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The Home Handyman Magazine - Jul/Aug'25

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In this issue

Inside, you’ll find a packed collection of practical advice and hands-on guides to help you tackle a wide variety of projects, ranging from essential home maintenance to inspiring creative builds. Discover how to insulate your home effectively, keep your kitchen running smoothly with simple maintenance tips, and troubleshoot common fridge freezer issues before resorting to a costly repair. Safety is always top of mind in any DIY project, and we’ve included clear, straightforward advice on understanding your limits when working with electricity and choosing the correct wires for your needs. Need to patch up your space? Our step-by-step drywall repairs, moisture prevention tips, and guides to chasing into brick walls will help you handle it like a pro. This winter, we also dive into the fun side of DIY. Build a durable rocket stove using metal tubing for outdoor use, or try your hand at crafting a wooden push cart, projects that are as enjoyable as they are practical. From mastering the angle grinder to selecting the right sealants, abrasives, and even learning the difference between thinners and turpentine, this issue is all about building your confidence and making informed, smart DIY choices.

KITCHEN CARE – MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR KEY AREAS

The kitchen is the heart of the home where meals are made, memories are shared, and chaos sometimes reigns. But like any hardworking space, your kitchen needs regular maintenance to keep it functional, safe, and looking great.

2 mins

WHEN TO CALL AN EXPERT

When it comes to electrical work, safety should always come first. While some small tasks are safe to tackle yourself, many electrical jobs require the knowledge and skills of a qualified electrician. According to a recent survey commissioned, 29% of homeowners have tried to do their own electrical work, despite 89% agreeing it’s better to call in a professional.

5 mins

KEEP THE COLD OUT

Did you know that homes in South Africa are either insulated to a poor standard, compared to European nations, or have no form of insulation at all. In 2011 our National Building Regulations made it compulsory to fit thermal insulation in new buildings and additions to building structures.

5 mins

DON'T GO HIGH WIRE

In electrical work, it’s not just about connecting circuits, it’s also about picking the correct wires for the job. Wire gauges might seem complicated, but using the wrong sizes can cause serious problems, like poor performance or even dangerous situations. In this issue, we'll explain wire gauge charts and how to use them safely.

2 mins

SECRET HIDEOUTS

We all have things we would prefer to keep out of plain sight - family heirlooms, wedding rings, expensive jewellery, medicines or even weapons. Sometimes we just want to keep household items hidden in order to declutter a space. Whether you want to hide items for safety or financial reasons, or simply want to keep your bedroom tidy, there are a few clever storage ideas that could help you out.

2 mins

SECRET HIDEOUTS

3 mins

COMMON FRIDGE/FREEZER FAULTS

Your fridge freezer is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home, so when it stops performing as it should, it can cause major inconvenience. The good news? Not every fault means an expensive call-out or a trip to the shops for a new one. In many cases, you can fix the issue yourself with a little know-how and a few basic tools.

3 mins

DRYWALL REPAIRS & IDEAS - ACHIEVING A FLAWLESS FINISH

Whether it's a door handle ding, a hairline crack, or a gaping hole left by a plumbing repair, drywall damage is almost unavoidable in a lived-in home. The good news? You don't need to be a professional to fix it. With a few basic tools, a little patience, and this step-by-step guide, you can make your walls look like new again - smooth, seamless, and paint-ready.

4 mins

ANGLE GRINDERS — MASTERING THIS VERSATILE TOOL

When it comes to versatile tools in a DIYer's arsenal, few can match the power and practicality of the angle grinder.

2 mins

ANGLE GRINDERS CHASING INTO BRICK WALLS

Using an angle grinder to cut (chase) channels in a brick wall can be efficient, but it also comes with significant risks if not handled properly.

2 mins

ABRASIVES DEMYSTIFIED

Abrasive materials are indispensable in countless industries, from woodworking and metal fabrication to automotive repair and electronics manufacturing.

3 mins

KEEP YOUR HOUSE CRITTER FREE

With winter fast approaching, outdoor critters seeking to regulate their temperature are trying their best to get inside. Ants, spiders, moths, mosquitoes, fruit flies, stink bugs, termites, silverfish, and ladybugs, to name a few, can easily make their way into homes, and once they've settled in, it's often hard to get them out.

6 mins

THINNERS VS. TURPENTINE

If you've ever finished a painting or staining job and been left wondering how best to clean your brushes, you're not alone. One of the most common DIY questions is: Should I use thinners or turpentine to clean my brushes? The answer depends on the type of paint or coating you've used. Using the wrong solvent can damage your brushes, or worse, make the cleaning job even harder.

2 mins

PAINTING TIPS - INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GUIDANCE

Painting is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to transform any space - whether it’s a tired bedroom, a sun-damaged exterior wall, or a new fence. But without the right preparation and technique, it’s just as easy to end up with streaks, peeling paint, or premature fading. This step-by-step guide walks you through how to paint both indoor and outdoor surfaces like a pro, while avoiding the most common DIY mistakes.

3 mins

WATERPROOFING BASICS

As the seasons change, your home may be exposed to heavy spring rains. While rain is natural and often welcome, too much of it, especially when water starts seeping into your home, can lead to serious structural and health issues. That's where waterproofing becomes essential.

4 mins

SEALANTS SIMPLIFIED: WHAT TO USE AND WHERE

Whether you’re tackling a weekend DIY fix, remodelling your home, or involved in large-scale construction, sealants are a silent hero that play a vital role in creating watertight, airtight, and secure finishes.

3 mins

WATERPROOFING BRICK WALLS

Water damage to brick walls can lead to crumbling mortar, efflorescence (white salt deposits), mould, and even structural instability if ignored. Here's how to fix it properly.

2 mins

MAKE A WOODEN PUSH CART

This type of lumber cart is by no means new. In fact, the basic design has been around for many years, which is really a testament to the usefulness of such a toy; a toy that has helped many a child to take their first step to evolve from crawler to toddler. Apart from helping children to learn to walk, it also is a transporter for your child to move toys to and fro around the room. The pushcart is probably the most practical and entertaining toy a crawler or toddler can have!

4 mins

HOW TO BUILD A ROCKET STOVE

Most of our household energy requirements come in the form of space heating, water heating or cooking, with these making up a large percentage of our monthly bill. Rocket stoves are an example of appropriate technology which can cover all of those needs, cost you next to nothing to build, and just a few twigs to run.

4 mins

SEAL THE DEAL

Property Market experts agree that 2025 presents a more positive outlook for the property market in South Africa than in recent years, with stabilising interest rates and renewed buyer confidence driving a stronger demand.

2 mins

WOODOC 10

Maintaining your home can be a daunting task, especially with the plethora of DIY tips and tricks floating around the internet.

1 mins

Separating Fact from Fiction

Maintaining your home can be a daunting task, especially with the plethora of DIY tips and tricks floating around the internet.

2 mins

Read all Stories from The Home Handyman

The Home Handyman Magazine Description:

Publisher: BB-Publications-(Pty)-Ltd

Category: Home

Language: English

Frequency: Bi-Monthly

The Home Handyman magazine is a specialized D.I.Y. publication and caters for a well-defined niche market since November 1993. Editorial includes new products for D.I.Y.’ers, along with projects, home improvement ideas and expert advice. Expert advice from various fields (such as adhesives, abrasives, power tools, welding, plumbing, paint, lighting, waterproofing, wood and metalworking), provides readers with simple, cost effective solutions and methods in a series of practical, step-by-step features that are comprehensively illustrated. All projects feature local products and metric measurements, making the ideas easy to implement.