1 comments about This Old House Homeowners Manual: Advice on Maintaining Your Home from Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey, and Steve Thomas.

1. This book is just what you would expect from the guys at This Old House. It includes tips and how-to advice on a wide range of common household problems. The emphasis is not only on repair, but on maintenance and prevention of problems. This book serves as advisory tool for those of us who can't afford to call a professional for every small household problem.

1 comments about How to Restore & Repair Practically Everything.

1. How To Restore & Repair Practically Everything by antique restoration expert Lorraine Johnson is a how-to book that expertly instructs the reader with explicit instructions and step-by-step diagrams in the skill of restoring and reparing stains, grass matting, glass, textiles, metals, paper and photographs, decorative finishes such as faux marble, and much more. A superbly efficient and practical resource, as useful for conscious homeowners as it is for those seeking to make a living by fixing up broken down appliances, furniture, and personal items. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Complete Fix-It-Yourself Manual (Time Life Books).

1. All my friends and neighbors want to borrow this book. You can fix literally anything within your home by yourself. There are certain situations where you are asked to call a professional, such as an electrician, plumber, HVAC person, etc - but those are only in dire circumstances.

   This book walks you through all the scenarios, is easy to read, and every home should have one.

   Now I point all my friends and neighbors to Amazon.com if they want to borrow my book. Ha ha ha!




2. This is the best book a own. I use it for around the house fix ups and it is great it has saved me a lot of money in repair bills.



3. This is an EXCELLENT book. Very concise and easy to understand. I really wish Time-Life would update it.



4. I was about to junk a 10-year old dryer that wouldn't heat, because the repairman warned me that his visit was going to cost a minimum of $169 for diagnosis, repair time, and parts. Using this book I got out my $15 Sears multi-tester and unscrewed the back panel of my dryer. (The book even shows you how to use testing tools). Within a minute I found the bad part. I looked up the part number, found one on Ebay for $8.99 plus shipping... It came two days later and I had it installed in 3 minutes. My husband thinks I should start a new career as an appliance repairwoman. If I did, I'd use this book.



5. What can I say. I'm not a great handy man. However, this volume has helped me on a number of occasions. So, for those of you who are not great at fixing things up, this volume can be a useful resource.
   
   Some examples.
   
   1. A faucet wasn't working right. I took a look at the section on faucets and was able to take care of the problem.
   
   2. On another occasion, I had some problems with a kitchen sink (quite a few years ago). There was a leak and I couldn't figure out what to do. I checked out the section on kitchen sinks and was able to diagnose and fix the problem.
   
   3. And then there are those toilet problems. This book helped me install a new float assembly after helping me understand the problems with the previous hardware. Unbelievably, an inept "do-it-your-selfer" like me was able to fix things so that the toile worked again.
   
   4. Sometimes, my vacuum cleaner has not worked so well. One time, the vacuum cleaner didn't seem to pick up junk on the floor. By going over the "troubleshooting guide," I figured out what any knucklehead should have known anyhow. But the bottom line: it worked!
   
   5. Finally, there are a lot of basic informational items that can be useful. For instance, at page 418 and following, there is a discussion of "tools and techniques" which is pretty basic. But lots of us need "basic."
   
   For those who want to know some basics but who are not interested in becoming experts in do-it-yourself work in the home, this is a useful volume.

5 comments about Chix Can Fix: 100 Home-Improvement Projects and True Tales from the Diva of Do-It-Yourself.

1. This is the first home improvement book that I bought, and as a beginning book it's very good regardless of your gender. It was really a big help when I moved out of my apartment and then moved into a new one. I often helped my dad with home improvement and repair projects but I didn't learn much from that. This book provides a really solid foundation and good recommendations for starting your tool collection.
   
   In reading the book you definitely see Norma's spunky New Yorker attitude. Sometimes it was funny. Sometimes it was annoying. That's why I only gave it four stars instead of five. However, I have communicated with her via e-mail and she is very good at promptly replying to your messages.



2. I bought this book before I purchased my first home. I'd rented previously and took advantage of the fact that the landlord was always at my beck and call when something was broke and needed to be fixed. I realized that owning my own home would negate that practice. I had to learn to do things on my own. Norma has shown me how to stop that annoying toilet from running as well as how to install doorknobs. My realtors husband doesn't even know how to do this! I keep this book in arms reach whenever something goes wrong. Those who are homeowners know that with ownership, there's always something...regardless of how big or small it is that needs attention in your home. Norma includes funny stories to introduce each chapter and includes plain instructions and clear step by step information for each project that you want to tackle. This book is definitely not just for women (eventhough the title suggests as much), but for anyone that is interested in fixing things in their home on their own. Also, you must watch her show on the discovery channel. She still uses clear step by step insructions, but also gives you an estimate of how much each project will cost. I'm so motivated that I think I'm going to put up a much needed fence in my backyard in the spring!



3. I picked this up a few years ago and I've used it several times to solve plumbing problems with our toilets - problems that I know would have cost us several hundred $$ each!
   
   I know pretty much nothing about how anything works in our house, and my husband knows even less, and we found this book quite informative and very easy to use. Her step by step directions are straightforward and simple, and accompanied by excellent diagrams.
   
   And yes, I agree with others that sometimes her humor fell short of the mark with me, like her tongue in cheek assumption that I can tell a Prada bag from 50 feet away (um, no), but I didn't hold this against her considering how useful her book has been to my wallet.



4. This is a MUST HAVE book!
   Coming from a family of five sisters, no brothers, and a reluctant handyman father, I was always dependent on men for plumbing, electrical, general repairs and just presumed that EVERY job was SUPPOSED to be a NIGHTMARE! I mean, if the task wasn't so hard, what was all the huffing, puffing, and sighing about? Turns-out, it's a way to buy time and sympathy, nothing more.
   Norma Vally breaks though the mystery of common household problems, and then, in clear, easy to read step-by-step instructions, builds it back to working order. Done deal-No sighs.
   I've replaced all the tank parts in my toilet (it works!), reset my hot water heater temperature (aaahhh!), replaced my leaky kitchen sink faucet (yeah me!) and am going to tackle my sink stops soon (can't wait!)
   My female friends are amazed by what I've been able to do, and they all want copies! I will be ordering this book for both men and women for many years to come.



5. I use this book all the time and it really helped me to fix things myself, so I didn`t have to wait half a year to get things done.

No comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Simple Home Repair (Complete Idiot's Guide to).

5 comments about Recipes for Surfaces: Decorative Paint Finishes Made Simple.

1. Along with the companion book, Decorative Paint Finishes Made Simple, this is one of my core reference books for faux finished paint surfaces. Pictures are useful, instructions clear . . . a must-have for the faux painter's library.



2. This is an excellent book for the beginner and professional alike. Good info on how to do all the "basic" faux finishes. Perfect to add to any library.
   Only problem is that it can be a bit vague on instructions - especially for the beginner or do-it-yourselfer.



3. A woman that is passionately in love with Italy and all things Italian writes this review. Once I traveled to Italy, I wanted to bring that look back to my home. I purchased this book about 10 years ago and I still refer to it regularly. This book covers many techniques not just those that would apply to Italy.
   
   I am an avid do-it-yourselfer and love to do things around the house. As an amateur artist, I take photographs and paint landscapes; I think that this book is a good as taking a class in faux painting. I feel that the directions and photographs of the various techniques are very well documented.
   
   The book is subdivided as follows:
   
   PART I - General Information
   Intro - What Decorative Painting Can Do For You
   1. Color: The Flavor in Every Recipe
   2. Paint and Tools: The Staples
   3. Preparing to Paint
   4. Mixing Paints
   5. Before You Begin
   PART II - Recipes
   6. Metals
   7. Stone
   8. Fantasy Marbling
   9. Reasonable Replicas
   10. Textured Wall Finishes
   11. Small Surface Specialties and Stenciling
   
   If you are not an artist, the first chapter on color is very handy. This chapter is also covered in the first book in this series. It teaches about the color wheel, the colors that harmonize, classic color schemes, and color moods. The chapter regarding tools is also very helpful, but again this is covered in the first book. It explains the difference between oil and water based products and the advantages and disadvantages of both. There is also a nice discussion of brushes and other tools that is very useful for the beginning artist.
   
   The recipe for copper verdigris is very easy to replicate. This is one of my personal favorites. Likewise the bronze verdigris is also an easy look to achieve. The faux stone requires much more of an artistic sense to get right than the book suggests. Don't be frustrated if it does look right the first time. If you keep practicing, and look at some natural stone for inspiration, you will get it. I found that much of the difference is in the shadowing and highlighting. The suggested techniques for marbling and extremely are easy to replicate. This might be one of the easier techniques in the book to master. The fresco technique is one that I have used over and over in my home. The author suggests using regular paint and glaze. I found that using lime paint (available at most larger hardware stores) makes a more convincing end result.
   
   Regarding stencils I would recommend using acetate and a stencil burner, it works better for me that the cardstock and exacto knife that is shown in the book. I would also recommend that you buy some poster board or use large pieces of cardboard to practice your techniques. I find this to be much easier than going to the wall immediately. Also, once I find a color combination and technique that I like I replicate the process on a small (8 x 11) piece of luan plywood. On the back of this plywood I document which paint colors and glazes I have used and which tools and techniques. I also document the rooms or furniture on which this combination was used. That way if I need to touch up something I know what I did the first time.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to try out some faux painting on his or her walls or their furniture. If you are artistically inclined this book will inspire you to get out the paints and change something in your home. I also recommend the first book in this series "Recipes for Surfaces". There is some duplication, but it also includes techniques not covered in this volume. I have found that the most important aspect to achieving the look that you want is to have a clear idea of what you want the end result to look like. In my case, I use photographs of Italian houses to achieve a similar look. I cannot emphasize enough how important photographs are to recreating a look. Please don't skip the photographs; it will make a huge difference.
   
   Happy painting!



4. A woman that is passionately in love with Italy and all things Italian writes this review. Once I traveled to Italy, I wanted to bring that look back to my home. I purchased this book almost 15 years ago and I still refer to it regularly. This book covers many techniques not just those that would apply to Italy.
   
   I am an avid do-it-yourselfer and love to do things around the house. As an amateur artist, I take photographs and paint landscapes, I think that this book is a good as taking a beginners class in faux painting. I feel that the directions and photographs of the various techniques are very well documented.
   
   The book is subdivided as follows:
   
   PART I - General Information
   1. Color the Key Ingredient
   2. Paint and Tools: The Staples
   3. Preparing to Paint
   4. Mixing Paints
   PART II - Recipes
   5. Sponging
   6. Cloth Distressing
   7. Stippling
   8. Color Washing
   9. Spattering
   10. Dragging
   11. Stenciling
   12. Marbling
   13. Wood Graining
   
   If you are not an artist, the first chapter on color is very handy. It teaches about the color wheel, the colors that harmonize, classic color schemes, and color moods. The chapter regarding tools is also very helpful. It explains the difference between oil and water based products and the advantages and disadvantages of both. There is also a nice discussion of brushes and other tools that is very useful for the beginning artist. I enjoyed the chapter on making your own stencils and the specifics of marbling and wood graining.
   
   Regarding stencils I would recommend using acetate and a stencil burner, it works better for me that the cardstock and exacto knife that is shown in the book. I would also recommend that you buy some poster board or use large pieces of cardboard to practice your techniques. I find this to be much easier than going to the wall immediately. Also, once I find a color combination and technique that I like I replicate the process on a small (8 x 11) piece of luan plywood. On the back of this plywood I document which paint colors and glazes I have used and which tools and techniques. I also document the rooms or furniture on which this combination was used. That way if I need to touch up something I know what I did the first time.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to try out some faux painting on his or her walls or their furniture. If you are artistically inclined this book will inspire you to get out the paints and change something in your home. I also recommend the second book in this series "Recipes for Surfaces: Volume II".
   
   Happy painting!



5. I am a professional engineer serving as my own architect and general contractor for the conversion of a three-story building into offices for my firm plus a luxury apartment on the top floor. I am also an avid collector of engineering, technology, and architecture/design books with a 1,000-volume personal library.
   
   I wanted to be sure that I explored a wide range of choices as I selected finished for office and apartment spaces in my building. I expected and received in this book a good overview for all of the common finishes used in residential spaces. I also received, much to my delight, a treasury of design ideas in the more than 200 color photos and illustrations. This is not a do-it-yourself handbook found at the checkout stand at Home Depot, although those are valuable as well. Although written for those designing living spaces, much of the information is useful for those designing office and other commercial spaces.
   
   This 208-page, wirebound book was beautifully designed - one of perhaps fifteen books in my library whose production qualities are so superior that I show them to friends in the publishing business as examples of a well-produced book. The design and production were by a NYC firm; the printing was done in China; the author is British.
   
   The content is similarly excellent. The book is divided into eight sections: simple paint, paint finishes, plaster & concrete, wall coverings, tiles, wood, glass & metal, and "putting it all together."
   
   I bought this from one of Amazon's allied sellers at a very low price. Amazon is commended for offering this service. Amazon's committment to customer value and customer service are unsurpassed.

No comments about Homeowner Basics (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide).

5 comments about Popular Mechanics When Duct Tape Just Isn't Enough: Quick Fixes for Everyday Disasters (Popular Mechanics).

1. This little guide is practical, concise and even a little funny. It covers a wide range of topics from plumbing, to painting, to getting out red wine and pet stains. It really does have it all! A perfect litttle gift for all those men (or women) in your life who need a little help doing those things that handy people seem to "just know" how to do.



2. Nicely organized, succinctly written guide to home repairs aimed at the mechanically-UNinclined. I especially like the fact that each problem is broken down into three categories: repair yourself, repair with a professional, and throw out and buy a new one. And the spiral binding is excellent for having the book beside you when attempting one of the amateur-appropriate repairs.



3. There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who build, maintain and repair the physical infrastructure around us, and those who bug those who do to solve their problems for them. If you want some inspiration to move from the second category to the first, this is a fun place to start.
   
   Duct Tape, as this book informs us, was originally called Duck tape. It was issued to troops to keep their ammunition boxes dry. But they found a thousand and one uses for it. And people have been continuing to find more uses.
   
   However duct tape is not what this book is about. It's about applying the kind of imaginative and experimental 'duck tape' kind of "lateral thinking" to a thousand and one household maintenance problems.
   
   I think the idea is to use it for inspiration rather than reference. The ideas presented are well thought out and well presented. And fun.



4. 
   This is a very good book, with lots of practical hints.
   
   However, for more serious home improvement projects, I have purchased the following books and found them to be very helpful to me:
   
   
   Do It Yourself Home Improvement: Step by Step Guide to Home Improvement;
   
   Ultimate Guide to Home Repair & Improvement (Ultimate Guide);
   
   New Complete Guide to Home Repair & Improvement (Better Homes & Gardens);
   
   Encyclopedia of Home Maintenance & Repair - This is a black & white book, but has very good explanations, especially of electrical.



5. Lists the problems by category and quick good fixes. I would definitely recommend this book!

4 comments about Improve the Value of Your Home up to $100,000: 50 Sure-Fire Techniques and Strategies.

1. The idea for such a book IS a good one. The ideas are certainly sound..... I live in a newish(6yrs) 6000+ sq ft house,with a neighborhood association,good school district(etc) and felt that this book would NOT apply to my market.... however it could be useful for someone that lives in an urban or older neighborhood.... where a house might need curb appeal or sprucing up.... the thought of adding value to a sale is always appealing no matter what the size of your 'estate' ... no matter how deep or thin your pockets are! It is always a challenge to make the most of what you have.



2. Offering "50 surefire techniques and strategies" to help improve the value of one's home, Irwin utilizes common sense to help owners decide where it is best to spend their money on their homes. With the recent real estate run-up (especially where I live in Southern California), the best investment we can make is in the very place we live. While I don't plan to sell in the near future, I always want to be sure my home could be ready for a sale at any time, just in case. Irwin gives dollar-sign guides as to how much value an improvement could help increase the price you could eventually ask for your property. Although very little in this book was new to me, I highly recommend it for folks who are not very sure about how to increase the value of their homes. Although there were several suggestions I questioned (especially the value he gave to some improvements and how little he valued other improvements), I believe that he used sound judgment to guide the reader. I plan on utlizing several of the improvement ideas in my own home!



3. Bob Irwin is an excellent resource for information on buying, selling or maintaining a home.
   His ideas are well tested. His experience shows.
   I would recommend any of his books.



4. This book contained some good ideas, but other ideas disturbed me. Many of the suggestions were to make cheap upgrades that would look good for 6 months or so (such as very inexpensive new carpeting) - basically suggesting behavior that in my view is pretty dishonest, or at the very least unethical. Suggesting we ever get ahead in life by mistreating others bothers me a great deal.

5 comments about The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores and Garden Centers.

1. I bought this as a gift for my husband but he didn't like it



2. If what we've lost in the move from small neighborhood hardware stores to "big box" home centers is help and advice, this book is a wonderful substitute. Describes in just enough detail all the gadgets, tools, and other "stuff" that one needs in completing home fix-up projects.

   No, it won't tell you how to build a deck. This book will, though, be thoroughly helpful in explaining everything that you'll use to do it.




3. Steve Ettlinger writes books that are basic lists of explanations on various subjects. Such as:
   *Beer For Dummies®
   *The Hardware Cyclopedia (not published yet)
   *The Kitchenware Book
   *The Restaurant Lover's Companion:
   *A Handbook for Deciphering the
   Mysteries of Ethnic Menus
   *The Complete Illustrated Guide to
   Everything Sold in Marine Supply Stores

   Like his previous books, there is just enough detail of all the gadgets, tools, and other "stuff" that you find in (duh) Hardware and Garden Centers. He doesn't spend pages on a particular item, just a simple explanation and description of it's use. Like walking through a large home center's departments, the book is broken down into ELEVEN Parts:
   Part I: Common Hand Tools
   Part II: Power Tools
   Part III: General Hardware
   Part IV: General Materials
   Part V: Paints, Stains, Finishes, Wall Coverings, and Related Products and Tools
   Part VI: Wood and Wood Products
   Part VII: Wall, Floor, and Ceiling Materials and Tools; Doors
   Part VIII: Plumbing Hardware, Materials and Tools
   Part IX: Electrical Products and Tools
   Part X: Masonry Materials, Products and tools
   Part XI: Safety Equipment

   This format with the line drawings of the items remind me of the home medical books all American homes had during the 1950's & 1960's. This is a fun book to peruse through when you can't get to your home center and I can't compare it to any other book out to inform you on tools. It isn't COMPLETE though (and never could be with as quickly as items appear in home remodeling, etc.)
   ...Overall a fun purchase with lots of information in a familiar format.
   John Row




4. The _"Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores and Garden Centers"_ (published by Running Press/Courage Books imprint, 2002) has two parts: 1: "Complete Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores" (729 pages, originally published by Macmillan in 1998) and 2: "Complete Guide to Everything Sold in Garden Centers" (368 pages, originally published by Macmillan in 1990). Because they were originally published as separate books, the two sections of this book each have their own introductions, tables-of-contents, indexes, and pagination. If you see this 2002 title/edition listed as only 368 pages, do not despair - it actually has 1,097 pages. So far, all the reviews I've seen have only reviewed the _Hardware Stores_ section.

   1:
   I would like to add a couple of comments to colobbfan's May 22, 2003, nice review of that section. In the introduction, the author specifies that this buying guide is meant to assist your average/traditional do-it-yourself, renovation or restoration projects. He states that in this book "[y]ou will not find heavy construction materials, or professional tools, or esoteric cabinetmaking tools, or hobby materials." He also says he purposely did not include automotive, boating, electronics, home security or house-wares even though those items may appear in some hardware stores. Appendix A, "Metals and Finishes", is a glossary of 20 terms related to describing metals from "blued" to "zinc-plated". Appendix B, "Basic Tools and Materials Every Homeowner Should Have", is divided into three parts: Hand Tools, Power Tools, and Materials. Stars (*) next to some items on the list denote absolute basics one should have. The starred items would make an excellent gift to college students moving to their first apartment or home. (Don't forget that us ladies need to be self-sufficient, also! Often then index (or lack thereof) makes or breaks a reference book. This one has an excellent, easy-to-read, well-organized index with numerous cross-references. Part of the _Hardware_ section's 37-page index is included in Amazon's "Browse Sample Pages" area, so go take a look at it. The typeface of the hardware section is easy to read and the format is suitable for quick browsing.

   2:
   I venture to say that despite the difference in page length, the _Garden Center_ section has just as much information as the _Hardware_ section - the difference lies in smaller type with less space between lines, and fewer illustrations (they aren't needed when you are talking about different types of fertilizers, pesticides, and mulches). The Table-of-Contents is separated into three areas (Supplies; Tools Equipment & Accessories; Appendixes) with detailed headings, subheadings, and sub-subheadings (see Amazon's sample pages - since that is available I won't talk much about the different types of garden center items included). The introduction of the _Garden Center_ section states you will not find "pet supplies or farming equipment or landscaping materials [in this section]... Regular home gardening, with a slight nod to decoration is the limit." While the title states that plants are not included in this guide, Appendix A is a 7-page "General Buying Guide for Bulbs, Seeds, Plants, Shrubs and Trees." The main area of the book is chock-full of general buying tips in broad categories as well as for specific products, use tips, and descriptions of specific products. Sometimes popular brand names are listed (not as endorsement but as an aid) and where applicable other terms that may be used to describe a specific item are included. The _Garden Center_ index has much smaller type than the Hardware Store index, so you may want a magnifying glass for it. Overall, I would say that that the format of the _Garden Center_ section is less suited to browsing and more suitable for reading full sections because it includes more discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of particular products.

   The arrangement of both the _Hardware Stores_ section and the _Garden Centers_ section is to group the contents as they are usually grouped in those respective stores, which makes the guide very user-friendly. My one complaint is that thumb-tabs or coloration on the page edges would have been useful to distinguish the two indexes from the rest of the book (especially since the index to the _Hardware_ section is in the middle of the book). This book is one of the best gifts I have ever received, though I wish I had discovered it 10 years ago when I first moved out on my own. I expect it to be useful in all my new home repair and gardening projects and it has already earned a prime spot on my closest bookshelf.




5. This is a great reference book. Before I had it a week, I had solved some mysteries about pieces and parts of stuff...and where to buy them, and what they looked like! Of course, sometimes it's fun to just graze through the book and find all sorts of items you didn't know existed. If you're into home repair, or home improvement, this gem is a great addition to your how-to collection.