November 21st, 2008 — Book Review, Ceramic, Countertops, Flooring, Tile
Black and Decker’s The Complete Guide to Ceramic and Stone Tile is a must read for anyone that is considering renovating their home. This is a great guide that makes it very simple to understand how to do even complex tasks and the project section alone makes it worth the cover price. This book is aimed at beginners but professionals should be able to learn a thing or two along the way.
The book opens with basics of ceramic and stone tile that walks the reader through the process of picking the right tile for their home, the kinds of tools they will need to complete various projects and how to prepare for a new tile installation. We appreciated this section since it does go into more information on the many different types of tile as well as their suggested uses. If you’ve always wanted a certain kind of tile, you may find that it’s really not meant for that purpose, so this is a great place to start before you end up spending too much money on tile selection.
This section provides an absolutely exhaustive list of the tools you’ll need and what purpose they serve. This is perfect for beginners who may not know exactly what they will need to get each type of job done. It also serves as a handy shopping list. Even the most complex tools are completely explained so that anyone can pick one up and begin using it properly.
The section on removing old flooring or countertops is very useful and contains some tips that will make the job go a lot faster. This is perfect for those who are not used to ripping out old tile and contains some safety tips that will make it a lot less dangerous for those who are new. In keeping with the times, this last section also includes a how-to on installing a floor warming system. This is not only energy efficient, but can greatly add to the value of your home. While you’ve got your old floor ripped out, you may as well take advantage of this new method of heating.
Moving on to the projects section, there are plenty of tasks here that will probably have you itching to redo something, anything in your home. They are all broken down so that anyone can follow them and get great results. You’ll get how-to’s on proper planning, and a material’s list that makes it even easier to make sure you have everything you need before you get started.
While it includes plenty of flooring and countertop how-to’s, we appreciated the projects on backsplashes, shower bases and the more extensive forms of flooring that include intricate designs. Everything is laid out logically and it very easy to follow.
Overall, this is an incredibly helpful book that more than deserves a place in your bookshelf. If you’ve got a tile project coming up, it’s definitely a must-have. Even if you don’t, after you read the book, you’ll undoubtedly want to start one.
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- Complete Guide to Bathrooms by Black and Decker Our bathrooms are used every day, and as such, they are usually one of the first places that trouble strikes. Whether you’ve ended up standing ankle deep in water at 3am, or you just want to find some ways to save money on plumbing costs, this is the ideal book......
- Review of Ty's Tricks by Ty Pennington Since tomorrow is July 4th, I've decided to take it off. There will be no blog post tomorrow which is why the book review is today instead of Friday. Have a great weekend everyone! If you're into do it yourself television, you've undoubtedly heard of Ty Pennington. He's been on......
- 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......
- 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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October 24th, 2008 — Book Review, Handy Man
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 well for years, and when I came across the book, with the usual yellow and black color scheme, I knew it had to be pretty good.
While the book is not exactly reader friendly in spots, you can tell just by looking at the table of contents that it’s meant to serve a purpose. Much like their tools, this book from Stanley will get the job done. The first two chapters cover basic tools and power tools, offering even the newest newbie a complete look at everything they need to get started. You can take the book with you when you’re shopping for tools, to make it easier to figure out exactly what you need.
Part two delves into hardware, finishing and materials, covering everything from plywood to hinges. Part three however is where it gets good. This is literally the bible of home repair and covers every kind of project imaginable. No matter what you have planned to do to your home, chances are you’ll be able to find the information you need right here.
From staining your floors, to repairing foundations to figuring out how to free a stuck window sash cord, it’s all right there. This interior section is worth the cost of the book itself, but section four gets even better and takes you outside your home with even more great projects. In fact, after reading through the book, you may just find yourself completely inspired to redo your home.
Parts five and six are worth their weight in gold and cover home systems and safety tips that every DIY’er should know. The last section in the book is your homeowner’s inspection sheet that takes you through everything in your house, helping you spot errors and learning what needs to be fixed. Even mold, radon and lead are covered, as well as many other hidden things that lurk within homes undetected for years.
Whether you are intrepid do-it-yourselfer, just getting started, or simply trying to find a way to save money by fixing things on your own, buy this book. It’s the easiest way to get everything you need to know about home repair, all in one place. There are few books this exhaustive or this thorough and even though it may not be light reading, it’s material that you know will work.
This is a great housewarming gift and it’s perfect for anyone that’s considering becoming a weekend warrior. Before you pick up a drill, take the time to get the book and start flipping through. You’ll come away with everything you need to know about home repair, and then some.
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- 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......
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- 10 Most Common Mistakes of DIY'ers Every year, thousand of homeowners pick up their tools and go to work on their homes. Unfortunately, many are not prepared for the projects they are facing and they may end up causing more damage. Here are the top ten mistakes that DIY'ers make when fixing or renovating their home.......
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September 26th, 2008 — Bathroom, Book Review, Toilet, plumbing
Our bathrooms are used every day, and as such, they are usually one of the first places that trouble strikes. Whether you’ve ended up standing ankle deep in water at 3am, or you just want to find some ways to save money on plumbing costs, this is the ideal book to have in your home library. Handling basic tasks of repair for bathrooms is actually pretty easy and this book could help you save hundreds of dollars over time. If you are planning on adding or renovating your bathroom any time soon, this book is vital.
The first section deals with how to plan out your bathroom properly and how to avoid common errors that trip up the best of us. Everything is laid out in a very easy to understand fashion and there are some great illustrations and photographs throughout the entire book that explain the steps further. This section is quite comprehensive and deals not only with fixtures, tubs and sinks, but also proper ventilation. By following the advice in this chapter, you can save yourself the trouble of dealing with mold and mildew as well as other common bathroom problems.
The section on Roughing In Bathrooms is perfect for those that will be tearing out old fixtures and replacing them. You’ll learn exactly how to remove a toilet or even a tub on your own, as well as some great safety tips and more. We got a lot out of this section, particularly when it came to removing showers and prepping the space for a new unit. This can be pretty difficult especially if you have never worked with bathrooms in the past.
Read the chapter on Permits and Regulations if you need nothing else in this section. This chapter alone will save you the expense of being out of code and help you pass a new inspection. Not many people realize that they may need to get a permit to install a new bathroom and they end up paying hefty fines as a result. This advice will get you completely prepared for all that you need to do before you begin the process of remodeling or adding a bathroom to your home.
The last section contains project ideas and tips for remodeling bathrooms. The pictures here are very descriptive and we found that the plans were very easy to put to use. The chapter on floor warming systems was very interesting and covered some great techniques to ensure that you get this job done right. If you have ever had to rip up a floor after installing a floor heating system the wrong way, this chapter more than pays for the book itself.
We can’t say enough nice things about this book, and although it may be a little complicated in spots for the average do it yourselfer, reading some sections more than once usually helps bring everything into focus. We think this is the perfect addition to any DIY home library.
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- Dealing with Mildew in Your Home As the warmer months approach, many of us have to deal with the ugly problem of mildew. From bathrooms, to kitchens to basically anywhere where there is water, mildew can be a health risk and it is incredibly unsightly and in many cases, very smelly. However, there are a few......
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- 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......
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