delve into home repair. In 2017, she earned a Handyman Certificate Course from York College in Queens, New York, a major step toward her dream of running her own handywoman business.

Christie launched She Fixed That in 2019, and went full-time the following year at the start of the pandemic. Since people were home, mulling unfinished projects and ordering home office necessities, her business took off. “Patching a small hole in a wall, furniture assembly, hanging TVs and gallery walls, building pantries and library walls — no day is the same,” Christie says.

In 2021 she moved from New Jersey to Birmingham, Alabama and quickly re-established her business in the new location. “Up north or down south, people want to hire women. Women want to hire women,” she says. “It’s a niche that I think exists everywhere.”

We asked Christie for her thoughts on the state of the residential handyperson business.

Q: How did you get into fixing things?

A: I got a philosophy degree, so naturally, here we are, right? Ha! Jokes aside, I’ve always been a tinkerer. As a kid, I stole my brother’s Legos, K’Nex and Lincoln Logs. I took apart the old VCR to see how it worked, and loved building forts with pillows, sticks, boxes — anything really.

Later in life, while working in the coffee industry, our units would occasionally break down, and the company dispatched a tech. I loved when this one tech, Jay, came out. I’d pick his brain, curious about how the machine’s internal components worked. He was patient, knowledgeable and cool as hell. I wanted to be him.

Fast forward some years, and I landed a job as a tech repairing those same coffee machines. That was one of the best jobs I’ve had— a road warrior, fixing things and keeping America caffeinated. I felt like a superhero and still reminisce about it.

The thing of it is, once you know how a boiler, valve, flow meter and switch all work, it’s transferable to everything: cars, washing machines, water heaters and so on.

Q: What are some of your favorite fix-it jobs?

A: My heart is in mechanical and carpentry. Given my prior experience, I especially enjoy small-appliance repair.

I love hunting for a service manual with an exploded-parts diagram tucked away in an internet corner and sifting through troubleshooting forums online to find the fix. In this disposable culture we live in, making something old work again, like rewiring a lamp or dissecting an antique mortise lock, is exceptionally satisfying.

Carpentry is the inverse — I build rather than take apart. But issues always arise. Not as dramatic as HGTV, but something to troubleshoot nonetheless. I love to cope trim. There’s nothing more satisfying than an invisible joint!

My absolute favorite fix-it job isn’t something specific. It’s when a client has had to work around/settle with a seemingly minor issue, be it a stuck drawer, loose knob, door that doesn’t latch right, broken hinge, you name it. When the fix brings ease back into their lives, I’ve done my job.

Q: Tell us about a project that stood out.

A: One carpentry project I’m proud of is a gentleman’s closet in a historic home here in Birmingham. The challenge was to make a fraternal twin of an existing bookcase. I had to match the trim profiles and shape by milling stock lumber and making the case seamless, which meant scribing the trimwork to the wavy plaster walls.

There was trial and error, as well as tears, joy and cuss words, but it turned out beautifully. Now, when the client has friends over, he plays the game “Guess Which One Is Original?” People cannot tell, and that’s the win for me. The project stretched my skills, and I grew as a result.

Q: Who is your main clientele?

A: Mostly women. Moms, single women, divorcees, retirees and LGBTQ folks. As a member of the gay community, my clients feel at ease with me.

Q: How has being a woman helped your business?

A: People hire me because I’m a woman. I’m told I’m more approachable. And women, specifically, aren’t afraid to ask questions, knowing I’ll answer respectfully, without judgement.

And if I don’t know the answer, I’m honest about it, and instead get back with it. This fosters transparency and trust, which I’ll do everything in my power to protect, project and respect. I’ve had first-time clients who’ve left me alone in the house and insisted I make “myself at home.”

I should also note that I’ve not experienced direct discrimination on account of my gender. Sure, I get stared at a lot, and questioned when I walk into the home center in my work clothes. But I often get high-fives or accolades like, “Yeah, girl. You get it.”

Q: What’s your impression of gender diversity in the trades?

A: I’m seeing more women who are interested in the trades acting on that interest. When I was a field technician, female clients were taken aback by me. They’d say, “Oh, my gosh, I didn’t even know that they hired women! I would love to do something like that.” If my company was hiring, I’d direct them to apply.

I also see more female lube techs, field techs, painters, etc. I interact with female DIYers through Instagram, helping them through projects, answering questions and directing them to resources.

Today, there are entire communities on social media for handywomen, female DIYers, tradeswomen, trans-handy people, all of it. I’ve noticed that language has changed, too. People are more mindful of not saying a default “he” when referring to a tradesperson. That’s big.

Q: What changes do you hope are on the horizon?

A: I would love to see more brands recognize that women are a real and serious demographic as it relates to workwear and tools. It’s starting, but it’s not quite there yet. I still shop in the men’s section for workwear, though women’s items from brands like Duluth, Carhartt and Dovetail scatter my closet.

How about Mother’s Day tool deals? And not that generic pink tool set. I’d like to see tool companies consider women in their ergonomics. Women do the research and want the best or right tool for the job. And grip, weight and power are just as important to them.

I want little girls to know that being a tradesperson is a career path they can choose. This starts in children’s books and in marketing departments.

I’d love to get to a point where I can hire a team of women. My big dream is to teach classes and workshops for women and LGBTQ people, to create a safe space to empower, inspire, build knowledge and ask questions.

Q: Any advice for how people can generally make themselves more handy?

A: If in your immediate circle you don’t have a handy friend to lean on, find other people willing to share knowledge. Cue the internet! YouTube is a phenomenal resource, as are sites like the Family Handyman. There are tons of social media accounts and Facebook groups out there, whole communities of people interested in the same things you are.

If you’re a paper person, Black+Decker has a great book, The Complete Photo Guide To Home Repair. It’s a fabulous springboard. For a more contractor-centric in-depth resource, pick up Renovation, by Litchfield and Harley.

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: My favorite screwdriver is my Klein 11-in-1. In a pinch, I’ll even pop the bit in my drill. Then my have a Makita subcompact drill and driver set. They’re durable, powerful, and the weight balance is fabulous. Having small hand grips is important and these feel great.

My Husky 15-in-1 painter’s tool is vital. From prying off trim to opening paint cans and boxes to scouring caulk and scraping stickers, I love it. It even comes with a little flat-head screwdriver piece to remove screws on switch plates.

This little 90-degree ratcheting pocket screwdriver has saved me in tight spots. I use it a ton when assembling furniture with delicate plastic bits, where a drill is too much power, even with the torque adjusted. The ratcheting feature also reduces hand fatigue.

There’s also my Kat paw (see what I did there?), aka pry bar. It’s very versatile and I can get leverage in tight spots. Finally, my nail/staple puller is a godsend. The leverage I can get with this is remarkable, and the head design leaves little damage to the workpiece.

Kat Christie Bio

Kat Christie is the owner of She Fixed That handywoman services, with eight years of experience repairing things for a living.

She started as a field tech repairing coffee equipment and was soon promoted to lead technician, then regional manager. She earned a Handyman Certificate from York College, and still pours over manuals and videos to deepen her knowledge and experience.

While her primary focus is mechanical repair and finish/trim carpentry, Christie genuinely believes no job is too small if it makes a difference in a person’s life. She strives to provide transparent, trustworthy and professional services to her clients and dreams of creating a safe and empowering educational space for women and LGBTQ folks.

Born and raised in the New York metropolitan area, Christie currently lives and works with her partner out of a beautiful historic home in Birmingham, Alabama, which keeps them both busy! She is a dog momma and aspiring knitter, and enjoys the outdoors, cooking and a good dad joke.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to FamilyHandyman.com. She spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary The Guerrero Project.

What Is a Hammertooth Hammer?

A hammertooth hammer is mostly like a regular hammer, but comes with a small tooth that extends out from the handle a couple of inches below the claw. The primary producer of hammertooth hammers is Estwing, which offers 22- and 24-ounce varieties, as well as milled or smooth faces.

What Is a Hammertooth Hammer Used For?

Hammertooth hammers are best used for straightening 2x lumber while framing. The distance between the claw and the tooth is made to snugly cradle the edge of the lumber, allowing contractors to easily align studs, joists and trusses against their plates and rim joists.

Better yet, the hammertooth hammer can be used one-handed while the handyman holds a nail gun in their other hand to attach the 2xs. To better visualize the hammertooth hammer in action, check out this official promotional video from Estwing.

Helpful Framing Tips to Consider When Using a Hammertooth Hammer

Now that you’re armed with the proper equipment, it’s time to start framing! Before you put on your safety goggles, familiarize yourself with some common mistakes to avoid and helpful best practices.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind while framing:

• Use square-edged lumber instead of round-edged. Sharp edges lead to more accurate lines and measurements.
• Mark the top-facing wide edge of the plates, not just the side-facing edge. This will help you align your studs better since you won’t have to crane your head at an angle to match the marks.
• Snap long lines in two steps. Have a buddy hold a long chalk line in the middle and snap each half of the line separately. This will ensure the straightest line over a long distance.
• When framing walls, nail the tie plate to the top plate over the studs only. This way, electricians and plumbers won’t struggle with any nails in their way as they cut holes.

“The trend away from gas is very clear where I am,” says Jeff Cordulack, who runs the all-electric lawn care service Organic Ways and Means in Stamford, Connecticut. “I get phone calls every week from people who want to switch away from gas and toxins. Half the clients are nature-oriented, and the other half just can’t handle the noise of the ubiquitous gas blowers, especially with the working-from-home trend of late.”

Cordaluck’s clients are not the only ones concerned with lawn mower noise levels and environmental concerns. Those same factors are also some of the driving forces behind Honda’s decision to exit the U.S. gas-powered lawn mower market. The company officially plans to cease all production of gas models by the end of September 2023, selling off its remaining inventory through 2024.

Why is Honda Ditching Gas-Powered Lawn Mower Motors?

A Honda spokesperson told Family Handyman that the decision was “driven by market forces such as stricter environmental regulations, shifting customer preferences and our focus on growing profitable products in our portfolio.”

Is This Going to Affect Any Other Honda Products?

It doesn’t appear so. Honda has stated it “will continue to sell the remainder of its lawn and garden product line and industrial-type power products such as GX engines, generators, and water pumps, and continue to support its service and parts operations in the U.S. market.”

The company declined to comment on any other aspects of this decision, such as whether any remaining stock of gas-powered lawn mowers will be discounted or what their plans are for electric models.

What Will Happen to Honda’s Lawn Mower Manufacturing Plant?

Honda’s gas-powered lawn mowers are currently being produced at the Honda Power Equipment facility in Swepsonville, North Carolina. Next year that facility will instead begin making all-terrain vehicles, which are currently being produced at its plant in Timmonsville, South Carolina. The Timmonsville plant will shift to focus solely on Honda side-by-side production.

Will Other Manufacturers Stop Making Gas-Powered Lawn Mower Motors?

No other manufacturers have made official announcements, but it does appear that the market for gas-powered mowers is shrinking. In 2021, California announced that it would ban the sale of gas-powered lawn equipment by 2024. More than 100 municipalities have also banned gas-powered equipment, with many more cities considering similar legislation.

“There’s a lot of activity on this front from local people wanting to make changes in their towns,” says Cordulack. “I spend a lot of time on calls speaking with town committees about my company and my all-electric equipment.”

Are Gas-Powered Mowers Harmful?

Besides being audibly annoying, gas-powered mowers generate between 90 to 105 decibels, which can cause permanent hearing damage to humans, as well as disrupt wildlife communication and nesting birds. One hour of running a gas mower emits as much carbon dioxide as driving a car 300 miles, and together all of that adds up to 5% of our country’s air pollution. Garden and lawn equipment burn up around 3 billion gallons of gasoline annually in the U.S., roughly equivalent to the energy use of 3 million homes.

Becca Haggard grew up a tomboy, regularly climbing out of her bedroom window to enjoy the view from the roof. As she watched her dad work on creative household projects like building decks and treehouses, she found it fascinating.

“I saw how certain tools would do certain things, and it just made sense,” she says. “I think that’s just how my brain is wired.”

Now Haggard owns her own roofing company, A Girl On A Roof, which serves northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. We asked her for her thoughts on working in the roofing industry.

Q: How did you get into roofing?

A: I majored in history in college, then afterward did sales, first as a banker, then selling diamonds and later clothing. Then I worked for a gentleman who took me under his wing and taught me fine carpentry. The main thing we did was hang kitchen cabinets, which I love. It’s my favorite project. I just finished hanging my own kitchen.

When I was seven months pregnant and tearing out plaster in the middle of January, hauling wheelbarrows of it down to a dumpster, I decided I was a little too pregnant for that. So I went back into sales, this time at a hardware store.

Eventually I ended up selling roofs for the company where my older brother was working. I also learned the physical side of the job, starting with installing emergency tarps after storms and small repairs.

I eventually decided to start my own company, to expand and challenge myself as well as create a platform of opportunity for young ladies to see and believe that they, too, can do anything they put their mind to. So in early 2022 I started my own company.

Just a few days ago I also launched a podcast with general roofing and home care tips, A Girl on a Roof with Becca Haggard, where I also talk with some amazing women in the trades.

Q: Now you’re in competition with your brother. What’s that like?

A: Yes, my brother started his own company in the area as well. It’s super fun, and we are very good friends. We talk every day and send each other pictures.

He taught me a lot, and he and I are very like-minded, so we don’t feel like we are in competition, as there is plenty of work. We actually consider ourselves more of a support system for each other as we grow in our careers.

Q: What’s good about being a woman in your field?

A: People sometimes trust me more because I’m female, and probably also because I show up with a smile on my face and I’m on time, which helps break stigmas in the industry.

I’ve noticed that typically the man in the household handles a lot of the home projects, like the roof. But when I’m meeting with a married couple, it gives the wife a sense of empowerment and involvement. Instead of letting him handle it, she ends up heading the project.

Q: An example, please?

A: There was an elderly German lady who barely spoke English and who really didn’t have two pennies to rub together. Her roof was an insurance claim, and so I went out of my way to walk her through both what I was doing and the insurance process.

She didn’t have email, and only a landline. Since I couldn’t text her, I made weekly trips to visit. At the end of the project she was so thankful that she was in tears and sent me on my way with a bag full of vegetables and some banana bread. I just love that I could help somebody who otherwise felt helpless.

Q: Now that your company is busy, are you still working in the field?

A: Unfortunately, a lot of the time I’m busy running the behind-the-scenes and don’t always get to get dirty. But I try to carve out at least one day a week where I do nothing but work on a roof.

It might be two or three different houses with small projects, but I’ll do those myself because I just have to. It’s the way I’m wired. I want to be using my tools. I don’t like to get stuck behind the computer all day.

Q: Any advice for women looking to get into the trades?

A: Try a little bit of everything to see how your brain works and what works for you specifically. My brain doesn’t like figuring out electric, with all of the switches, so that’s not for me. But I’ll talk roofs with you all day because it fascinates me.

Also, never think that you know it all, because that’s when you stop learning. Every day I’m trying to learn more, whether it’s a YouTube video or connecting on a professional level. Find someone who knows more than you do and ask. Usually they’ll love to show you.

Q: What kinds of changes would you like to see in roofing?

A: I’m starting to see more women get into the trades, like female insurance adjusters, roofers, estimators, and a lot of project managers, which is great. I just want to see more girls on a roof.

Also, I would love to have a couple more employees like me in my company, who can supervise, work on roofs and do estimates and sales calls.

I think that’s setting my goals very high because it’s hard to find like-mindedness in this field, but I think it will probably come from someone right out of high school or trade school. I’m looking for someone who I can bring under my wing, and say, “Here’s how you do it.”

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: My gloves are very important to me, partly because I still want to have soft hands and manicured nails, but also because my hands are my tools and I like to protect them. I like these because they’re thin and easy to move my hands in.

The next most important tool is my flat bar, which is a roofing crowbar. It’s useful for many things, including helping me carefully pull up nails to replace shingles. If you don’t have one, it’s easy to create more damage.

Then there’s a roofer’s hatchet, or shingles hatchet, which has a hammer on one side and a blade on the other. Other than that, I always bring my drill and my driver so I can fix a downspout or put things back together. I use Milwaukee because I love their tools. They have a good warranty and make an outstanding product.

Lastly, I always have my caulk gun in my truck for fixing everything from gutters to shingles.

Becca Haggard Bio

Rebecca “Becca” Haggard grew up in Florence, Kentucky and earned a B.A. in history from Asbury University, where she also competed on the volleyball team. Building on her background in carpentry and entrepreneurship, in 2022 she started her roofing business, A Girl On A Roof, in Northern Kentucky.

Her motto is “be seen, be kind, be real,” values she strives to instill in her three kids and the girls and women she mentors in roof and general home repair. When not working top of a house, you can often find her painting, drawing, singing, working out and playing bass and guitar.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to FamilyHandyman.com. She spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary The Guerrero Project.

The industry responded with luxury vinyl tiles, engineered in layers and closely resembling hardwood, stone and other natural materials. They became popular in Europe and Asia in the ’80s and subsequently in North America.

The original luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) and luxury vinyl planks (LVP) were vinyl all the way through. Around 2010, manufacturers began reinforcing the core with plastic composite to produce rigid core flooring. That core typically consists of wood plastic composite (WPC) or stone plastic composite (SPC). The latter is the type you increasingly find in modern LVT and LVP products.

WPC is a type of high-density fiberboard. Although sealed by layers of vinyl, it can be as vulnerable to moisture as wood. But an SPC core contains no wood.

What Is SPC Flooring?

SPC flooring is luxury vinyl plank or tile flooring with a stone-plastic composite core. Also known as rigid core or engineered vinyl flooring, it’s manufactured in four or five layers, depending on whether the backing is foam or cork. The backing is often added for comfort and insulation.

Manufacturers produce the SPC core, typically from 3.2- to 7 millimeters thick, by combining limestone powder, polyvinyl chloride and stabilizers. SPC is thinner than typical WPC because stone is denser than wood. Owing to the limestone core, SPC floors are durable, with typical warranty periods running 25 years or so.

Pros and Cons of SPC Flooring

In general, SPC flooring shares the benefits and drawbacks of rigid core flooring.

Pros

• Easy to install: SPC flooring boards snap together like laminate boards and float above the subfloor. No glue or nails required.
• Durable: A wear layer protects the design layer, resisting scratches and damage from ultraviolet light.
• Comfortable: Most SPC flooring planks and tiles feature an underlayment cushion for comfortable walking and some heat and sound insulation.
• Lots of design choices: Designs mimic various types of hardwood and stone flooring, as well as geometric patterns reminiscent of old-style linoleum and vinyl sheet flooring.

Cons

• Undeniably imitation: No matter how realistic the design layer, SPC flooring still looks like vinyl. That’s not a huge issue for geometric design patterns or even faux stone, but a wood pattern will never look like real wood.
• Colors fade: Despite the UV protective coating, SPC flooring fades over time in direct sunlight.
• Not scratch-proof: The wear layer is scratch-resistant, not scratch-proof. Heavy foot and pet traffic eventually makes it look worn.
• Can’t be restored: Once your SPC floor loses its luster, you can’t refinish it. The only option is replacement.

SPC flooring also has multiple pluses and one big minus compared to WPC. On the plus side:

• More stable: Because it doesn’t contain wood, SPC flooring won’t expand and contract with changing temperature and moisture conditions.
• More impact resistant: SPC flooring is denser and resists impact more than WPC.
• Less expensive: SPC is generally more affordable.

On the minus side, SPC features a thinner core layer than WPC. It feels less comfortable to walk on, and doesn’t provide as much thermal and sound insulation. These problems can be remedied by installing an underlayment first.

How Much Does SPC Flooring Cost?

It’s less expensive than real hardwood or stone tile, especially if you install it yourself. The national average for rigid core flooring, including SPC and WPC options, is around $4 per square foot (psf). Compare that to hardwood, which costs from $3 to $10 psf, and stone tile, which runs $5 to $10 psf — not including installation.

SPC could be considered a type of laminate, because the planks are constructed the same way with different materials, and installation is similar. Laminates tend to cost from $1.50 to $3.50 psf, so they can be cheaper than SPC. Laminate flooring is not as durable, long-lasting or comfortable, however. The cost for professional installation is similar to laminate, about $3 to $8 psf.

How To Install SPC Flooring

Luxury vinyl flooring with an SPC core comes in planks or tiles that snap together to form a floating floor. Unlike earlier versions, most require no glue. They’re easy to assemble, even easier than laminate planks, because you can cut them by scoring with a knife and snapping. You only need a saw for cutting curves and notches.

SPC flooring can be installed over many other types of flooring, including hardwood, vinyl and some types of tile. The subfloor must be flat, however, so some preparation might be required first. An underlayment is also recommended if the product you install doesn’t have one. Finally, you’ll need to install baseboards to hold the flooring down.

Warm, Earthy Green

There are plenty of ways to use trendy greens that will work for your kitchen. You won’t go wrong with almost any shade of green, although sage-ier hues are trending hottest at the moment. Everything from rich, dark hunter green to light, peppy mint will look fresh and new.

Green could show up as wall paint or in a wall covering pattern. It can really take center stage as cabinetry paint, or even in countertops like green Rainforest granite.

After one semester of college in her hometown of Bozeman, Montana, Lydia Crowder realized higher education wasn’t a good fit for her. Fortunately her dad, a veteran drywall pro, asked if she wanted to give that a shot. “I was 18 when I started working for him, and I just fell in love with it,” says Crowder.

Her father’s employees also encouraged and helped train her. Now, twenty years later, she’s running her own company and still loving the freedom, variety and physical sense of accomplishment it brings.

“Every house you walk into has its own challenges, so you’re always trying to troubleshoot and find a solution to get the best end product,” she says. “Then at the end of the day, I see everything I accomplished with my hands and think, ‘I killed that. I did an amazing job and everybody’s happy.’ ”

A few years ago she started her Instagram account @DrywallShorty, a handle that’s a nod to her height (she’s 5 foot 1). There, she reveals tricks of the trade to her more than 200,000 followers and anyone else who wants to learn

We asked Crowder for her thoughts on the drywall industry and her role within it.

Q: How have you adapted to being a woman in a male-dominated trade?

A: On jobsites, if the builders don’t know us, they often make comments to my husband like, “Oh, you brought your helper.” Or they think it’s funny when I get up on stilts, or that I’m going to fall off them. I deal with that by building rapport.

Early on, I’ll ask the builder about timelines and other aspects of the job, which are important for us to know so we can work effectively and efficiently. That also shows them that I’m informed. Usually the builder will then start coming to me with questions, because they know that I know what’s going on and that I have good attention to detail.

Having a conversation goes a long way when it comes to construction, because so many people just walk on and have no idea what the end goal is.

Q: Tell us about any memorable projects you’ve been on lately.

A: We were working on a really big house when the pandemic started, and because of the timing we were wondering if they were going to pull the plug on it. But they didn’t, and it ended up being a really fun and challenging house. I think it had 146 corner beads, where a normal house has 40 to 50.

I like big showpiece houses, with high-end, smooth-wall, smooth-lid wrapped everything, because you get to show off and really take the time on them.

In general, the pandemic has boosted business for us, because everybody started moving to Bozeman once they could work remotely. Our workload has increased immensely. On the other hand, it’s been tricky getting certain products because of shortages, and we’ve seen price increases of 20 to 30 percent.

Q: What sorts of challenges do you see coming down the construction-industry pipeline?

A: Forty percent of the workforce is going to be retiring in the next 15 years, so we’re going to have a major shortage of qualified tradespeople. It’s up to us to encourage people to enter the trades, train them well and then educate them on how to build a business of their own, because that’s the hardest part.

We need to realize it doesn’t hurt us to have more competition. Instead, we need to be thinking about the big picture, and how to help the industry sustain itself with a high level of well-trained construction workers. To do that we need to be more inclusive, sharing tips and tricks, instead of thinking somebody is going to come steal our work from us.

Q: How has social media affected construction?

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A post shared by DrywallShorty – Lydia (@drywallshorty)

A: If you were to walk onto a construction site and say, “Hey guys, can you teach me this?” they’re going to be like, “Get out of here. It’s none of your business.” But with social media, anyone can pick up a phone, watch a video and learn how to do something from a skilled tradesperson.

It’s fun to break something down and show people how to do it. It gets people encouraged to join the trades, and lifts the veil on what it’s like to be blue collar, to be a business owner, and to do drywall.

Q: Any advice for young women looking to get into this field?

A: Number one, take yourself seriously, because if you don’t then other people won’t. Come to the job willing to learn, and do the best that you can.

Also remember that in construction, everybody has to work their way up, and it takes a long time to learn the skills. Be a sponge, and think of it as a career, not just as something to make a little extra money here or there. You can really succeed at it, because you’ll be filling a void.

But I’d like to encourage everyone to look into a trades career. It’s not dirty or yucky, and it’s not all hard labor on site. It’s extremely satisfying, and the sky’s the limit. It gives you the opportunity to be a small business owner, to be your own boss, and even grow a company to large scale. I wish people would understand that more.

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: I’m a pan and knife user, so I always have a couple of knives with me. I like Level5, because they’re always super straight, no nicks or anything bad in the blade, and the handle is squishy.

Also, I’m always on stilts, because I’m short and otherwise can’t reach anything. Dura-Stilts are my favorite. I’ve used them my whole career. For automatic tools, I use a loading pump. Northstar Tool brand is amazing. They’re the Louis Vuitton of taping tools, so they’re very hard to get and usually back-ordered.

For sanding tools, PlaneX 2 is always good and keeps the dust down, and Trim-Tex makes a lot of nice drywall sanding materials, too. Finally, I don’t know if mud would be considered a tool, but you can’t do anything without it. I’ve always used USG, with their All-Purpose for taping and Plus 3 for all of our coat work. That’s my go-to brand.

Lydia Crowder Bio

Lydia Crowder, aka Drywall Shorty, is a second generation drywall finisher with more than 20 years of experience. She and her husband own Trinity Drywall in Bozeman, Montana, and finish more than 500,000 sq. ft. of drywall a year.

Crowder started sharing her tips and tricks online more than three years ago and currently has more than one million followers on her social media accounts. She contributes to Buildshownetwork.com, has taught an M.T. Copeland class on drywall finishing and made the cover of Women In Trade magazine.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to FamilyHandyman.com. She spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary The Guerrero Project.

EB55 Portable Power Station

The EB55 features a 700W inverter, second smallest in Bluetti’s line of portable power stations. It measures roughly 11- by 8- by 8-in. and weighs only 16-1/2-lbs., so it’s easy to store for a camping trip or family outing.

The EB55 comes with 13 power outlets including four 120V receptacles, four USB-A ports, one USC-C, three 12V outlets and a wireless charging pad. You can charge it four ways: via solar panels, AC power, 12V power from an automobile or a gas generator. You can also combine AC and solar charging, or charge from two AC receptacles at once.

SolarReviews found the EB55 had enough surge power (1,400W) to start a small refrigerator or an outdoor pool pump, and the 537 watt-hour (Wh) battery capacity kept the pool pump running for 16 hours.

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Smartwool Hunt Full Cushion Tall Crew Socks

Cushion, cushion and more cushion is our favorite feature of these thick socks, made for long days in the great outdoors or on the jobsite.

The padded sole is offset by firm support in the arch and ankle, which keeps these socks from slipping and bunching. We like the tall crew length for various boot heights, but Smartwool makes these in an over-the-calf model, too.

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Since I got my first 23-gauge nailer more than a decade ago, I’ve been a fan. These nails, ultra-thin and headless, hold small trim pieces or edging in place while their glue dries. They’re inconspicuous and easily hidden without filler, even on unpainted surfaces.

A few months back I read a press release from Craftsman Tools about their new Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer. Excited about freeing myself from my air compressor and hose. I ordered up this battery powered nailer and gave it a shot.

What is the Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer?

The Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer drives 23-gauge pin nails between 5/8-in. to 1-3/8-in. long into various wood products and materials. It features a powerful 20-volt brushless motor and tool-free jam release to minimize downtime.

This nailer also comes with bright LED lights and a non-marring tip to ensure safe and accurate nail placement, regardless of the conditions.

Weighing almost five pounds, the nailer feels comfortable in my hand. It comes with a few hundred one-inch nails, a battery, charger and optional belt hook.

How We Tested It

There were three critical questions I hoped to answer about this product. How did it react in a normal everyday situation? How many nails would it shoot on a single charge? And finally, did it have any jamming issues? Other battery powered nailers I’ve used in the past jammed frequently.

A typical day at work

To answer my first question, I needed to reapply some prefinished PVC base shoe over the cork flooring in our large basement bathroom. I had to do this because the heated bathroom floor expands and contracts the small profile PVC base shoe at a different rate than the medium density fiberboard (MDF) baseboard it’s attached to. This causes gaps to form between the two moldings over time.

As I reapplied the base shoe with the one-inch pins, the Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer delivered. It’s more cumbersome than the air powered pneumatic 23-gauge nailers I’ve used before, which is to be expected with a strong brushless motor onboard.

During this process, I noticed the LED work lights were located near its base. Because of this, it cast undesirable shadows as I placed each nail. Still, a poorly-placed built-in work light was better than none at all.

After repairing the base shoe, I headed straight to the garage to test the Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer’s two amp-hour battery capacity.

The act of shooting nails

This test went down as a momentous waste of nails. I painstakingly stood there shooting away for well over an hour before the Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer’s battery finally died.

Although it didn’t negatively affect its performance, popping nails at a steady cadence did make the Pin Nailer noticeably warm to the touch.

It’s hard to decide which is worse — staring at the horde of one-inch nails poking through the scrap chunk of half-inch MDF, or spending nearly twenty minutes counting the 1,167 nails the Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer shot in a single charge.

During the latter I noticed the pin nailer’s low-nail lockout function, which trips when there are 10 nails left in the cartridge. This prevents the user from firing the nailer unloaded and creating excess pin holes on the workpiece — a welcome feature.

The jam

After multiple hours of testing and counting more than 1,000 nails, I’ve yet to deal with a nail jam. That’s never happened with any 23-gauge nailer I used before, whether pneumatic or cordless. That’s an impressive feat in itself.

Pros

• No need for a compressor and hose;
• Non-marring tip;
• Can shoot more than 1,100 nails per charge;
• Low-nail lockout function;
• Doesn’t get jammed.

Cons

• More bulky than air powered pneumatic nailers;
• Poor LED light placement;
• Gets hot with repetitive use.

FAQ

Q: Should the nail path be lubricated like with other nail guns?
A: Yes. Whenever you clean the nail path, lubricate it with a small amount of tool oil.

Q: Is the Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer compatible with any brand of 23-Gauge nails?
A: Maybe. Craftsman recommends Bostich brand pin nails, but in my test I used multiple brands.

Final Verdict

The Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer impressed the heck out of me. Its combination of compressor-free portability, stout 1,100+ nail battery capacity and jam-free operation has me sold. Yeah, it has flaws, but all are easily overshadowed by its positives. Another impressive product from the Craftsman line.

Where to Buy

The Craftsman Cordless 23-Gauge Pin Nailer is available at Lowe’s (tool only) and Ace Hardware (battery and charger included).

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Ally Childress loves to learn. In her 20s, she had a blast earning her degree in English literature. Twenty years later, she equally enjoyed going back to school to study electricity.

Between those two major education stints, she worked in an entirely different field: science. She monitored water quality for a government agency, then tested food for pathogens at a multinational food safety company.

After a decade, she didn’t see herself moving up since her degree didn’t match her position. She decided instead to pursue a career in the trades, where she could use her more technical inclinations, and started researching possibilities. “Electrician just jumped out at me, so I signed up,” she says.

Childress completed the five-year International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) apprenticeship program in Minnesota in 2020. The program features one day of school and four days of work weekly, a model she loved.

“I learned that I’m a bit of a code nerd,” she says. “There are rules that must be followed to make electricity safe for the people using it, and they can be pretty dense and difficult to parse. Learning the code turned out to be my favorite part of the process.”

After completing her apprenticeship she became a journeyworker, which Childress truly enjoys. But in the summer of 2021, an nagging ankle injury forced her off the jobsite. She’s currently healing in Texas, where she and her wife recently moved to be closer to family.

We caught up with Childress for her thoughts on the state of the electric industry.

Q: Which projects stand out to you?

A: My first job was the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, which I worked on for a year. The scale was enormous, with a couple hundred electricians. I got paired with this abrasive foreman who was about to retire. He’d spit tobacco and yell at everybody, but he ended up being great. I stuck with him and learned so much.

First I worked on the major switchgear, which controls the big power coming in, and then up on the catwalk for nine months, which is like 300 feet in the air. I felt very privileged to start on such a monumental project. It was so fun. And now to watch it on TV and know I helped build that, that’s just the neatest feeling in the world.

Q: What changes have you seen in the electric field?

A: I’ve only been in the trades about seven years, so it’s not like I have a vast opinion. But even in that time I’ve seen a major change in how the folks in charge relate to the workers on their crews.

For example, my foreman on the U.S. Bank Stadium’s approach was to yell at people, whereas my other bosses have taken a more collaborate approach. This generational shift from old school to the younger generations is completely obvious to me.

Q: Moving forward, what changes do you hope to see?

A: It’s nice to see more women working as foreman in the field. But I would also like to see more women in company hierarchies, in the boardrooms. Because any time there’s diversity in leadership, you’re going to see different perspectives come down the chain.

I would also like to see more outreach to young women. The trades are something that need to be un-stigmatized. College is wonderful, but a lot of kids can benefit from trade school and apprenticeships, too. They don’t need to take on $100,000 of debt to make a really good living as an electrician.

Q: Any pros or cons to being a woman in the electric trade?

A: I don’t know if it’s because I’m older or because I tend to defuse situations, but I haven’t had a whole lot of consternation about being a woman in the trades.

There are a few jerks, where I’ve thought, “I can’t believe he just said that sexist nonsense.” But I’ve found that if I’m good at my job and work hard, most men are amenable to having me around. I can’t say enough positive things about the guys I’ve worked with.

One observation I’ve had is that people have their eyes on women, because we can be a novelty. If you make up only 10 percent of the jobsite, you stand out, good or bad. And if you’re the one woman on the site, you become all of the women on the site. That makes you hyperconscious of yourself, because if you stand out in a bad way, you’re going to give all women a bad name.

That being said, companies have really made strides in being welcoming. There’s a huge untapped potential of women, and I think companies are understanding that.

Q: How can bosses and coworkers be more inclusive?

A: I want to be thought of as a good electrician, not a good woman electrician. I’ve had a few coworkers say stuff like, “You’re really good at this for a girl.” Guys, that’s not a compliment.

Q: Any advice for young women looking to get into electricity or other trades?

A: Besides going through a union apprenticeship program, just keep your mind open. A lot of young women don’t consider the trades because they’ve been kind of stigmatized, but they’re a great option.

The trades are filled with smart, motivated people who have it going on. They’re happy, make a great living, take vacations and have excellent health care. Then, more practically, show up on time. Don’t look at your phone. Ask questions, but also listen and be observant. And wear your hair up so it’s not a safety issue.

Q: Any advice for staying healthy while working such a physical job?

A: Don’t ignore pain. I wouldn’t have been sidelined for nearly a year if I had gotten my ankle looked at first, rather than worked in pain for months.

I don’t like to complain, or let people down by making them pick up the slack for me not being there, but now I realize it’s okay to take time off. We have great health care. Go to the doctor. Take time to rest your body. You have to keep yourself healthy or you won’t be able to do it very long, because it’s an extremely labor-intensive job.

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: First and foremost, a non-contact voltage tester to make sure circuits are dead before working on them. Fluke is a great brand. Then, obviously, wire strippers, because you use them a thousand times a day. I like Ideal Reflex Super-T because they’re comfortable and they always work.

You’ll never see anybody without lineman’s pliers, which we call Kleins after the brand name. They’re for cutting, twisting, pulling and straightening wire, plus hammering, prying, cutting screws, etc.

You also need a screwdriver. Klein makes the best six-inch square shank slotted one. It’s incredibly sturdy and the square shank means you can use a wrench on it to gain torque.

I always have a pair of tongue-and-groove pliers, commonly called channel-locks because the best and most ubiquitous brand is Channel Lock. Small-sized ones, which we call baby channel locks, are handy to carry around, give plenty of torque and are good for tightening locknuts in small boxes.

Finally, you can’t put up pipe, panels or boxes without a torpedo level, or you’ll look like a hack and nothing will fit. It’s also a must for bending pipe, drawing straight lines and measuring slope.

Ally Childress Bio

After two fulfilling careers in the science industry, Ally Childress joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as a first-year apprentice. She’s now a journeyworker and freelance writer whose work appears frequently on FamilyHandyman.com. Childress grew up in Oklahoma and lives near family in Texas but calls Minnesota home. She and her spouse hope to one day get out of the I-35 corridor.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to FamilyHandyman.com. She’s spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary The Guerrero Project.

Brenda Hay worked hard and tried a lot of careers before she finally found her calling. Her first job was bussing tables when she was 13. Then, after having a son, she worked in electron microscopy before going to law school.

Being a single mom, she took law school classes at night. She said she was one of just six percent of students to pass a preliminary bar exam on the first try. But after twice falling just shy of passing the actual bar exam, she lacked the financial means to keep trying. So she moved on, working various jobs.

“After many years of doing that, I just wasn’t really happy,” says Hay. “The money wasn’t as good as I wanted, and I just didn’t feel like it was my place.”

When her son said he wanted to be a welder, she remembered how much she enjoyed welding in high school and college. So she signed up as well. She spent almost two years at out-of-state schools, away from her husband in Utah.

She returned home after graduation, but the pandemic made it difficult to find work. After six months of searching locally, she took a job in Oklahoma. She worked there for 16 months until her sacrifice paid off in a big way.

Now, at age 48, she’s about to start a new job as a welding training authorized inspector (AI)-in-training with Hartford Steam and Boiler, back home in Utah. Her task: Making sure high-pressure boilers are safe and strong.

“I got my dream job with my dream company,” she says. “I’m so excited about this. I didn’t know this world existed and I’m in it now. I absolutely love my life. I wouldn’t change anything about it.”

Her son, now 33, is working as a welder in California, though Hay suspects one day he’ll also become an inspector like her. And while Hay no longer welds every day, she’s working on setting up a shop at home so she can continue to enjoy the craft.

We asked Hay for her thoughts on the state of welding and welding inspecting.

Q: What do you enjoy about being in the welding trade?

A: I love both welding and inspecting, and the money is wonderful. The more you learn, the more you’re going to make. I know money should never be a motivator, but money does make life easier, and I hope one day I’ll be making more than most lawyers.

I wish I would have done this sooner, but electron microscopy and law school upped my learning capacity and helped make this work. I also love the metallurgy part of the job, plus how much I continue to learn, which keeps me from getting bored. How many people get to leave work and think, “Wow, I’ve learned so much today.” It’s wonderful.

Q: What’s it been like, being a woman in a male-dominated trade?

A: Years ago, when my instructor became an inspector, I think a woman on that job probably would have been shunned. Today we don’t have that attitude. Women inspectors are totally accepted.

Going in, I did think that the older welders would be like, “Get this girl out of here. I don’t want a girl in my shop.” But I never got that attitude, except from some of the younger welders. They can have a kind of cocky attitude, whereas the older ones are more apt to want to show me what they’re doing and help me learn the trade. That surprised me.

Q: What changes would you like to see in the field?

A. I would like to see more women. I used to mock the phrase “women need women.” But the older I get, the more I see that sometimes when things happen, we need our own kind to talk to, and there are so few of us.

Plus, even the men are excited when we have a female welder come in. I think they want more diversity, too. A woman brings so much to the table. We’re strong. We’re so different than men. That diversity makes for more fun conversations, more fun everything.

Q: Any advice for young women looking to get into welding?

A: Just like in any field, approach dating coworkers carefully. Unfortunately, in some work environments, guys and girls are looked upon differently when dating coworkers, even though it’s a mutual decision.

I saw it with one of the women who was a welder. She got caught up with a guy and ended up feeling like she got pushed out of advancement opportunities. That’s not to say it will always be the case.

When I started, I was a little nervous, so I didn’t wear makeup. I wanted my coworkers to think of me as one of their coworkers, a guy. But now I realize it’s okay to be a woman in this field. You can get your hair dyed and wear pretty clothes if you want, and most men are fine with it.

Just go there and do your job. If they flirt with you, feel empowered to just say you appreciate that compliment, but you’re here to do a job and not interested in anything else.

Q: What are your pro-specific tools?

A: Definitely a tape measure with increments down to 1/32-in., paired with a magnet with a hook, so you can measure something really long even when no one is there to help you hold the other end of the tape. The magnet-hook also ensures that you don’t have a variance where the end on the tape measure pulls out a little bit.

I like tight gloves for crawling into boilers. You might still get metal slivers in your hands, and those magnets are also good for pulling them out.

I also always have an inspection mirror and the brightest flashlight I can afford. The brighter it is, the more discontinuities you’ll see. Also pens and a notebook, for documenting everything. I like a book with a wraparound band so it doesn’t open when the wind picks up.

One tool I don’t have yet but I really want is a 400-ft. laser measure. It goes down to 1/16-in. accuracy, though I wish it was 1/32-inch. But it has a Bluetooth camera on it, so you can send it up to a welder and they can measure what you want without having to put on a safety harness and go up there.

Then for welding, for sure you want some TIG welding gloves and TIG Kevlar sleeves so you don’t burn yourself, which you can do even through your clothes.

Brenda Hay Bio

Brenda Hay is the newest training authorized inspector (AI)-in-training with Hartford Steam and Boiler in Utah. Though she’s had careers in electron microscopy and quality control, plus earned a law degree, she says she’s finally found contentment in the welding trade, which makes her “feel free and offers so many opportunities.”

A graduate of the Refrigeration School, Inc. and Tulsa Welding School, she has also worked as a certified welding inspector in Oklahoma. She’d like to give a shoutout to her instructor at Tulsa, David Lamb, for all the knowledge he imparted to her.

Writer Karuna Eberl Bio

Karuna Eberl is a regular contributor to FamilyHandyman.com. She’s spent the last 25 years as a freelance journalist and filmmaker, telling stories of people, nature, travel, science and history. Eberl has won numerous awards for her writing, her Florida Keys Travel Guide and her documentary, The Guerrero Project.