Book I

Planning Your Home Improvement Projects

In this book . . .

W here do you start? Can you do it yourself? What materials, tools, and knowledge do you need? How much will it cost, and how do you keep from maiming yourself in the process? Dig into these chapters that frame answers to these knotty questions.

Collecting basic household tools and the right stuff for specific jobs doesn’t have to be a struggle. Venturing into the local hardware store or home center need not signal safari time — although with the size of today’s home centers, you may need to pack a lunch.

Whether you want to estimate the time and cost involved in a job or check out the possibility of adding more hands-on adventures to your to-do list, you can build comfort and confidence with a cruise through this book.

Here are the contents of Book I at a glance.