ost books on home repair don't give much detail, but the better ones
will tell you the name of whatever's broken, so at least you can tell
the repairman something more than "It's broke!" They're really only
good for giving you an overview of the subject; for complex tasks like
laying ceramic tile, building a deck, or doing electrical work, there's
much more to know than you'll find in any of these "complete" books.
The Ultimate Home & Property Maintenance Manual
by Joe Beck
nlike other books on this topic, this one is meant to be
read from cover to cover. It tells you basic stuff your dad
should have told you, starting with "How to Use a Hammer."
It covers tools, plumbing, roofs, tools, walls and doors, floors,
windows, siding, decks, tools, shrubs, tools, tools, and tools, all
at a very basic level. A few things are wrong, like an antenna
attached to a chimney (really bad idea, although the author didn't
put it there). This book is an okay place to
start if you're a lady whose largest construction project so far
has been repairing a broken nail, or if you're a first-time homeowner
who has just discovered the horrible truth about owning a house: you
can't just call the landlord anymore. I did learn a few things
from this book. But if all you know is what's in this book,
you may find you still can't fix much.
Black & Decker Complete Guides
his series of softcover books is distinguished by outstanding photography--and
lots of it. Most pages consist entirely of pictures and captions. Each book is
about 300 pages, is printed on glossy paper, and shows you step by step what to
do. No personal anecdotes or unneeded words here. The book is exceptionally
well organized; for example, the Home Plumbing book spends 45 pages
on tools and materials, followed by about 80 pages on installing new plumbing
and 80 on repairing existing plumbing. One problem: the books don't always tell you
what they've left out. Although the plumbing book shows you how to install a
tub, it doesn't mention greenboard (which is essential), while Bathrooms
does. So you have to buy 'em all. That brings us to the second problem: many
topics (and photos) are replicated in different books. Even so, these guides
are more useful, and more complete, than the "complete" home repair manuals.
Better Homes and Gardens New Complete Guide to Home Repair & Improvement
his 600-page book is mistitled. It doesn't really cover home repairs so
much as typical installation and construction projects, like laying a
brick wall and installing doors. Although many details are omitted, it
would be helpful in getting a homeowner oriented. The biggest section is
on "basics you should know." The tasks are accompanied by a series of
small cartoons that illustrate the task.
The Stanley Complete Step-by-Step Book of Home Repair and Improvement
his one does cover home repairs, but tries to cover everything, so
at only 468 pages it's way too short to do anything in much depth. It has
sections on tools, materials, internal repairs, external repairs,
and "systems", which includes plumbing, electrical, and heating and air
conditioning. The lack of depth will get you in trouble sooner or later.
For example, it only has four pages on ceramic tile, and numerous critical
details are skipped. And trying to describe how to finish an attic in two
pages is just ridiculous.
Reader's Digest New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual
his oddly-shaped book starts by teaching basic skills, like shaping sheet
metal, making dovetail joints in wood, and laying bricks. It has
clearly-drawn diagrams, but occasionally leaves out critical
details. For example, what about valve seats in bathtub faucets? They
have them. If you use just this book, you will learn about them too--the
hard way. Likewise with window screens. This book recommends corner
brackets, which give a much cheesier result than the more professional
way of using internal angled corners. But for most simple tasks, this
book is probably okay.
