Master Basic DIY

by Mike Edwards

A clear, concise guide to the essentials of house maintenance, including how to assemble flat-pack furniture, unblock drains, install electrical wiring, and hang wallpaper  Ideal for new homebuyers and time-pressured owners who feel unable to do more than the essentials, this provides all the information necessary to undertake essential decorating and maintenance in an informed and sensible manner. It offers insight into complex options and methods, and is full of practical information and indispensable tips to enable readers to quickly see the results reflected in your DIY projects. It covers radiator maintenance, foundations, brickwork, roofs, loft conversions, checking for electrical faults, central heating, drainage, fencing, hanging a door, stripping cables and wires, toilet repair, stripping paint, and much more. Fully illustrated with clear diagrams, this guide is packed with plenty of practical information, resources, safety tips, and clear indications as to how far the amateur can go.

326 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2010

Reviews

[Louise Duckworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted basics on plasterboard...

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive and relatively easy to follow and understand introduction to basic DIY techniques and projects as well as a good general introduction to how things work around the house, from the plumbing to the electrics. There is a mixture of projects from the simple and straight forward to the more complicated (should you be brave enough to try) as well as useful insights and tips throughout (including those moments that are likely to go awry or when a professional would be a better option). The advice is rather strict as there are some easier/other options which are either ruled out or not mentioned at all but for those who don't have useful dads/mums/brothers that can provide advice on this, then this is a good start. As a side note, electrics are scary.