Easy Home Improvement Projects for Weekend Warriors

Easy Home Improvement Projects for Weekend Warriors


Few industries have grown as much in the last decade-plus as the home improvement industry. Whereas it was once commonplace for homeowners to have a handyman on speed dial, nowadays homeowners handle not only the routine upkeep necessary to maintain a home, but many home improvement projects as well.

Home expert Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated TV show, Today's Homeowner, and radio show, Homefront, said, "Today you've got not only an amazing selection of tools to help with every project, but they also shorten the time it used to take to complete the project. When you couple that with all the DIY instruction and programming out there, it's no wonder we have the confidence to do more on our own."

As popular as home improvement projects have become, many homeowners still find themselves pressed for time when it comes to tackling projects around the house. For homeowners without much time during the week, Woodcraft offers the following projects tailor-made for weekend warriors.

READY THE DECK FOR SUMMER FUN

With spring on the horizon, the season to relax on the deck and soak up the sun is right around the corner. Homeowners can upgrade their deck and create an incredibly strong wood-to-wood bond with the Kreg Deck Jig System. Compatible with composite deck boards and ACQ treated lumber, the Kreg Deck Jig System can help homeowners create a beautiful and functional deck surface that's completely free of exposed fasteners and painful splinters. The Kreg Deck Jig System's easy grip handles help DIYers gain a secure hold and completely control each and every joint, while the system's three separate drill guides allow for easy installation of deck boards in a variety of hard-to-reach areas. When combined with a few simple tools homeowners already own, the Kreg Deck Jig System ensures homeowners can vastly improve their deck no matter how pressed for time they might be.

PAINT A NEW LOOK INSIDE

Spring is often seen as a season of rejuvenation, so why not give your home a brand new look by repainting the interior? Veteran DIYers can no doubt recall when painting took as much elbow grease as it did time, but times have changed. Thanks to the new Fein MultiMaster, the tedious and time-consuming job of scraping old paint with a putty knife and sanding tight spaces with paper wrapped around your finger is a thing of the past. The MultiMaster's profiled sanding pads make scraping old paint easier than ever before, while its multiple user-friendly accessories that scrape, cut, shave, sand, polish, and remove grout make the MultiMaster an ideal companion for homeowners with several projects on tap this spring.

TACKLE INDOOR PROJECTS ON RAINY DAYS

Spring might be synonymous with feelings of rejuvenation, but it also brings spring showers. On rainy weekends, tackle interior projects with the Rockwell BladeRunner. Whether you want to cut and install base molding, chair rails or hardwood flooring or frame and trim windows and doors, the lightweight, portable BladeRunner is your go-to tool. This precision cutter's variable-speed motor control and simple blade changing mechanism allow you to easily cut wood, metal, ceramic tile, aluminum, and plastic using a T-shank jigsaw blade. You can operate the BladeRunner on a benchtop or use the convenient wall mount bracket. Attach the tool's dust port to your shop vac for easy cleanup.

PREPARE TOOLS IN ADVANCE

While there are several projects homeowners can complete in a single weekend, no project is likely to be successful without properly maintained tools. Homeowners should take inventory of their tools before beginning any projects to ensure the tools won't cause any delays. The Work Sharp(R) Knife and Tool Sharpener can bring tools back to life in a matter of minutes. This handheld, motorized tool sharpens any knife as well as scissors, tin snips, garden shears, and even lawn mower blades for green thumbers. The sharpener's patented Flex-Tek(TM) belt technology conforms to the shape of any blade, practically guaranteeing a sharp edge and ensuring your next home improvement project will start off on the right foot.

WORK SMARTER

Tackling a home improvement project in a single weekend might not be easy, but DIYers can take steps to make such projects easier. For example, Vibe-Away Anti-Slip Pads are made from recycled tires and designed to reduce the transfer of vibration that occurs in most woodworking tools and stationary equipment. This shock absorption pad helps reduce sound, vibrations, and pulsating of router tables, scrollsaws, table saws and other benchtop or stationary machines, making it easier to complete a project mistake-free and in less time.

LOC-Blocks Interlocking Material Gripping Blocks grip both the work surface as well as your project without the use of any clamps. The nonslip pads support work during assembly without leaving marks, while the non-marring pads allow homeowners to lift work above the surface while finishing edges.