Keeping up with maintenance jobs like unclogging a drain or quieting squeaky floorboards can save thousands of dollars compared to hiring outside help. This comprehensive guide covers essential repair and improvement tasks, plus tips on buying and using tools.
Expert instructions offer clear photos, drawings and understandable text for completing basic home improvement tasks. This fully illustrated book delves into topics other books leave out, including plumbing and electrical repairs.
Plumbing
Home repairs are a constant struggle for homeowners, especially during times of emergency or unexpected problems. While some repairs can be done by any competent home owner, others require more specialized skills and knowledge. Using a home repair book can save homeowners money and give them the confidence to tackle more extensive projects.
Home repair books come in a variety of formats, including step-by-step instructions and photographs. They can cover everything from basic repairs to more complex renovations. Some books are designed to be simple enough for novices to understand, while others are more detailed and complex for seasoned DIY enthusiasts.
This handy guide is written by America’s favorite carpenter from the hit TV show ‘Trading Spaces’. It demystifies repair techniques by providing details that other home improvement guides leave out. Learn how to install a dimmer switch, fix a leaky faucet and more with this comprehensive home repair manual.
Electrical
Home repair services offer a range of electrical services, including repairing outlets and lights and replacing old wiring. They also fix leaky faucets and water-logged toilets. They can even unclog a backed-up sewer and help homeowners discover the cause of an outlet that continually shorts out.
This is a fully illustrated book that shows you how everything in your house works, why it breaks down and what to do about it. It offers richly illustrated explanations of the electrical system, plumbing and heating and air conditioning, major household appliances, framing, and foundation.
This is one of the most comprehensive home improvement manuals ever published. It covers a wide range of projects, from remodeling kitchens and baths to building decks and reinforcing doors. The step-by-step instructions are clear and understandable. The book is arranged alphabetically by topic, making it easy to find what you need.
Roofing
Touted as one of the best DIY manuals ever produced, this be-all, end-all home repair guide features more than 2,300 photos and drawings plus understandable, practical text. It covers everything from plumbing and electrical repairs to heating and cooling and even roofing and siding. The ultimate resource book for home projects, it also includes a remodeling guide and a resources section.
Designed to be helpful to both novices and seasoned pros alike, this home maintenance guide is written to help save homeowners thousands of dollars each year by providing them with tips and techniques for doing more of the work themselves. It is easy to read and provides step-by-step instructions for all types of tasks, from the simple, such as clogged toilets, to more involved, renovation projects like installing new flooring. This is the kind of home repair book that every homeowner should have.
Siding
With 3,300 full-color photos and illustrations, this is the largest home repair manual on the market. It covers repairs and improvements top to bottom, inside and out-electrical, plumbing, floors and stairs, walls and ceilings, basements and attics, decks and porches, exterior structures, masonry, framing and carpentry, roofing and siding, cabinets and countertops, and much more.
From the publishers of the bestselling For Dummies series, this book provides walkthrough guides that are simple enough for novices and detailed enough for seasoned DIYers. This is the single most comprehensive home improvement resource available.
Insulation
Home insulation is an often-overlooked aspect of regular maintenance, but it’s crucial for reducing energy costs and maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. In addition to preventing drafts, proper attic insulation can help reduce your utility bills and make your home more energy efficient.
This book arms homeowners with the fundamental knowledge they need to take care of their own homes. It covers plumbing, electrical work, flooring, and more with step-by-step illustrations. It also offers tips on protecting your home from burglary and preparing for natural disasters.
This Time-Life series covers everything from repairing leaky faucets to extensive renovation projects. It includes step-by-step photo guides and helpful advice on tool-buying and cost-calculation. Also included are handy how-to tips on painting, tiling, and more.
Painting
Homeowners have many responsibilities when it comes to maintaining and repairing their homes. Knowing when to do the work yourself and when it is best to hire a professional can save you time, money, and frustration.
This encyclopedic reference for DIY home repair and improvement offers step-by-step instructions, detailed photos, and useful tips for a wide range of projects. From clearing a clogged toilet to putting in new flooring, this book covers the most common maintenance jobs as well as more involved renovation projects.
Features more than 600 projects with clear, easy-to-follow instructions and thousands of full-color illustrations. Covers painting, wallpapering, woodworking, plumbing, electrical systems, walls and ceilings, doors, windows, shelves, counters, insulation, weatherproofing, exterior maintenance, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. Includes information on lead-safe work practices in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities.
Windows
When a window is cracked or broken it can compromise the structure of the house. A professional can help repair a window frame or sill, or even replace it altogether. They can also install double-pane windows to increase insulation and save on energy bills.
It’s important to hire a company that offers affordable services and has a reputation for providing quality work. If you notice a contractor trying to pressure you into signing a contract, walk away. Honest contractors will give you time to make a decision.
America’s favourite carpenter from ‘Trading Spaces’ demystifies repair techniques in this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to everyday home repairs and maintenance jobs. Includes step-by-step photo guides for clearing a drain trap, sealing drafty windows, quieting squeaky floorboards and many more jobs that will make your home run smoother and look better.
Doors
There are a variety of systems and items in your home that need to be kept up with, in order to function properly. From your electrical wiring to your heating and cooling, these items are not immune from problems, and as such, you will likely need to undertake a certain amount of repair work. This resource guide offers a helpful look at common repair costs so you can better plan for these expenses.
Over time, the building materials in your home shift slightly, causing hinges to become loose and doors to shut incorrectly. A handyman can fix this issue by adding wooden shims to the frames and hinges to correct the misalignment.
Garages
Home repair services help homeowners keep their property in top condition. These professionals can identify and fix issues before they escalate into major problems that can be costly to repair. In addition, they can help prevent damage from occurring in the first place by conducting routine maintenance checks and catching potential issues before they get out of hand.
The ultimate DIY guide, this be-all, end-all of repair manuals packs more than 3,300 detailed pages of helpful tips and step-by-step project guides. It covers repairs from top to bottom, inside and out, including wiring and plumbing, floors and stairs, walls and ceilings, basements and attics, exterior structures, framing and carpentry, and masonry.
This handyman guide is a must-have for all homeowners. It includes clear, easy-to-follow instructions for many common tasks, such as repairing leaky gutters and installing new doorknobs.