One of the first things we noticed about this book was that the projects were easy on the budget, and even easy on the environment. If you’re trying to renovate or fix up your home and you are concerned about being eco-friendly, this is the absolute best book you could buy. It’s nice to see a shift towards more green building methods and there are some great methods that everyone can employ to become an eco-friendly DIY’er.

The book is very well divided into different categories, such as which tools are right for which job, bathroom projects, kitchen projects, things where you don’t know the name but they have to be fixed, advice on how to lower your utility bills and much more, including the kitchen sink. We loved the section on antiques, as well as the advice in the outdoor section.

Andrea excels at making it easy to understand every step in the process of fixing or making something and even newest newbie can easily complete 99.9% of these projects without a single problem. The resource guide in the back of the book is very helpful and overall, this is one home repair book that you really don’t want to miss. It’s well worth the cover price and incredibly fun to read.

For novices, this book is easily one of the best on the subject of home repair and it’s got more than enough to keep them busy for a very long time. Professionals that already have a good grasp on home repair can still get quite a lot out of the book, if for nothing else, than for the project recommendations alone. It’s always nice to get new ideas and this book is chock full of them.

With the holiday season approaching, if you have someone on your list that loves everything DIY, this is the absolute best gift you could ever get them. It’s also a great present for new homeowners, or for those that wish they could take up that hammer and get started, but they lack direction and motivation. The tips are easy for anyone to follow and overall, it’s one of the most concise and informative books on home repair that we have read in a very long time. Two strong thumbs up, this book deserves to be on every DIY’ers book shelf. And if you don’t have one, you can use the tips inside to build your very own shelf.

Originally posted 2008-11-21 05:37:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Review of the Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair Black and Decker are known for the terrific DIY guides and this title is no exception. As the name suggests, you’re getting step by step photo instructions that make it easy for anyone to fix up their own home without having to be a professional handy person. You’ll get......
• It Might Be Time to Consider DIY for Home Improvement When insurance deductibles become so high that it becomes impossible to make claims to repair blown down fences and make routine home improvements, or when the waiting list for contractor help becomes impossibly long, it might be time to consider getting things done yourself. In the age of big box......
• Choosing a Home Improvement Project Before you engage in a home improvement project, you luckily do not need to be trained technically in order to be successful. There are standing landscaping and home improvement project ideas that you can implement that will enable you to work quite similarly to the pros. The secret that you......
• Book Review: What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating by Amy Johnston Why do so many home improvement projects end in disaster? According to Amy Johnson, the author of What Your Contractor Can't Tell You, it's due to the fact that homeowners simply don't have access to the right tools, knowledge and planning abilities that the pro's do. Her basic premise is......
• Book Review: No-Fear Home Improvement: 100 Projects Anyone Can Do by Creative Homeowners The Creative Homeowner is one of today’s hottest resources for home improvement and this latest book produced by their editors addresses one of the biggest concerns that homeowners have. They want to start making improvements around their home, but they are too worried that they may mess something up. Considering......

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• Placemats Linens Kitchen, Dining & Bar Home Store

The number one issue to keep an eye on is safety, especially for those confined to a wheelchair. First issue to consider is living conditions. The bedroom needs to be on the first floor with easy access to the bathroom and home, and a easy way out of the home in case of an emergency. Each and every room of the home which should be accessible has to be able accommodate the wheel chair turning a full 360 degrees. Doorways have to be at least 36 inches in width, along with hallways needing to be 4.5 to 5 feet wide. It would be beneficial to have a minimum number of hallways which need to be traversed. This set of requirements will ensure that the mobility of your loved ones is not compromised while providing a safe environment.

Of all of the rooms that need attention in the home, the bathroom tops the list. This is where the most mobility and assistance is required, but this is where it is the most embarrassing to require assistance from others. It is for this reason that the bathroom should be designed for providing as much independence as possible. The biggest expense with the biggest impact is to provide a tub with a sealed door, which when opened allows entry by just walking. These wash tubs provide grip handles for easy support, allowing for unassisted entry and exit from the tub. These tubs also provide a bit of safety in that the door allows a quick release of the bath water to avoid drowning. You can also add grip handles above and next to the toilet for easier access. You can also try and find a sink at a lower level with mirror, to prevent your guest from needing to try and prop themselves up.

Around the home, it is very helpful to lower tables and keeping handy items at the lower, more accessible height. Items such as telephones, refrigerator handles, drawers of silverware, etc. should be accessible to someone in a wheel chair. Make sure also that there are ramps where the are stairs on the way into your home and within your home. All of these steps are designed to make sure that your home is safe and accessible to a guest. Other common sense items should also be addressed, but if any involve the space about your wheelchair bound guest, then be sure that he or she is comfortable.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-13 05:30:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Installing a Pet Door Installing a unique door for your dog or your cat is a great way for you to make pet ownership a little simpler, because it will allow your pet to go out and come in at will rather than scratching at the door for your attention all throughout the day.......
• Timing Home Improvement Service Properly With the economy in the shape it currently is in, any money that you can save through the completion of handyman projects at home is definitely going to be welcome money at this point in time.  That having been said, one way in which you can save money on different......
• How to Handle Mold in Your Home Mold is a serious problem for many homes, especially those in humid climates. However, some areas of your home are going to be more likely to have mold, even if you live in the middle of a dry desert. Here are some tips on how to make sure that......
• Extra Storage Space in the Home If there is one problem that just about everyone has, it is the issue of having too much stuff—and not enough room in which to store it.  Ask nearly any homeowner and she will likely tell you that her home does not have enough storage space.  Regardless of how large......
• Keeping your Closet Clean The closet is a part of your home that is easily capable of becoming overwhelmingly cluttered and dirty without a lot of work. Keeping your closet completely organized is truly essential to making sure that it stays clean and healthy. Here are some tips that are going to help you......

• Hunter Green Chaise Chair Lounges Benches, Chairs & Lounges Patio & Garden Furniture Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
• Masks, Respirators & Helmets Safety & Protective Gear Tools Home Improvement
• Used Revolving Stairs Stairmaster Stair Machines & Steppers Cardiovascular Equipment Gym, Workout & Yoga Exercise & Fitness
• Bedroom Furniture, Large Appliances Furniture, Appliances & Fans Collectibles
• Handles Wheelbarrows, Carts & Wagons Garden Tools & Equipment Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery

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

• Review of Basements Step by Step Projects Creative Homeowner's series on home improvements includes this title and it is well worth the read. It's a short read, coming in at around 80 pages, but don't let the size fool you. Basements Step by Step Projects is packed with information and projects that will have you turning......
• Dare to Repair By Julie Sussman This is a do-it yourself guide written mainly for women, but anyone that is interested in home repair can get a lot out of it. If you have ever wanted to tackle any kind of DIY project in your house this book is the definitive guide that can help you......
• 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......
• Big Book of Home How To By Better Homes and Gardens When it comes to dealing with the authority on home improvement, you can’t much better than Better Homes and Gardens. For decades they have been helping and inspiring home owners throughout the world. Let’s see if their latest book is worth the money and if it can help you with......
• Review of Renovating Old Houses George Nash's book, Renovating Old Houses - Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes is a wonderful resource for those of us that are living in aging homes. If you're trying to recapture your home's fading glory or you just need some tips on how to easily fix common issues in......

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It’s no secret that a house’s curb appeal can make a tremendous impact on its resale prospects. Although we always tell ourselves not to judge a book by its cover, it’s only human nature to assess something upon the first impression we form. Even if a story is great, we’re less likely to give it a chance if we don’t like the cover. Even if a house’s interior is charming and highly alluring, we may not give it proper consideration when the exterior doesn’t appeal to us.

For this reason it is important to pay attention to your house’s curb value when you’re trying to sell, especially in the current buyer’s market. With prices stagnant and inventory high, refinancing your home may be a better option than trying to sell it under current conditions. But, if you ultimately need to sell, you’re going to want to maximize your curb appeal as much as possible.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take too much money or effort to upgrade a home that is lacking in curb appeal. Here are four easy options that you might want to consider:

1. Start painting.

The easiest and most beneficial way to boost your curb appeal is to get some paint and add an layer to your house’s front façade. Since this may be a challenging solo project, you can get essentially the same value for your work by painting your garage door and your home’s front door. A clean layer of paint on each of those surfaces can go a long way towards boosting your house’s perceived value.

2. Pave the driveway.

When looking to improve curb value, many people focus on their home or on their garden and overlook the driveway. This is a mistake. A chipped, cracked, or faded driveway can reflect poorly on the house and on the property as a whole. The general rule of thumb is that a dark, smooth, and clean driveway is probably your best bet. If you want to take it a step further, however, you can instead top your driveway off with crushed gravel or limestone to give it a more sophisticated look.

3. Brighten and clean the yard.

Most people realize that an appealing front yard can make a house appear much more desirable. This does not, however, require that you plant exotic bushes and spend a tremendous amount of time and money cultivating the perfect garden. Instead, just make sure that everything in the yard is well-trimmed (ie bushes, the grass, any trees). If you’re looking to sell during the warmer months, you also want to make your yard as colorful as possible. This may entail using fertilizer to darken your lawn or buying some cheap flowers to plant near the house.

4. Get outdoor lighting.

Buying and installing a few well-placed outdoor lights can go a long way towards boosting your curb appeal. These lights should be facing towards your house and should be used to illuminate bushes or the home’s façade once evening falls. Having lights can be especially useful in winter, when many homes are viewed after the sun has begun to set.

There are numerous other ways that you can easily improve your home’s curb value. For example, if you drive a nice car, giving that car a wash and then letting it sit in your driveway has been shown to add perceived value to a home. But even without a high-end vehicle, following the above tips can go a long way towards improving your resale value. In a tough market, it’s an easy and obvious investment to make.

Photo Credits: bgautrea

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The big thing these days is living more eco-friendly. From the daily commute to the home in which we live, there are a lot of little things that when combined from all over our lives can sum up and lead to a much more ecologically friendly lifestyle. This book provides instruction in various areas as to how to live more green. The text provides ample illustrations, diagrams and charts outlining the process of renovating your home.

The book first covers design elements and setting up your home to have less of an environmental impact. It helps to provide sources of inspiration in making the home a more environmentally friendly place. It helps to identify ways of making the home a better place. The book moves on to discuss solutions for lighting your home and providing for heating and air conditioning. These areas tend to be the biggest energy sinks in the home. These areas are also where the biggest changes for the environment can occur. The book shows how you can setup your home to be a healthy and comfortable place to reside, while being a more environmentally sound place to live.

The next area that is addressed is the materials behind the construction in your home. It discusses how to choose materials that are environmentally sound, yet can provide a grand effect on the decor of the home. Many materials that are available are from renewable sources or made of recycled materials. These products now provide a stylish means of choosing eco-friendly materials.

The book moves on to home energy systems. These systems, such as those behind heating and cooling your home, heating your water and keeping your food cold, are a vital point in which choosing eco-friendly solutions can save you money and save the planet resources. The book talks about heating, ventilation systems and other systems which can be updated. The book concludes by providing resources for finding green contractors, suppliers of the talked about eco-friendly materials and systems, and other resources for learning more about what can be done to reduce our eco footprint.

Originally posted 2009-01-23 05:23:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Review of Renovating Old Houses George Nash's book, Renovating Old Houses - Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes is a wonderful resource for those of us that are living in aging homes. If you're trying to recapture your home's fading glory or you just need some tips on how to easily fix common issues in......
• 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......
• The Complete Idiots Guide to Simple Home Repair by Judy Ostrow So many home repair books offer project tips and advice, but most fall into the rather dry reading category. There are few that you actually want to take up and read, and for the most part, these books fall into the reference only category. Judy Ostrow’s latest book, The Complete......
• The Official Rent-A-Husband Guide to a Safe, Problem-Free Home: Quick, Easy, and Effective Solutions for Do-It-Yourselfer Improvements and Repairs The company was founded by Kaile Warren Jr, who at the time had a car accident. It left him nearly homeless, sleeping on the couches of his friends whenever possible. It was at this low point that at he decided to start his rent a husband business. In 1996, a......
• Book Review: What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating by Amy Johnston Why do so many home improvement projects end in disaster? According to Amy Johnson, the author of What Your Contractor Can't Tell You, it's due to the fact that homeowners simply don't have access to the right tools, knowledge and planning abilities that the pro's do. Her basic premise is......

• Incense Home Fragrances Home Décor & Accents Home Store
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• Quik Lok Systems Stands & Hangers Acoustic Musical Instruments