The first chapter goes into basic principles about your home and how everything works. This lays a great foundation for the next few chapters which start to go a lot more in depth. We still recommend reading this first chapter, since it does contain some great information. Chapters two through four go into the different tools you will need for each project in the book and this can serve as a handy shopping list. You’ll also be learning more about basic repair before you get started on the actual tips.

Chapter five basic plumbing projects and everything is broken down until it is incredibly easy to understand. After that you’ll be moving on to electrical systems and the advice contained in this chapter could easily save lives, while helping homeowners tackle jobs that need to be done. We really enjoyed Chapter Seven since it is packed full of project ideas for little remodeling things to do around your home. This section actually had a few ideas we hadn’t thought of, so it was quite useful.

The last chapter covers everything you could ever need to know about remodeling and once again, the editors have done a fantastic job of making it easy to understand and read. Don’t skip over the appendix – there are some great resources and even more tips that you’ll find in there that are very beneficial.

Whether you’re an experienced weekend warrior, or just starting down the DIY path, we can’t think of a better book to read. This is packed with great project ideas that will not only walk you through fixing up your home but will also provide you with some creative sparks to start your own projects. By far, this is one of the best books we’ve ever come across for beginners and yet it will still appeal to those of us that are well versed at home improvement projects.

We commend the authors and editors of this book for taking the time to put together such a comprehensive book. By simply following the project steps in this book, literally anyone can start fixing up their home. It’s nice to come across a book that completely delivers on its promise in the title and we highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to get their home fixed up. It’s a great buy and one that will certainly get a lot of use.

Originally posted 2008-11-14 05:20:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• The Stanley Complete Step-by-Step Revised Book of Home Repair and Improvement By The Stanley Company When it comes to home repair, one of the most trusted names has to be the Stanley Company. They make what many consider to be the best tools, and when you see that yellow and black label, you immediately know you can count on it. This branding has served them......
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1. Revamp the appearance of the kitchen.

Despite the prevalence of the fast food and restaurant culture, the kitchen is still the life center of the home. Home buyers will head straight for the kitchen when they check out a house, and small, visual improvements here will go far in your renovations. For around a couple hundred dollars, the hardware in the kitchen; cabinet handles, lighting, faucets; can all be replaced with newer, more modern looking pieces. Lighting can also get replaced with more energy efficient fixtures to make things more environmentally friendly.

2. Improve the appearance of your appliances.

Appliances which appear to be part of a matching set look more high class and vastly improves the value of the kitchen. Ordering new face plates for the kitchen appliance set can go a long way. It may even surprise you with a couple of free fixes. Items like dishwashers, with a sheet panel exterior, may have the alternate color on the back side.

3. Attack the bathroom.

This is the room which should get the revamp after the kitchen. The bathroom can be improved along the same lines as the kitchen. Buying a new toilet seat, a pedestal sink, new hardware, all of these are simple tasks for the home owner. The floor can get a renewal with new vinyl tiles that are simple to install, even without removing the old floor. The tub can also get a similar revamp, saving the cost of installing new tiling or refinishing the tub.

4. Create new storage spaces.

Adding new fixtures such as wire or wooden closet systems are easy to install yourself and expand the storage available in the home. A lack of storage space can be a deal breaker for home buyers. There are many brands of closet organizers that will greatly improve the space available to you in your closet.

5. Turn a room into a bedroom.

If you have a room like a den, then by adding what is needed such as closet space, then you can turn the room into a bedroom, greatly increasing the value of the home while requiring little work.

6. Give the mechanics their run of the place.

It can help to hire a handyman or two, such as plumbers or electricians, to fine tune the systems in your home. Fixing little things all around the home can add up really quickly and make the home more polished.

7. Clean the carpet.

The carpeting all throughout the home is always in sight, and giving it a thorough cleaning will give the home a drastically improved appearance. Little spots of wear, like at the entrances or the foot of the stairs, can get covered by small area rugs. If need be, then replacing the carpet should be considered.

These are a few ideas for increasing the value of your home.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-25 05:35:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Cheap Kitchen Makeovers If your kitchen is looking a little worse for the wear, but a huge renovation isn't in your budget, it's time to do a makeover. You can set whatever budget you'd like, but most of these tips can be achieved for less than a total of $1000, even if you......
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Electricity - If the floor is damp or if wiring has become damp, then touching the main switch box is going to be dangerous for you to do. At this point what you need to do is to contact your power company and have them switch the power off for you. When you are turning electricity off, most fuse boxes and most circuit breaker boxes are going to have switches or levers that you can simply flip them into an off position. It is important that you know how to switch the power off, as well as when it is safer not to do it yourself.

Electric Shocks - You should never attempt to touch someone who has been shocked if they are still touching the source that the shock came from. The current can flow right through them and into you if you are not careful. Instead, you need to find a wooden object, such as a broom handle for example, that you can use in order to dislodge said victim from the electricity source. You should dislodge them first, and then call for help. Make sure that you never use an item containing metal to dislodge the victim because this will make things worse by re-igniting the electrical current.

Natural Gas - If you think that you smell gas, you need to open up all the windows and then immediately shut off the main valve for the gas. You should not turn on or off any electrical switches or electronic devices, nor should you light any flames or use your phone. You should leave your house immediately, going to a neighbor's home to report the natural gas leak. If you use LP gas, then you need to stay out of your basement completely because LP gas is much heavier than air and therefore is going to sink into the lower areas of the home. If you can, you should go to the shut off for your natural gas and turn the dial or lever on your meter intake pipe to turn off the gas yourself.

This is just part one in a two part series on these most common household emergencies and how you should be dealing with them. We have just talked about natural gas, electricity and electric shocks. In part two we are going to touch on plumbing issues, propane, oil and a little more about natural gas. Stay tuned.

Photo Credits: ax2groin

Originally posted 2009-08-26 03:32:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Solar Power Your Home For Dummies By Rik DeGunther As energy prices keep going up, many homeowners are starting to investigate cheaper alternative energies that can be easily installed, and run on a daily basis. Whether you’re trying to cut costs, or you just want to go green, solar power is often the first choice of many homeowners. The......
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You have many choices when you go to purchase a light dimmer switch. Some are round knobs, others are sliders or touch panels. Which one you choose is just your preference. But there are a few things you need to be aware of to ensure you purchase the right type of light dimmer switch.

You might need a special type of light dimmer switch if you use a special type of bulb. For instance, certain low-voltage lights and halogen lights require special dimmers. Fluorescent lighting generally can't be dimmed with a light dimmer switch at all.

If you're replacing a single light switch, you'll need what's called a single-pole dimmer. If there are two switches that control the same lights, you'll need a three-way light dimmer switch. Also, make sure the dimmer switch has the capacity to handle the total wattage of all the bulbs in the lights you'll be wiring to the light dimmer switch.

You'll want to check the light dimmer switch manufacturer's instructions to be sure, but for the most part the instructions are the same from switch to switch.

1.Of course, as with any job involving electricity, cut the power to the light switch.

2.Remove the light switch faceplate with a screwdriver.

3.Unscrew the switch and gently pull the switch out. Don't put too much pressure on the wires or try to yank the switch free.

4.Make sure the power's still off by using a cheap voltage tester.

5.Undo the wires from the old switch and then cut the bare wire off. Strip the wire almost half an inch. (If you find aluminum wiring, a gray wire as opposed to the orange of copper, call a professional.)

6.The light dimmer switch you're about to install may already be fully wired for your convenience. And the wires may already be stripped. If not, you merely need to screw the wires onto the dimmer as they were onto the switch. Once you stripped wire, you'll want to twist the bare main wire around the wire from the wall. Use a wire nut to secure the wires. Connect each wire in a similar fashion.

7.Wrap the wire junction and the wire nut in electric tape extending both below and above the nut.

8.Carefully tuck everything back into he wall box. It can be a challenge at first, because a light dimmer switch is bigger, but it will fit in the box.

9.Screw switch into place and replace the faceplate.

10.Turn the power back on and test your new light dimmer switch.

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Photo Credits: bonimo

Originally posted 2009-09-14 09:47:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• How to Build Antler Chandeliers Making a deer antler chandelier is not a difficult task. Most people assume that furniture constructed from deer antlers is unethical, because they assume that the antler has to be forcefully removed from the dear. The truth is, with the exception of one species of deer, all male deer grow......
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• The Benefits of using CFL Lighting 25 percent of a regular home electrical budget is sadly spent only on lighting as a result of using incandescent style light bulbs, which are wholly inefficient. Typical light bulbs can cost between 5 and 10 times their own cost in electricity despite their relatively short period of life. However,......
• How Your House Works by Charlie Wing If you have ever looked at a sink, a lamp or anything in your house and wondered how does that work this book has your answers. Any homeowner can benefit from learning more about how specific appliances and fixtures work, but there are not many resources that put it all......

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1) Surface Drainage -

This problem is the most frequently cited problem that homeowners face. It is the back up or slower than standard drainage of surface water, and it is responsible for the number one household malady - water in the basement.

2) Electrical Wiring -

This common problem is the result of insufficient overload protection, insufficient electrical supply and home wired connections, which are potentially dangerous to occupants.

3) Roof -

This ailment is the result of degraded or damaged shingles, which causes roof leakage. Flashing that was improperly installed can also be a problem.

4) Heating -

This category includes such items as a defective, non functioning thermostat, chimney blockage, and an unsafe venting of exhaust away from the home.

5) Overall Maintenance -

This is where various areas of easy to repair items accumulate, such as makeshift fixes for wiring or plumbing, broken fixtures, cracked and peeling painted surfaces, and degraded masonry.

6) Structural Issues -

This category covers damage sustained by load bearing, structural components, such as the foundation, floor joists, rafters, support beams, headers around doors and windows, and much more.

7) Plumbing -

Plumbing problems rank high when it comes to issues of the home. This includes the presence of old and outdated materials, defective or damaged fixtures, problems with the septic system or sewer lines, and so forth.

Exterior-

Problems with the exterior of the home, such as for doors, windows and outer surfaces, allow atmospheric heat and humidity penetration, although they do not have much of an impact on the overall structure. Caulking and weather striping are the usual suspects when it comes to issues of the exterior.

9) Ventilation-

It is frequently the case that individuals will over seal their home in an effort to have a more efficient air system. This results in the excessive build up of moisture, however, leading to rotting of structural elements.

10) Miscellaneous-

This catchall category covers cosmetic issues that were not cited enough to gain its own category.

The results of the survey are dependent upon the age of the home and the area it is located in. Homes in the desert do not have as strict regulations on rain protection than in Chicago for example. For the homeowner, it is important to go through the home and review various sections of the home in relation to these categories. They should avoid any self repairs if their skill level is not considered to be up to standards, especially when it comes to wiring and plumbing. Fix what you can before the inspection, and you may avoid having to do the same procedure twice.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-21 05:56:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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