Is your home in need of some tender loving care? It’s never too late to improve it and make life more comfortable. Home improvement books are an excellent resource for the do-it-yourselfer. They can save you money, increase safety and security of your home, or provide inspiration when taking on a project yourself.
With thousands of options out there it may be hard to know which ones will work best for you – but we’ve got some suggestions. From how-to guides to easy reading plans for do it yourselfers of all skill levels, there are plenty of options out there. We have sifted through them so only a few stand out because they cover every aspect imaginable: renovations; repairs; cost savings – both material costs and time expenditures; increasing safety & security.
1) Ultimate Guide to Home Repair and Improvement, Updated Edition:
The new Creative Homeowners guide is the largest most comprehensive book on how to improve your home. The 608 pages have over 3000 photographs of professionals doing their work. From fixing a leaky tap in just 5 steps to making custom furniture from scratch this all-important reference will be helpful for anyone who wants more space without spending an arm and leg. For the homeowner that wants to take on a whole-house remodel in their spare time, this book is for you.
This book will teach you how to do common repairs on your home, inside and out. You’ll learn about the most important parts such as wiring and electricity, plumbing, floors and stairs; walls and ceilings; basements and attics. There’s information for yards and gardens too – no matter what type of outdoor space you want or need, they have it covered in this amazing guidebook that is easy enough for everyone from homeowners who are brand new at DIY projects to professional contractors with years of experience.
2) Construction and Home Repair Techniques Simply Explained
A person’s home can only ever be as big and grandiose as the aspiring imagination. But while a new home is something that many people dream of, it takes experts to bring such dreams to fruition. So if you’re in need of constructing your own palace, get ready for this comprehensive guide on all building crafts.
The U.S. Navy has created a useful book to teach military personnel basic building techniques but the instructions are also simple enough for anyone who is just looking for help with their home repairs or wants to learn how to build from scratch! This manual features helpful diagrams, illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions that will be very valuable no matter what your skill level may be.
Although the theme is construction, this book will help you master all aspects of building and laying foundations, walls, floors, roofs; choosing woodworking tools to suit your needs; plastering techniques for both interior and exterior applications. And while it may seem daunting at first glance when faced with a pile of bricks or other materials in a yard sale or hardware store – there are many useful tips that can be found within these pages. You’ll also read about how to use and select woodworking tools like hammers, saws and drills that will make your home or workshop look professional.
3) The Complete Guide to Home Carpentry: Tools, Techniques and How-to Projects
Home repair and upkeep is a lot easier than it used to be. If you or someone in your family has ever been put off by the idea of trying something new, then Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Carpentry for Homeowners will make sure that never happens again! With easy instructions on how to fix everything from old window sills with rotten boards to creaky doors, loose railings and squeaking floors, this book guides even first time DIYers through home repairs like they were pros. Step-by-step photographs accompany each project list so no matter what problem surfaces at home, there’s always an answer waiting inside these pages- and all without any expensive trips.
This complete manual covers everything from measuring projects accurately before beginning construction to finishing up after building something new in your home or yard with such topics as laying carpeting floors on hardwood floor joists; installing kitchen cabinets; repairing wooden structures like porches and fences without hiring an expensive specialist. The carpentry projects inside the book are perfect for beginners and experts alike. The project instructions cover a wide variety of levels, so there is something in here for everyone.
4) How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home
A book that will teach you how to fix anything in your home! With all the new illustrations, it’s easier than ever before.
The updated and highly illustrated guide to understanding everything about your home is now available for purchase again with a revised third edition. The newest updates are clear and easy-to-read diagrams on why things happen around the house as well as what can be done when these problems occur. It’s an information-packed book with step by step instructions on all the technical aspects of maintaining one’s home.
A lot can go wrong with a house and many questions pop up in your head when you need to repair it or build another level on top. This informative guide helps homeowners understand how things should be put together. The revised and updated third edition gives you more detailed information on plumbing, heating systems, appliances- everything in between that keeps the place where we live running smoothly. The book presents ways to prevent many common household problems like moisture, mould, and improper heating. The book’s clear explanations should save you the expense of hiring a professional.
5) Ultimate Guide: Wiring, 8th Updated Edition
As a homeowner, you’ll learn how your house’s electrical system works and how to complete installations and repairs. This project-based book shows how to select the right cable, wires, and other equipment, and how to run wiring through walls and between floors.
Wiring, 8th Edition is a comprehensive guide for home electrical system repair and installation. You’ll learn how your house’s electrical systems work in easy-to-understand language with step by step photography and detailed illustrations that will give you the confidence to tackle any project around the house from selecting cables or running wiring through walls and between floors. Wiring, 8th edition has everything needed to help homeowners complete projects successfully without being intimidated by complicated formulas or schematics.
The National Electrical Code makes sure that all electrical systems are safe. The Ultimate Guide to Wiring explains the residential electric system in easy-to-understand terms so you can learn how to work with the wiring, replace parts and install typical components of a house’s electrical system for safety purposes. This project-based guide comes with step by step instructions and detailed illustrations that will make your home a safe place to live in the near future.
6) Home Improvement For Dummies
People are looking to make their homes more aesthetically pleasing, and installing smoke detectors or painting rooms can really help! But other home improvements require professional assistance. Unclogging sinks never seem simple for some reason. However, all of you who think that home improvement is too hard to do on your own should know the truth. Luckily there’s no mystery when it comes to home repair- whether you’re a newbie DIYer or an experienced handyman, this book will show you everything from how-to projects like mending drywalls and reglazing windows to replacing roof shingles with metal ones.
Whether you want to become a home improvement expert or just have some pesky projects that need fixing, Home Improvement For Dummies will set you up for good. Now, if you’ve been meaning to put up that shelf or paint your room, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet, this book is perfect for you. Packed with easy-to-follow instructions on repair and a little bit of DIY know-how, the Home Repair Handbook will save the day if something needs fixing right away (or get you started on that project).
7) Black & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair, 4th Edition
Homeowners should take matters into their own hands the next time a plumbing problem arises because it’s cheaper and easier than hiring an expensive repairman. The answer to many of your household problems is right in front of you, but some fixes are more difficult than others. The Complete Photo Guide To Home Repair gives step-by-step instructions for repairing everything from a leaking tap and broken doorknob to cracked tiles or mouldy drywall with just the right types of tools at hand.
The best way to maintain your home is by doing it yourself. Do you ever cringe when a contractor comes to your door? Are the prices getting too steep for regular maintenance on your home and upkeep around your garden? You need this book. A new edition of the best-selling Home Maintenance For Dummies, this guide offers a hands-on step by step approach to maintaining your home. This handy DIY guide can help save some major dough by showing you how to perform many tasks. The guide can help you save thousands each year while also teaching you how to properly care for your house inside and out.
The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair is your one-stop DIY manual. From plumbing trouble spots, such as leaky faucets and clogged drains, all the way up to repairing a broken window or door lock – this book has you covered with clear instructions and over 2 thousand photos that guide you through common repairs in 350 projects which include wiring problems like loose outlets and blown circuit breakers. The book provides expert advice on how to do plumbing, wiring and structural or mechanical work. The original guide has been updated as the industry is evolving with new guidelines for efficient home repairs.
8) Home Maintenance For Dummies
Knowing how to keep your home in tip-top shape will help you prevent costly repairs and preserve the value of your property. The book covers all rooms of the house, as well as exterior, roofing material/foundation inspection tips. You’ll learn how to conduct routine inspections on major appliances and increase energy efficiency for maximum savings.
9) Dare to Repair: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home
Who says that you need a man to make your house feel like home? Dare To Repair is the do-it-herself book for every woman who would rather be self-reliant than relying on anyone else. No matter how deep your pocket is or how big your home is, something will inevitably break: from toilets clogging up and circuit breakers tripping off; even smoke detectors going kaput! It’s all about handling it yourself. Dare to Repair is an easy-to-follow guide that will teach you how to take on any home repair project with ease. You’ll learn how to fix a leaky tap, clean gutters and more. It is a home repair manual that will keep you up and running in your house and empowers homeowners everywhere with expert information on DIY repairs for their homes.
Some things in life may be a little scary, but Dare to Repair will tell you it’s possible. Filled with detailed illustrations and helpful hints from repairing door knobs to broken windows; this book has everything for the repair-challenged woman who wants nothing more than to fix something around her house.
10) Stanley Easy Home Plumbing Repairs
Stanley Quick Guides are the perfect no-nonsense plumbing reference for DIY homeowners. With Easy Home Plumbing Repairs, you will learn how to repair your home’s pipes in a straightforward and easy way so that even intimidated people can get started on their own repairs. From repairing a leaky faucet to unclogging your drain pipes with basic tools like pliers or wrenches, this handy reference book will help you learn everything you need to know about plumbing- and it’ll be fun too.
The author, David Schiff describes the most common plumbing repairs in a way that is easy to follow. He will guide you through the twists and turns of repairing your tap with tips on whether it’s time for repair or replacement while going into detail about unclogging toilets. The projects broken down in the book vary from easy to complex, depending on what you’re looking for. There are also colourful how-to photographs throughout and no-nonsense professional advice that will take you in the right direction.
Whether you’re a novice or expert, keeping an up-to-date home improvement and repair manual handy can help to keep your property in top shape without spending all of your hard-earned cash on outside help. You may not know the answer to every question, but if you’ve got a home improvement and repair book on hand for reference purposes, it’s much easier getting all your questions answered.