Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual: Completely Revised and Updated

Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual: Completely Revised and Updated
by Editors of The Family Handyman

Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual: Completely Revised and Updated
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Book Summary Information

Author: Editors of The Family Handyman
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-02-18
ISBN: 0762105798
Number of pages: 528
Publisher: Readers Digest

Book Reviews of Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual: Completely Revised and Updated

Book Review: Just buy it. Period.
Summary: 5 Stars

The 1973 version was one of the first things I bought when moving from a NY City apartment, where maintenance involved calling the super, to a 220 year old house previously owned by a succession of people who did it themselves and thought they knew what they were doing. Every time a tradesman walked into our basement, his eyes would light up, and a sly smile would flash over his otherwise imperturbable countenance. I had no skills whatever at that point.

We had no money at all to hire these guys. So within a couple of years, I'd replaced the entire hot water circulating baseboards, most of the supply plumbing, a whole lot of knob-and-tube wiring, added GFCIs, put in new cartridge circulators north of the boiler, and replaced the hot water heater. Among other things: windows, doors, toilets, on and on. Like the morning on the day we were leaving for Kazakstan, and I went into the basement to find a new pinhole leak that I fixed within the hour so we could make our plane without shutting off the water to the whole house.

This book saved me, conservatively, $15-20,000, and an enormous amount of aggravation. And the house became mine in a way it wouldn't have had someone else done all the work. The revision makes it better. Just buy the damned thing. Even if all it does for you is let you talk intelligently with a contractor, it's more than worth it.

Summary of Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual: Completely Revised and Updated

Since 1973 over 10 million copies of Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual have been sold. And now, the definitive "on-the-job" manual has just gotten bigger and better than ever. The editors of Reader's Digest and The Family Handyman magazine have joined forces to completely revise, update, rewrite, and redesign this home improvement classic. This edition combines the best elements of the original manuals with The Family Handyman's rich informational and photographic archives, new illustrations and photographs, and the wisdom and experience of over 150 of the best experts in the field today.

Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual is 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, the new innovative ideas and features include:
* Over 3,000 photos and illustrations including more than 1,500 new full-color photos and 100 new technical drawings
* New sidebars, such as "Shop Smart," "Handy Hints," "Go Figure," and "Safety First", provide readers with helpful information
* Two new chapters, Landscaping and Storage Projects, include material and cutting lists
* Yellow highlighted notes of caution or important points to remember * Cross-references at the top of each page
* Metrics are given with most measurements throughout the text and a complete metric conversion chart is included at the rear of the book.
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 homeowner.

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