Review of This Old House Essential Home Repair (Essential (This Old House Books)) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

This book is essential, yes. But is it a guide to home repair? Not entirely, and the table of contents is a little misleading in this regard.You might expect the chapter "Cleaning Your Ducts" to tell you how to clean your ducts. Instead it tells you how highly trained contractors clean your ducts, sucking out globs of moldy organic scunge with incredibly sophisticated equipment.The article will engross you while it grosses you out, but it will not tell you how to clean your own ducts. I expected pictures of Steve or Norm standing on a stepladder and jamming a Shop-Vac nozzle into a heat register. Instead, they tell you to hire a contractor.

Which is good advice.You can't clean your ducts with a Shop-Vac. You probably can't even contemplate the stuff in there without getting queasy.Other non-DIY chapters include "Cleaning Chimneys," "Repointing Brick," and "Fixing a Wet Basement."Still, they teach you to spot trouble, and more importantly, they don't kid you about the need to hire professionals. They also teach you what to expect of contractors.

On the other hand, the chapter "Replacing a Threshold" tells you how to replace a threshold.And the chapter on glues may seem esoteric, but it's really basic, must-know information. So the book is a mixed bag, covering some inspection, some how-to, and some "how the professionals do it good." While it is no substitute for books like the Reader's Digest "Do It Yourself" and "Fix It Yourself" manuals, it is essential in its own way, and a lot more fun to read.

Product Description
A house is the single largest investment most adults will ever make. However, a house neglected will rot, leak and frustrate the owner. Let Norm Abram, Tom Silva and the experts at This Old House show you how to correctly maintain your home (and investment) throughout the year in this functional season-by-season guide to home repair.

Click Here to see more reviews about: This Old House Essential Home Repair (Essential (This Old House Books)) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

Review of No-Fear Home Improvement: 100 Projects Anyone Can Do (Creative Homeowner) (Paperback)

I bought this book as a gift for my son who is purchasing his first house.The illustrations are clear and colorful.The projects all seem do-able and even fun!

Product Description
Ever wonder how easy it is to fix common household problems by yourself? Well here is the perfect solution to fixing basic household loose ends, regardless of experience. No-Fear Home Improvement: 100 Projects Anyone Can Do is designed to provide instruction and give confidence to the first-time homebuyer and novice do-it-yourselfer. Readers will learn projects that cover simple repairs, such as squeaky doors all the way to electrical problems without having to spend a fortune on labor costs. Each chapter contains a guide to selecting the right tools and materials for the job, problem solving Smart Tips¨, information packed sidebars, and step-by-step photo sequences to thoroughly make it clear how to remedy each problem. Empowerment is the theme of this book, and No Fear Home Improvements: 100 Projects Anyone Can Do seeks to provide homeowners with just that.

.

Book Description
No-Fear Home Improvement: 100 Projects Anyone Can Dois designed to provide instruction and give confidence to the first-time home buyer and novice do-it-yourselfer. Empowerment is the theme of this book. Its clear concise step-by-step instructions shows the novice how to handle home emergencies and complete some of the more common home improvement and repair tasks. Readers will learn the basics on selecting and using tools and materials, making simple repairs, and learning how the various systems in their homes work. Projects include repairing walls and floors, fixing simple plumbing leaks, making simple electrical repairs, and more.

Click Here to see more reviews about: No-Fear Home Improvement: 100 Projects Anyone Can Do (Creative Homeowner) (Paperback)