Comprehensive home improvement and repair books help you save money, increase your safety and security, and gather inspiration, not to mention giving you the satisfaction of doing the job yourself. While thousands of home improvement books crowd the market, some stand out for their easy-to-follow guides, detailed illustrations, and user-friendly approach.
renewal 5th edition: completely revised and updated
michael litchfield and chip harleyMay 7, 2019
You are reading: Best home improvement books
Author Mike Litchfield, founding editor of Fine Homebuilding magazine, interviewed hundreds of tradesmen, contractors, and architects to gather the insights and trade secrets found in this book. Every renovation project is detailed from start to finish, including some less common projects that many books gloss over, like rebuilding a brick chimney and installing skylights. Whether you’re planning to renovate your old home or build a new home, you’ll find a vast collection of ideas to inspire you.
home improvement for dummies
gene hamilton and katie hamiltonDecember 19, 2016
From the publishers of the renowned dummies series comes a home improvement book based on the belief that, with the right guidance, anyone can do basic home repairs and improvements. Step-by-step guides that are simple enough for beginners, yet detailed enough for seasoned DIY enthusiasts, have made this one of the highest-rated home improvement books out there.
You’ll learn how to handle menial tasks, like installing a smoke detector and fixing creaky stairs, as well as handle more advanced jobs, like building shelving and installing insulation. tile, plumbing, electrical, outdoor repairs, and even decorating are also covered. Tool buying and costing guides are also included. On the downside, some readers find the illustrations somewhat lacking.
beginner’s guide to DIY & home repair
jo behari and alison winfield-chislettJune 10, 2019
For those new to home maintenance, this book offers step-by-step guides to basic home repair and maintenance jobs presented in a way that assumes very little prior knowledge. Find out how to clean a drain trap, seal drafty windows, quiet creaky floorboards, and take care of many other small jobs. Don’t know what window sealants are? no problem, this book explains.
also covers some more advanced home improvement jobs, like painting walls, removing tile, and hanging shelves. tips for choosing, using, and maintaining tools, as well as choosing materials, make the book even easier for beginners to use.
definitive guide to home repair and improvement, updated edition
creative owner August 31, 2016
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While this book covers a variety of topics, it focuses primarily on home improvement, rather than basic maintenance and repairs. Among the 325 included project guides, you’ll find instructions for building a deck and reinforcing your doors, but not how to flush a water heater. That said, many repairs to plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling systems are included. the sections on wiring and plumbing are especially thorough.
Each guide is accompanied by detailed illustrations, including cutaway figures, along with lists of tools and materials needed. if you plan to hire professionals, you’ll appreciate the section on working with contractors, understanding contracts, and managing complex remodeling projects.
how your house works: a visual guide to understand and maintain your home
charlie wingJuly 18, 2018
If you’re a new homeowner, this richly illustrated guide will help you build a good foundation for understanding how your home systems work. You’ll learn how electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning systems work, how to care for them, and what can go wrong with them. even the structure and foundation of your home is covered.
If you want to know why faucets drip, why ovens start making strange noises, or why circuit breakers trip, this is the reference for you. While the book’s focus is on problem prevention and diagnosis, not repairs or upgrades, it does offer guidance on learning repair techniques.
the recently updated complete DIY manual
family handymanoOctober 7, 2014
This classic home improvement manual debuted in 1973 and remains a favorite for its comprehensive coverage of just about every home improvement job imaginable. It covers the essentials of plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling, but also guides you through a number of exterior improvements and landscaping jobs. There’s even a section on how to make your home healthier by reducing toxins.
Each section includes pro tips that even seasoned DIYers can learn from. It’s dense with information, but if you’re looking for a complete home improvement education, this manual is a good place to start.
great home instruction book from better homes & gardens
best houses & gardensOctober 11, 2011
This book is famous for its exceptionally easy-to-follow layout, based on thousands of highly detailed, enlarged illustrations for each step of the more than 200 projects covered. the layout is designed to guide beginners through each job while allowing more advanced home improvement enthusiasts to search for specific alternative techniques.
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Marketed as one of the largest home improvement books available, it provides expert advice on buying tools, choosing and using the right tool for the job, selecting building materials, and improving safety in the workplace. it also lets you know when hiring a professional could save you money.
100 things every homeowner should know: how to save money, solve problems and improve your home
family handymanApril 7, 2015
More than just a basic home improvement and repair book, this guide arms you with the foundational knowledge you need to make smart decisions about caring for your home. offers guides to basic repairs for plumbing, appliances, flooring, and even furniture. Some more advanced maintenance issues, like dealing with a wet basement, are also covered. Beyond this, you’ll get tips on protecting your home from break-ins, eliminating fire hazards, and preparing for natural disasters.
Collins Complete DIY Manual
albert jackson and david on march 1, 2011
Proclaiming itself “the most comprehensive and authoritative DIY manual ever produced”, this guide has one of the highest reputations in its field. Designed to be equally useful to DIY novices and remodeling professionals alike, it covers a wide variety of topics, including decorating, tiling, wiring, and plumbing.
Despite this, some readers find that while the book provides solid background information on how things work, it lacks step-by-step details on how to do each job. Given the book’s age, its building permit guidelines may no longer be accurate for some locations.
black and amp; decker the book of home how-to: the complete photo guide to home repair & amp; improvement
cool springs press May 15, 2014
This book is intended to be an encyclopedic reference for all the home improvement and repair projects a homeowner can dream of. It covers a wide selection of tasks ranging from common maintenance jobs, like cleaning a clogged toilet, to more complicated renovation projects, like laying new flooring. With clear instructions and detailed photos, it’s ideal for visual learners.
The wide range of projects included means the guides are broad but not particularly deep. While the book provides a complete description of how to perform each covered task, you may have to look elsewhere to learn how to choose your material or use a particular tool.
Whatever your skill level, having a comprehensive home repair and improvement book on hand can help you maintain and improve your home without spending a lot on outside help.
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