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The Complete Do-it-Yourself Manual
The leading manual for home improvements is getting an update to address current codes, latest materials, tools and technology.
The bestselling, most comprehensive guide to home improvements has been revised and updated once again since it's revision in 2005. Over 10 million copies of READER’S DIGEST COMPLETE DO-IT-YOURSELF MANUAL have been sold since it's original publication in 1973. In 2005, the manual got bigger and better than ever, when The Family Handyman and Reader’s Digest joined forces and completely revised, updated, rewrote, and redesigned this home improvement classic. Now in 2014, The Family Handyman has once again updated and revised this do-it-yourself classic to make it relevant to today’s homeowners and DIYers..
Written in a style of text that addresses readers in a very accessible, conversational tone for easy, user-friendly assistance with every do-it-yourself task. All instructions and materials have been updated to address current codes (electrical, plumbing and building), and revised to indicate the very latest in materials, tools, and technology. Suitable for beginners and experts alike, this newly revised edition
• Over 3,000 photos and illustrations to make complex projects and repairs easy to understand
• Twice as many storage projects that help home owners cut clutter
• New building materials that yield great-looking, long-lasting results—and low maintenance!
• New technology that lets homeowners save energy, add convenience or improve security.
• New building codes that make homes safer, more energy-efficient and trouble-free.
The book’s tried-and-true instructions provide do-it-yourself solutions to a ton of problems that could cost a fortune if you had to hire a professional. This manual is a “must-have” reference guide for every home-owning man or woman.
The bestselling, most comprehensive guide to home improvements has been revised and updated once again since it's revision in 2005. Over 10 million copies of READER’S DIGEST COMPLETE DO-IT-YOURSELF MANUAL have been sold since it's original publication in 1973. In 2005, the manual got bigger and better than ever, when The Family Handyman and Reader’s Digest joined forces and completely revised, updated, rewrote, and redesigned this home improvement classic. Now in 2014, The Family Handyman has once again updated and revised this do-it-yourself classic to make it relevant to today’s homeowners and DIYers..
Written in a style of text that addresses readers in a very accessible, conversational tone for easy, user-friendly assistance with every do-it-yourself task. All instructions and materials have been updated to address current codes (electrical, plumbing and building), and revised to indicate the very latest in materials, tools, and technology. Suitable for beginners and experts alike, this newly revised edition
• Over 3,000 photos and illustrations to make complex projects and repairs easy to understand
• Twice as many storage projects that help home owners cut clutter
• New building materials that yield great-looking, long-lasting results—and low maintenance!
• New technology that lets homeowners save energy, add convenience or improve security.
• New building codes that make homes safer, more energy-efficient and trouble-free.
The book’s tried-and-true instructions provide do-it-yourself solutions to a ton of problems that could cost a fortune if you had to hire a professional. This manual is a “must-have” reference guide for every home-owning man or woman.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published February 18, 2005
90 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 27, 2017
Interesting and understand able.
Great read. Allows those who know very little to understand building concepts better. Gives new do it yourself people the ability to understand the simplistic ground work knowledge needed to start a priject.
Great read. Allows those who know very little to understand building concepts better. Gives new do it yourself people the ability to understand the simplistic ground work knowledge needed to start a priject.
December 18, 2014
EXCELLENT resource book!
When I first saw this book, I wondered, "Why would someone utilize this big heavy book when they could just use Google and/or YouTube?" Well, I had both my 21-year-old son and my 48-year-old husband read through this book, and here are their answers to my question:
My son said, "I'd use this book instead of Google, because it's not going to disappear on me ... where the power or the Internet connection could."
My husband said, "I'd use this book instead of YouTube, because I can easily carry this book into another room with me. And the layout is great for easy reference, versus YouTube where I'd have to keep replaying the video."
My son also had other comments regarding this book. He thought it was very complete with simple to follow instructions. He was also impressed with the progressive project instructions.
My husband loved the large pages and the well-designed layouts for each project page. He appreciated how the book covered so many basics - like why there are so many different types of nails. He did wish that more of the projects offered "home remedies" for issues (like a stuck screw) versus needing to go out and buy more equipment to solve the problem. He also wished some of the projects went further into detail. But overall he said he'd love to own a copy of this book and it would be an excellent resource for anyone to have on hand.
So what about my opinion of this book? Well, to be honest, I do not like to fix things myself. However, when I looked at the table of contents in this book - - - I was surprised to find organizational and storage tips to maximize the space in your house. Here's a simple tip that never ever even occurred to me:
"It seems like you never have enough wall space to put hooks or towel bars in your bathroom, so why not make your shower walls do double duty? Hang two shower curtain rods instead of one. Hang your shower curtain on the inside rod and use the second rod to hang towels." (page 505)
Sure ... that might not look pretty if you're entertaining guests, but if you're living in limited space with multiple people (or teenagers) that's an awesome solution to the problem of wet towels on the floor!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review, and I can assure you that my review was in no way influenced.
Bottom line: If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping, newlywed shopping, birthday shopping, or housewarming shopping ... buy this book as a present!
When I first saw this book, I wondered, "Why would someone utilize this big heavy book when they could just use Google and/or YouTube?" Well, I had both my 21-year-old son and my 48-year-old husband read through this book, and here are their answers to my question:
My son said, "I'd use this book instead of Google, because it's not going to disappear on me ... where the power or the Internet connection could."
My husband said, "I'd use this book instead of YouTube, because I can easily carry this book into another room with me. And the layout is great for easy reference, versus YouTube where I'd have to keep replaying the video."
My son also had other comments regarding this book. He thought it was very complete with simple to follow instructions. He was also impressed with the progressive project instructions.
My husband loved the large pages and the well-designed layouts for each project page. He appreciated how the book covered so many basics - like why there are so many different types of nails. He did wish that more of the projects offered "home remedies" for issues (like a stuck screw) versus needing to go out and buy more equipment to solve the problem. He also wished some of the projects went further into detail. But overall he said he'd love to own a copy of this book and it would be an excellent resource for anyone to have on hand.
So what about my opinion of this book? Well, to be honest, I do not like to fix things myself. However, when I looked at the table of contents in this book - - - I was surprised to find organizational and storage tips to maximize the space in your house. Here's a simple tip that never ever even occurred to me:
"It seems like you never have enough wall space to put hooks or towel bars in your bathroom, so why not make your shower walls do double duty? Hang two shower curtain rods instead of one. Hang your shower curtain on the inside rod and use the second rod to hang towels." (page 505)
Sure ... that might not look pretty if you're entertaining guests, but if you're living in limited space with multiple people (or teenagers) that's an awesome solution to the problem of wet towels on the floor!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review, and I can assure you that my review was in no way influenced.
Bottom line: If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping, newlywed shopping, birthday shopping, or housewarming shopping ... buy this book as a present!
April 2, 2016
I am so thankful I got this book, as it has always been a struggle for e when minor house stuffs get busted or needed repairing and fixing. My husband is not always at home and can't be always in a rescue whenever I needed something to be fixed so I opted to learn the basics of being a DIY handyman. And this book is so amazing with every subject details discussed clearly and concisely that every reader would understand its simple instructions along with its guided illustration. So far I managed to fix some minor or broken appliances at home wherein my husband dropped his jaws when he found out I fixed and manage to restore some things needed to be checked on our house. This is a great reference and a resource tool for everyone that needs home improvement, I found a DIY handyman thanks to this great book.
November 24, 2014
As a homeowner we often find we have to do some home repairs and do it yourself projects. I do many but there are some things that I shy away from. As soon as this book arrived I went straight to work on some minor electrical issues we have had. It showed up just in time for one of our switches to malfunction and a ceiling fan to pretty much die. I am way to chicken to tackle plumbing issues though I have done a few very basic. But this book covers so much and there are so many projects that can make our home so much better. I am going to continue to reference so many of these projects for our future needs.
I received this in exchange for an honest review
I received this in exchange for an honest review
dnf
February 27, 2016Skimmed through this book in less than an hour. A good overview for homeowners, with sections on home climate, painting, tools, flooring, windows and doors, etc. Seems a really useful book for those who are more advanced than I am at home repair. The majority of the projects involved more skill, experience and tools than I possess. This gave me enough understanding to recognize that I'd want to hire a professional for a few projects I've thought about doing. The last section, on storage solutions, seems the most accessible for the beginner.
December 31, 2015
Review to come
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews