The Complete Book of Home Improvement

📒 This book is designed to show you both how your home is constructed and functions, and how you can tackle repair or remodeling projects. After you have browsed the home magazines and watched the TV makeover shows, this book will both tell you, and show you, how the job is really done. We don't make suggestions about color choice, direct you toward styles of light fixtures, or guide you toward the designer look of a particular kitchen. Those are all personal choices. Instead, we show you how to care for and maintain your home. After reading this book, you'll know how to make improvements that may have seemed unachievable in the past. If for any reason you decide you don't want to do the job yourself, we also offer some advice on hiring outside help. This book will arm you with knowledge of correct building practices, so that you can more easily talk about your home improvement needs with whomever you hire to help accomplish your projects. The key to Do-It-Yourself is knowing what you can achieve. As long as safety issues are never compromised, pushing your own perceived limitations a little further than you think possible can provide a great deal of satisfaction. By challenging yourself, you build up new levels of skill and aptitude. Another secret to success in any home improvement project is taking time to plan, to budget, and to hone your abilities. Often, some compromise is required in all these areas, although finding the correct balance often comes down to experience. We...