Country Living Home Almanac: Maintaining Your House Month by Month

by John Gates

From safety guidelines to decorative enhancements, from garden to attic, this invaluable, information-packed almanac from Country Living contains an immense wealth of practical knowledge.

"A plethora of...data that will guide any homeowner through house maintenance and renovation, month by month, season by season...A longtime keepsake."--Booklist

"An attractive, informative book."--Chicago Tribune


For every season, there is a plan! Your home is your castle, comfort and security-so keep it in tip-top shape with this month-by-month, year-round compilation of ideas, suggestions, and how-tos. For each month, a to-do list covers indoors; outside; deck, porch, and patio; garage and toolshed; and yard and landscape. January's the time to make a resolution and tackle house care tasks you've been putting off, and to check for wintry ice dams and water leaks that can cause costly damage. During February, service your woodstove so you'll stay toasty warm, become an indoor gardener, check pumps, and identify areas that could use more lighting. As spring comes in, remember to check the roof and deck for damage, start growing kitchen herbs, replace storm windows, clean out fans, and more.

181 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Sara]

Boy, this book makes me really, really glad I live in the Pacific Northwest. We don't have to worry about half the issues it lists in here (and is that ever awesome!). *grin*
Otherwise, it's a pretty useful list of what not to forget in and around the house, month-by-month. To up the interest factor, there were little inserts of old ads and historical tidbits that were great fun.

[Melissa Shreve]

I have always loved Country Living magazines. In the 90's I found I had a great collection of all the magazines. Now a few years later those magazines were passed onto others. Whenever I see a book put out by Country living I have a tendency to check it out. I miss the old days of country. Living. The photos are always crisp. This book gives ides of should be on your check off list of wht neeto be done by the month.

[Inder]

I'm in a bad mood. At least this one has pretty pictures, but the advice is geered towards a New England/Midwestern house, so it's not very useful for us Californians. I've also never been excited about "month by month" guides to anything, for some reason. Maybe these are connected problems. For example, month by month guides to gardening (almost a genre unto itself) never seem to apply to West Coast gardens, where "June" basically happens in "March." Also, I think I organize ideas by SUBJECT, not month. I want to know all about maintaining my roof, or growing carrots, all at once. I am a lumper, not a sorter, remember? A big picture person. I can make my own to-do lists, thank you very much.

In conclusion, this might be useful book for someone who lives in a temperate (as opposed to subtropical or mediterreanean) climate, who likes month by month guides, and is a lot less grumpy than me.

[Vicki]

A season to season, month by month guide on home maintanance, with brief descriptions of each chore. I liked the size and shape of the book. Nice colored pictures. Now, if only someone would just do all that work......

[Rachael]

i flipped through this book more than actually reading it, but i would consider picking up again when i live in a house, not an apartment. It was incredibly informative