Take Your Lawn to the Next Level With the Coolest New Shrubs

Fire Ball Seedless® Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Everyone loves the fiery red intensity of the foliage in fall, but burning bush is considered a pest in some areas. Enter Fire Ball Seedless, a new cultivar that is seedless, sterile and, most importantly, non-invasive. Developed by the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station in North Carolina, this burning bush cultivar is part of the Proven Winners® ColorChoice® collection. It has the durability and infernal-red autumnal foliage of burning bush without the risk of it spreading into wild areas and out-competing native plants.

Named 2025 Professional’s Choice Green Thumb award winner, Fireball grows 5 to 6 feet tall and wide and makes a fine screen or backdrop for a mixed border. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

Paisley Pup® Doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana)

This underappreciated species goes by several names, including drooping leucothoe, fetterbush and mountain doghobble. Whatever you call it, you’ll appreciate this broadleaf evergreen for its handsome foliage and the array of green, cream, white, bronze and yellow hues. And as if that weren’t enough, it also features arching stems holding racemes of fragrant white flowers to delight both people and pollinators alike.

Paisley Pup is a low-growing cultivar, just 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, so it can be used as a midrange plant in a mixed bed. It is shade-tolerant and deer-resistant. USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

Oso Easy En Fuego® Rose (Rosa spp.)

Oso Easy landscape roses have a reputation for living up to their name, for they are oh-so-easy to grow! En Fuego keeps the proud lineage going with its beauty, plus its adaptability to cold and hot climates and built-in disease resistance to black spot and powdery mildew. The large, intensely colorful flowers, set off against glossy dark green foliage, start out yellow and red before opening fully to an electric orange.

Part of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® collection, En Fuego matures at 3 to 4 feet tall, 18 in. wide and makes an excellent addition to a perennial garden or dwarf conifer bed. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

Kodiak® Jet Black™ Diervilla (Diervilla x ‘SMNDSN’)

The Kodiak Diervilla line of Proven Winners ColorChoice shrubs has gained fans for its easygoing nature and ability to accept different lighting conditions. Homeowners also like the fall foliage and the bright flower clusters, although the latter are sometimes hard to see against the summer foliage.

Enter Kodiak Jet Black Diervilla, which features contrasting burgundy-black foliage that remains strikingly dark all season long, helping the small yellow flowers stand out. Kodiak Jet Black Diervilla grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide and makes an excellent addition to shrub borders or to surround a deck. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

Autumn Moonstruck® Azalea (Rhododendron hybrid ‘Roblezf’)

A repeat bloomer is always appreciated, but one with eye-catching foliage as well. It seems Encore® Azalea has hit another home run with Autumn Moonstruck, the first in this popular series of reblooming azaleas to offer variegated foliage. The emerald and chartreuse variegation has enough charm to carry the show all season—with or without the double white blooms, which appear in spring and then sporadically after that in summer and fall.

This azalea likes the sun, too, so it can be massed as a colorful hedge. It grows to 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide or kept smaller and grown in a pot. USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Photo courtesy of Encore Azaleas.

Golden Child® Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Mirjam’)

This is one arborvitae that refuses to blend into the background. This Monrovia introduction not only grows in the garden, but it also glows in the garden with finely cut foliage in bright hues of yellow and yellow-green that resist scorching in the sun. In winter, the foliage takes on a light bronze cast for even more variety. With a slow growth rate and compact mature size of 18 to 24 in. tall and wide, this globe-shaped evergreen makes a well-behaved addition to the garden. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8. Photo courtesy of Monrovia.

Chateau® de Saumur Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minsyanlav02’)

Like its other rose of Sharon brethren, this shrub is fast-growing and full of colorful flowers in late summer. However, there is one major difference: this is the first in Monrovia’s popular Chateau series to feature fluffy, peony-like blooms with frilly center petals. The large violet-pink flowers cover stems from top to bottom for a long blooming season into fall.

Chateau de Saumur grows 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide and makes an excellent informal hedge or backdrop for shorter plants. USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. Photo courtesy of Monrovia.

Seaside Serenade® Pebble Beach Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SC-04-20’)

The newest member of Monrovia’s Seaside Serenade hydrangea collection, Pebble Beach boasts large mophead flowers—purple in acidic soil, raspberry pink in alkaline—spring through summer. Blooms, which have a hint of bright green color for an intriguing twist, are held on sturdy, dark red stems to resist weather.

Like others in the Seaside Serenade series, Pebble Beach has a compact, bushy growth habit, growing 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. It works well as a focal point in the garden, massed as an informal border or even grown in a container as an accent plant. Also, the blooms make excellent cut flowers in a vase. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. Photo courtesy of Monrovia.

Violet Mist® Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus)

With a mature size of just 3 to 4 feet in height and width, Violet Mist from First Editions® is more compact than other varieties and can fit neatly into many smaller landscapes. It also reacts well to pruning and, since it blooms on new wood, can be trimmed back in spring to keep an even tighter habit—without jeopardizing the season’s floral show.

Speaking of which, the flowers on Violet Mist are a pollinator magnet, appearing in profusion in early summer and showing off their attractive blue-purple hues. Deadheading encourages reblooming. USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9. Photo courtesy of First Editions.

Bloombux® Blush Rhododendron (Rhododendron hybrid)

Here’s a colorful alternative to boring boxwood—and one less prone to winter damage, too. Growing just 18 to 24 in. tall, it’s a perfect option for an elegant low hedge. But rather than settling for a long season of greenery, Bloombux Blush offers something extra with a floral show worthy of rhododendrons.

The large, 3 to 4-in. wide blooms on this Bloomin’ Easy® introduction have a blush-pink hue when they appear in spring and are sure to please the eye while satisfying pollinators. USDA Hardiness Zone 5-9. Photo courtesy of Bloomin’ Easy.

Spice Cowboy™ Snowball Bush (Viburnum carlesii ‘SMNVCST’)

Spice Cowboy Snowball Bush combines visual appeal with fragrant blooms and seasonal color changes. This versatile shrub, available through Jackson & Perkins®, grows 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide, so it can be shaped into a small tree or grown as a dense hedge.

Large clusters of snowball-like flowers boast a spicy-sweet scent in spring, so consider placing the shrub near a patio, deck or other spot in the garden where you can appreciate this feature. Come fall, you can look forward to seeing the foliage turn fiery orange-red as a final act. Spice Cowboy is highly adaptable, thriving in most moist, well-drained soils. It is also deer-resistant. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

Li’l Annie Oakleaf™ Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Oakann1588’)

Here’s a downsized version of the classic oakleaf hydrangea that’s a great fit for gardens of all sizes. While the North American native species grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, Li’l Annie oakleaf hydrangea has a more compact reach of 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide, making it more suitable for use as a foundation plant or midrange addition to a mixed bed.

Available from Star® Roses and Plants, the shrub has large, white flowers that age to pink and host many beneficial pollinators. As a bonus, the green foliage eventually turns burgundy for added drama in the fall garden. USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.

Suntastic™ Pink Abelia (Abelia hybrid ‘Pink’)

This new and improved abelia from the Southern Living® Plant Collection is a compact shrub that adds oodles of color and texture without making a gardener raise a sweat. The brightly variegated foliage is a treat throughout the year, and the plant itself matures at just 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, so it’s perfect for borders, foundations or even containers. Moreover, this water-wise beauty is heat tolerant and thrives in full sun. USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10. Photo courtesy of PlantHaven International, planthaven.com

Mop Top™ Butterfly Bush (Buddleia alternifolia)

With its weeping branches and compact growth habit, Mop Top brings a touch of elegance and grace to a garden. It’s not lacking in color, either, as this new shrub is full of fragrant lavender flowers from mid-spring to mid-summer, much to the delight of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Mop Top stays manageable at 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, offering versatility for small garden spaces. This low-maintenance shrub, available through Jackson & Perkins®, has excellent drought tolerance and enhanced cold hardiness. It’s also sterile, so it won’t cause concern over self-seeding. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

The post Take Your Lawn to the Next Level With the Coolest New Shrubs appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Take Your Lawn to the Next Level With the Coolest New Shrubs

Traffic Cameras and Road Sensors Every Driver Should Know

Like it or not, traffic cameras are a fixture on North American roadways, and they aren’t going away anytime soon. Before you get upset about living in a surveillance state, you should know not all of them are there to keep you in line. Some are there to monitor traffic flow for the purpose of timing traffic lights and planning road improvements. Some keep track of road conditions in bad weather so that authorities can issue traffic updates, and some charge tolls on bridges and toll roads.

“Then, there are traffic enforcement cameras,” says insurance expert Melanie Musson. “They operate by capturing a picture of an infraction, gathering information about the car and license plate, and issuing an automatic citation.” If you’re worried about surveillance, these are the cameras you want to watch out for, but how do you tell the difference?

I sought answers from Musson, Ben Michael, an attorney at Michael & Associates, and Gary Goble, a retired police chief who now works for an automated enforcement company. Here’s what they told me.

What Are Traffic Cameras?

They’re just what you think: Traffic cameras are cameras that monitor traffic. Most of them are video cameras, but there are quite a few that take still images. To do its job, a traffic camera has to be mounted above the roadway, either sharing a pole with a traffic light, mounted on its own pole or affixed to an overpass or a toll collection station.

Traffic cameras are nothing new. I had my first encounter with an enforcement camera while driving on a Japanese freeway in the 1990s. The speed limit was an unrealistic 80 km/hour (about 50 mph), and the camera flashed when your speed exceeded 100 km/hour. Because it was stationary, most drivers knew it was there and slowed down as they approached, but since I was new to the country, I maintained my speed and got the flash as I passed by. Two weeks later, I received an image in the mail of myself at the wheel accompanied by a ¥20,000 (about $200 at the time) ticket.

Types of Traffic Cameras

“There are actually quite a few different kinds of traffic cameras, and not all are used for the purpose of catching people breaking the law,” says Michael. Here’s a rundown of the ones you’ll likely spot on North American roadways (assuming you’re keeping a sharp eye out for them).

Traffic monitoring cameras

Traffic monitoring cameras are the benign ones. They are about the size and shape of a home security camera, and they are usually mounted next to traffic lights, on bridges and overpasses, or on their own poles next to roadways. They often incorporate sensors that monitor traffic flow and road conditions, and they don’t flash.

Red light cameras

Did you just see a flash as you sped toward a yellow light, only to have it turn red just before you got to the intersection? A red light camera has nabbed you. This type of camera, which you’ll find mounted on its own pole at a busy intersection, is fairly bulky, consisting of a large camera box and one or two external flashes. It’s connected to an automated ticket issuing system, and it usually sends out the ticket a few weeks after the violation.

Flashing can be distracting to drivers, so modern red light cameras use a different method. “At Verra Mobility,” says Goble, referring to the company for which he works, “a majority of our red light and speed safety cameras are mounted adjacent to a street and on separate poles so that the camera can capture the back of a vehicle and record the license plate (this also helps to reduce privacy concerns as the camera is not looking into vehicles).”

Goble says these cameras are harder to spot than the ones that flash, so they have signage that alerts drivers to the automated enforcement in the region. If you don’t want one to catch you, look for the signs.

Speed cameras

You’ll find fixed versions of these on highways, less-populated back roads and residential streets. They are usually mounted on their own poles on the side of the road or on overpasses, they are smaller than red light cameras, and they don’t always flash. If they do flash, the flash “is brief and only reaches the short distance to the vehicle as to not distract drivers,” says Goble. There are also mobile versions that are attached to police vehicles, but obviously, you won’t be able to spot these until it’s too late.

ANPR cameras

ANPR stands for Automated Number Plate Recognition. You’ll see these cameras at automated toll booths and above expressway toll lanes. If you’re worried about surveillance, these are the cameras you especially want to avoid — unless you’re paying a toll. That can be difficult, because many highway patrol officers and state troopers have them mounted on their vehicles. They can tell the officers much about you and your driving history, and you could get pulled over for an outstanding parking ticket or some other violation even if you’re not doing anything wrong.

ANPR cameras operate in the infrared, and they are usually equipped with an LED cluster to help them see at night. This cluster is a dead giveaway that the camera you see mounted above the roadway or to the side of it is an ANPR one.

How To Avoid Traffic Cameras

The simplest way to avoid traffic cameras is to obey traffic laws! Many evasion techniques, like covering your license plate or tinting your windows to make yourself invisible, are illegal in many states, including California.

One way you can be more aware of traffic cameras in your area that’s not against the law is using GPS. “GPS systems alert drivers to red light cameras. So, even if you’re driving, and you know the way, it can be helpful to plug your destination into GPS, so you can find out about red light cameras before you cut your yellow light coast-through too close,” advises Musson.

I don’t recommend speeding at all, but if you have a heavy foot, your best bet it to keep an eye out for cameras, and if you spot one — no matter what kind it is — slow down.

FAQ

Do all traffic lights have cameras?

No, that would be a nightmare both for drivers and for law enforcement. Cameras are typically deployed only at busy intersections where red light violations are common. In the county in which I live, only one intersection has a camera, although more may be coming in the future.

Do the cameras on traffic lights give tickets?

Yes, traffic cameras can automatically issue tickets, and the accompanying imagery is “strong evidence that is very difficult to dispute in court,” according to Michael. However, Musson states that, because these tickets are not in the same category as a ticket given at the discretion of a human law enforcement officer, they usually do not affect insurance.

Do traffic cameras flash?

Some do, but not all of them, because there’s not always a need. “This can be based on location, the equipment, or the times a program may be enforced,” says Goble.

About the Experts

• Melanie Musson is a published insurance and finance expert. She specializes in car insurance and works with InsuranceProviders.com.
• Gary Goble is a retired police chief turned client success manager at Verra Mobility. He helps support communities that implement automated enforcement programs across the country.
• Ben Michael is an attorney with Michael & Associates, based in Dallas TX.

Sources

• Improv: People Are Outsmarting Traffic Cameras, but Is It Worth the Risk?; (2025)
• Radenso: What’s the difference between traffic cameras, red light cameras, and speed cameras?; (2018)

The post Traffic Cameras and Road Sensors Every Driver Should Know appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Traffic Cameras and Road Sensors Every Driver Should Know

The Truth About Using Salt to Eliminate Weeds

When I lived in Florida, my yard was made from pea rock, so keeping up with weeding was a hassle. However, since I lived next to a waterway, I didn’t want to use chemicals that could harm aquatic life, so I considered killing the weeds with salt. That’s when a friend pointed out that historically, conquerors have used salt on their opponents’ agricultural fields to keep crops from growing. That made me wonder if it was truly something I should be doing to my own land.

“It is a myth that salt is a safe, natural alternative to chemical herbicides,” says turf specialist Bennett Barrier. “It’s a cheap shortcut, but in the long run, it will cause long-lasting damage to the soil and plants growing nearby, impacting biodiversity.”

Here’s what you need to know about killing weeds with salt and when, if ever, it’s a good solution.

Does Salt Kill Weeds?

Yes, high concentrations of salt kills weeds by drawing moisture out of their cells and interfering with their ability to uptake water and nutrients.

Does Salt Kill Weeds Permanently?

It depends on the amount of salt and what kind of plants you’re trying to kill, but in general, small amounts of salt tend to kill only the above-ground parts of the plant, not necessarily the roots. Because of that, salt works best on smaller, shallow-rooted weeds versus perennials like dandelions and thistles that have deeper roots, says lawn care expert Eduard Negodenko.

Can I Use Salt to Kill Weeds on My Lawn?

Yes, but it’s not a good idea since salt also kills beneficial plants and can damage your lawn, making it uneven and sickly looking, says home renovation expert Keith Sant. Salt also changes the chemistry of your soil and harms microbes that are important for maintaining soil health. If you have excess salt in your soil, nothing will be able to grow there again until rainwater gradually washes it away, which will also make it harder to renovate or re-sod the lawn.

If you do decide to use salt anyway, lawn care expert Rob Palmer recommends adding ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and dish soap to make the mixture more effective. “Since salt is the main ingredient in baking soda, it can help control weeds when applied correctly,” he says. Vinegar’s acidity can further help dry out the target weeds, while dish soap helps the mixture stick to the leaves.

Can I Use Salt To Kill Weeds in My Driveway?

Yes, but use it sparingly. “Since you are dealing with hard, compacted surfaces like concrete, the salt will be more effective here without doing too much damage to surrounding plant life,” says Barrier. “But it will, nonetheless, still affect the soil beneath the driveway, especially if the salt is washed into any cracks or crevices, leading to future growth problems in those areas.”

Negodenko recommends pouring a 3:1 water-to-salt mixture into cracks in driveways. Only apply it during a dry time to avoid runoff into areas where plants are to be grown.

Also, beware of using excess de-icing salts in the winter, as the salt and other additives in those pose a significant threat to your lawn, soil and greater ecosystem health.

“Over time, it can build up in the soil, creating an inhospitable environment for plant growth,” says Palmer. “Certain turfgrasses, like tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, have a higher tolerance to salt exposure, while more sensitive varieties, such as Kentucky bluegrass, may suffer greater damage.”

As an alternative, Palmer recommends de-icers, including calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), sand, kitty litter, beet juice or brine solutions.

What’s the Best Alternative To Salt for Killing Weeds?

Some more sustainable alternatives to killing weeds with salt include:

• Horticultural-grade vinegar, which is especially effective on tender and sprouting plants. “It’s great for killing weeds in no time, and is the fastest way to kill those plants,” says Negodenko.
• Boiling water, which is best for weeds growing within cracks and gravel paths. “It is simple and straight to the point,” says Negodenko.
• Pulling weeds by hand or with a weeding tool, which is best for plants with deeper roots.
• Flame weeding with a propane torch, which won’t damage the surrounding soil.
• Wood chips or straw mulch, which blocks sunlight and thus suppresses weed germination.
• Organic weed barriers (refrain from plastic-based products, which also damage soil health).

“In severe cases, one could use something more preventive like a pre-emergent,” says Negodenko. For that, he recommends aerating the soil, over-seeding, then applying corn gluten meal. “It’s a great way to kill weeds and preserve a healthy lawn,” he says.

About the Experts

• Rob Palmer is Brand President at the lawn care franchise Lawn Squad, and has been in the lawn care business for more than 30-years.
• Eduard Negodenko has been designing landscapes and providing lawn and garden expertise for more than seven years. He currently work at Avanti Landscaping in Toronto, Canada.
• Bennett Barrier has years of experience with lawn care, and is currently a turf specialist and CEO at DFW Turf Solutions.
• Keith Sant is Founder and CEO of Kind House Buyers, based in Tacoma, Washington, and specializes in buying, renovating and selling highly damaged houses.

The post The Truth About Using Salt to Eliminate Weeds appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: The Truth About Using Salt to Eliminate Weeds

10 DIY Pond, Fountain and Waterfall Projects That Will Transform Your Yard

Peaceful Pond and Deck

Are you in need of a little serenity now? A reflecting pond is just the place to rest your gaze after a trying day. This pond and deck are unique, not only in appearance but also in building technique. Most ponds are free-form, informal shapes that have either soft or hard plastic liners dug into the ground. But for this homemade pond, we used simple wood walls to frame it and form the base for the surrounding deck. A single-piece rubber liner keeps the water in. And the garden berm that surrounds one end is practical and has a nice landscaping feature. We simply mounded the soil dug from the pond hole so we wouldn’t have to haul it away.

This homemade pond isn’t exactly a weekend project. In fact, even if you’re in great shape, you should expect to spend the better part of a long day just digging the hole and laying in the gravel footings. The good news is that the construction is simple and doesn’t require a bunch of expensive tools.

One-Day Mini Pond and Fountain

Build this compact, charming, inexpensive little pond and fountain in one day using simple off-the-shelf materials. This homemade water fountain will spruce up your yard and provide a pleasant place for you to sit and for neighborhood birds to get a drink and splash around a bit.

Pond in a Box

Build this simple, above-ground pond with a trellis and fountain on a weekend. The advantages of an above-ground patio waterfall are:

• With this design, there’s practically none of the worst part of pond building — gut-busting digging. And that also means there’s no huge pile of dirt to get rid of.
• Talk about instant gratification! Build the walls and trellis in the morning, assemble the pond in the afternoon, add the trim the next day, and then go buy goldfish!
• Traditional in-ground ponds can be a drowning hazard for toddlers and pets, but this above-ground design reduces the risk.

Low-Maintenance Backyard Pond

A backyard pond with running water, floating plants and darting fish can make a bland space breathtaking. Keeping a patio waterfall attractive and trouble-free takes work, but with a little extra care at the planning and building stages, you can create a pond that’s almost maintenance-free.

Patio Pond

This freestanding pond-in-a-box features a place for water plants and planters for in-ground plants. Construction is easy for this homemade pond, and a brush-on rubber lining keeps the container watertight.

Pond with Waterfall

Add the magic of moving water to your backyard with a waterfall and pond. Preformed shells, rubber liners and off-the-shelf pumps and filters put the project’s costs and skill requirements within easy reach of any do-it-yourselfer to build a homemade water fountain. You’ll put in your share of sweat equity, busting sod and hauling stone for a patio waterfall. But when you’re done, you’ll have a landscape feature to enjoy for years.

Private Pond and Waterfall

A backyard pond doesn’t have to be big to have a big impact. This private pond is less than 6 feet long and just over 4 feet across. But with its striking stone surround and sparkling waterfall, it can become the centerpiece of any landscape. Build this small pond in as little as one weekend! This design is versatile, too. You can make the pond twice as large as this one or half the size. You can locate it on flat terrain or tuck the stone waterfall wall into a slope. Unlike most ponds, this one won’t leave you with a small mountain of soil to deal with—you can simply use the excavated soil to form a berm behind the waterfall wall.

Bamboo Waterfall

You don’t have to settle for some kitschy plastic-resin waterfall if you’re looking for a unique water feature. There’s a simple and elegant way to add a soothing waterfall to your backyard, and you don’t have to be particularly handy or have a shop full of tools. Follow these simple steps to build this bamboo sluice (in a single day) and a small pond to catch the water, complete with a pump and water plants.

Natural-Looking Artesian Fountain

If you’re looking for an eye-catching feature for your patio, deck or even front entry, this natural-looking fountain will do the trick. Designed around a special stone with a 1-in. hole drilled through it, water from the pump gurgles up through the hole and overflows the stone. To reduce maintenance, we eliminated the collection pond. A gravel-filled reservoir below collects the overflow for recirculation. Since no sunlight can reach the water in the reservoir and support algae growth, the water stays pristine.

Cast Concrete Fountain

Enjoy the splash and sparkle of water indoors or out—with minimal maintenance and expense. Learn how to build this fountain out of concrete. You’ll save several hundred dollars building this fountain yourself instead of buying it. So make a trip to your local home center to pick up the supplies, then follow these how-to steps to cast the fountain.

The post 10 DIY Pond, Fountain and Waterfall Projects That Will Transform Your Yard appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: 10 DIY Pond, Fountain and Waterfall Projects That Will Transform Your Yard

Make Your House More Comfortable with These Insulation Tips

Cut Fiberglass Batts to Exact Widths

It’s easy to insulate your walls with fiberglass insulation (at least when they’re open!), but the job still requires attention to detail to get the maximum benefit. Every gap and compressed batt leaves a path for heat or cold to escape.

Measure and cut the fiberglass batt for an exact fit. Add about 1/4 in. to the measurement to ensure a snug fit. Use a 4- to 6-in.-wide board or strip of plywood as a straightedge to guide your utility knife. Line up the edge of the board at the proper width, compress the insulation and cut it with a sharp utility knife. A scrap of plywood under the batt will protect finished floors and keep the blade from dulling on concrete.

Avoid Stuffing

Don’t stuff full-width batts into spaces that are too narrow. Crumpling batts to fit narrow spaces creates uninsulated air pockets. And packed insulation has a lower R-value.

Wear Protective Equipment

Protect your skin, eyes and lungs when you’re working with fiberglass. If you’re installing a lot of it, consider wearing a disposable coverall (inexpensive at paint stores and home centers).

Goggles, gloves, a dust mask, a cap and long-sleeved coverings protect you from fiberglass irritation.

Seal Narrow Gaps with Foam

Seal around window and door jambs with expanding spray foam. The main purpose of the spray foam is to seal the space around the window to prevent air infiltration. Use foam that’s labeled for window and door insulating. This ‘minimal-expanding’ type reduces the chance of warping the jamb. If there’s still space around the window after the foam cures, lightly stuff the remaining space with strips of fiberglass insulation.

Notch Batts Around Electrical Boxes

Cut notches in batts to fit snuggly around electrical boxes. Airtight boxes have gaskets that seal against the drywall.

Put the batt in place, and use scissors to snip around the box. Tuck the snipped-out plug of insulation behind the box. Don’t wrap fiberglass batts around electrical boxes or stuff full batts behind them. That creates gaps and air convection routes around the box.

Split Batts Around Cables and Pipes

Split apart the batts to fit around wires and pipes to get the full value of the insulation. Fiberglass batts have a vertical weave that allow you to easily tear it open for insulating around electrical cables.

Avoid Stuffing Batts Behind Pipes and Cables

Don’t tuck full-thickness batts behind pipes and cables. Compressing the fiberglass decreases its insulating value and creates voids between the insulation and the drywall.

Plug Holes in Top and Bottom Plates

Plug holes in the top and bottom plates with expanding spray foam. Even small holes can let a lot of air escape. Don’t leave gaps around wires, pipes or ducts unplugged. These gaps create pathways for warm interior air to leak into the attic, wasting energy and causing attic condensation or even ice dams in cold climates.

Avoid Paper-Faced Insulation Where Possible

Don’t buy paper-faced insulation for standard wall insulating jobs. The paper facing makes cutting the batts difficult. And it’s hard to create a tight vapor retarder with paper-faced batts.

Buy Friction-Fit Batts

Buy unfaced friction-fit batts and seal the walls with a 4-mil poly vapor retarder. Seal the gap between the bottom plate of the wall and the floor with acoustical sealant or caulk. Press the poly into the sealant. Use special airtight electrical boxes (see photo, Tip 5) or seal the poly to the electrical box with acoustical sealant. Tape the seams in the poly with sheathing tape.

The post Make Your House More Comfortable with These Insulation Tips appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Make Your House More Comfortable with These Insulation Tips

20 Of Family Handyman’s Most Incredible DIY Projects

Polished Concrete Table Top

Working with concrete may not sound like a quick project, but you’ll surprise yourself with just how quickly this gorgeous concrete table-top  comes together. It’s an excellent starter project if you want to learn how to incorporate concrete into more of your DIY projects.

Wooden Swing

Don’t forget the kids when you’re building features for your backyard. This wooden disc swing is an easy winner; as long as you’ve got a suitable tree or other solid frame  you can install this and become the owners of the coolest backyard on your block.

Elegant Outdoor Table

Build this attractive, durable stone look-alike table in a day, using inexpensive concrete products available at many home centers. You simply mold and pour the top, then assemble the wooden legs. When sealed, it’s stain-resistant and can be used indoors or outside.

Greenhouse

While you’re updating your outdoor space, why not give yourself somewhere to up your gardening game. Building a greenhouse is a great way to expand the growing season for your garden, whether you want fruits and veggies or to supply your own floral studio.

Simple Folding Chair

This folding wooden lawn chair is the perfect project for a beginner. It boasts a simple design, with a carrying handle cutout in the back for easy portability and a neat interlocking look. The chair shown is cedar, but you could also use Cypress fir or pressure-treated wood.

How to Make an Adirondack Chair and Love Seat

This Adirondack chair and matching love seat are designed for outdoor comfort. It’s one of the wood projects designed for easy assembly, so that a novice can build them. And you can build them from inexpensive, durable wood that, once stained, looks beautiful.

Floating Bookshelves

These shelves are handsome, easy to build and inexpensive. And they’re strong even though they have no visible supports. They appear to float on the wall, no clunky hardware or brackets. We made them from only two parts—half of a hollow core door and a 2×4.

Build a Built-in Bookcase

Sometimes simple IKEA hacks are the easiest DIY projects. This one has no complex wood joints and no tricky techniques. You simply glue, screw and nail the parts together. Learn how to use inexpensive materials like birch plywood and standard trim to build this classic, built-in wooden bookcase.

Bookcase Built by Two

Build this simple pine bookshelf in one day with a miter saw, biscuits—and a young helper. It’s a great way to teach your kids about woodworking and safe tool use. If your children have shown an interest in DIY projects, this is the perfect entry point.

Entryway Shelves

Entryway shelves can help corral shoes, bags, and other miscellaneous items that get shed when you and your family members come inside after a long day. This project can be easily customized to solve whatever your specific storage needs are; it’s quite versatile.

Saturday Morning Shelf

This versatile cherry shelf goes together in a few hours, and with a quick-drying finish you can have it on the wall in a day. The extra-wide top makes it perfect for books, antiques and collectibles. Build it before lunch—spray on the finish after dinner.

Install a Wall-Bed-Bookcase Combo

A wall-bed combination or drop-down bed helps save a lot of room in a tight basement, so consider installing this DIY Murphy bed and bookcase. While a Murphy bed can be super simple- some are just an upright box that contains a folddown bed-  this is a deluxe version that includes ample storage.

Classic Simple Bookcase

Craftsman-style furniture designs are still popular today, and with modern tools you can build a classic bookcase like this one from the Stickley catalog in a weekend. It’s a step above beginner. While it’s not a project to take on alone if you’ve never done woodworking before, if you’ve done even one or two other DIY projects under your belt you should be able to handle it with ease.

Build a Showcase Wall

This built-in entertainment center mixes architectural simplicity with a pop of color to make it stand out. This showstopper of a bookcase is an intermediate level project, but if you’re confident in your skills it’s well worth the time and work it takes.

Build a Traditional Bookshelf

Need a great-looking bookshelf with classic lines by tomorrow? Using clever shortcuts and standard materials, you can build a bookshelf like this in a day. It’s a great option if you’re looking for simple DIY projects you can do quickly. You can even build multiple of these bookcases to give your living room or den the ability to house your entire library.

Floor-to-Ceiling Bookcase

A floor-to-ceiling bookcase shows off a small room’s height while adding a lot of space-saving vertical storage. This Greek Revival-style wood bookcase is much easier to build that it looks. It’s the kind of woodworking project you can use to impress your friends and family.

Custom Box Shelves

Organize the clutter. These simple, but handsome, box shelves will store books, hats, shoes, and all kinds of knick-knacks. You can even sit on them!

Record Display Case

If you’ve got a record collection that you want to show off, why not build a display case for them? This wooden crate is designed to hold several records and is complete with a display sleeve on front so you can display your most prized album.

Make Your Own Built-In Shelves

Use this project for built-in shelves to unlock hidden storage space between the studs in your walls. Install a single, open box of shelves, or install two boxes and add a set of glass doors to make a cabinet. Either way you’ll have given yourself extra storage space.

DIY Rustic Barn Door and Hardware

Rustic barn doors have become popular recently and we’ve got the plans to create your own rustic barn door. Getting that distressed look is one of those DIY home projects that can be done without spending a lot of money and still looks great.

The post 20 Of Family Handyman’s Most Incredible DIY Projects appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: 20 Of Family Handyman’s Most Incredible DIY Projects