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Index
Title
Contents
Introduction
Foolish Assumptions
How to Use This Book
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Book I : Planning Your Home Improvement Projects
Chapter 1: Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro?
Taking Everything into Account
Hiring Help the Smart Way
Chapter 2: Gearing Up for Your Home Improvement Adventures
The Top Tools for Any Homebody
Gizmos and Gear
Chapter 3: Safety and Preparedness
Practicing Fire Safety
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Danger in the Home
Guarding Your Home against Natural Disasters
Playing It Safe with Gas Lines
Maintaining Burglar Alarms
Keeping Automatic Garage-Door Openers in Working Order
Maintaining Electrical Safety
Testing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
Chapter 4: Working with (and within) a Budget
Establishing the Scope of the Project
Looking at Things Room by Room
Getting Estimates and Prices
Considering Financing Options
Watching Every Penny to Avoid Overspending
Book II : Basic Home Maintenance and Improvement
Chapter 1: Making Inside Repairs and Improvements
Working on Walls
Building Shelves
Insulating Your Home
Chapter 2: Windows Don’t Have to Be a Pane
Know Your Windows
Window Maintenance
Unsticking a Stuck Window
Replacing Sash Cords
Replacing a Broken Window Pane
Repairing a Rotted Windowsill
Replacing Window Channels
Energy-Saving Projects
Window Enhancements and Add-ons
Chapter 3: Doors: An Open-and-Shut Case
Maintaining Locks and Hinges
Fixing Bifold Doors
Maintaining Combination Storm/Screen Doors
Sliding By with Sliding Doors
Locking Up
Maintaining Garage Doors
Chapter 4: Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Systems
Making Friends with the Heat Monster in the Basement
Big or Small, an Air Conditioner Cools Y’all
Ventilation: Letting You and Your House Breathe
Chapter 5: Attending to Appliances
Making Cleaning Job One
Roaming the Range Top
Opening the Door and Rolling Up Your Sleeves: The Oven
Hanging Out in the Range Hood
Microwave Maintenance Mania
Dishwashers
Refrigerators and Freezers
Garbage Disposals
Washing Machines
Clothes Dryers
Chapter 6: Foundation Fundamentals
A Little Foundation about the Foundation
Is There a Fungus Amongus?
Preventing Moisture from Building Up under Your Home
A Few Pointers on Brick and Block Foundations
Chapter 7: Roofing and Siding
Your Roof: The Fifth Wall of Your Home
All That Dam Ice
Find That Leak!
It’s Okay If Your Mind’s in the Gutter
Siding: A Raincoat for Your House
Chapter 8: Light Up Your Life with Electrical Repairs and Replacements
Replacing a Fuse and Resetting a Circuit Breaker
Wiring Switches and Receptacles
Repairing a Faulty Lamp
Replacing a Ceiling Fixture
Wiring a Telephone Extension
Replacing a Porch Light with a Security Light
Adding a Low-Voltage Outdoor Light
Book III : Painting and Wallpapering
Chapter 1: Planning Your Project
A Primer on Finishes
Lead, the Environment, and You
Choosing an Exterior Finish
Choosing the Right Interior Paint
Finding the Perfect Interior Stain
Estimating How Much Paint to Buy
The Workhorses of Painting: Brushes and Rollers
Considering Power-Painting Systems
Brushing Up on Techniques
Roller Techniques
Spraying Inside and Out
Chapter 2: Preparing Surfaces for Painting
Preparing Exterior Surfaces
Preparing Interior Surfaces
Chapter 3: Painting, Finishing, and Cleaning Up
Painting the Exterior of Your Home
Painting the Interior of Your Home
Cleaning Up the Mess
Chapter 4: Wallpapering Basics
Selecting the Perfect Wallpaper
Buying Wallcoverings
Tooling Up for the Task
Choosing Your Wallpaper Adhesive
Chapter 5: Preparing Surfaces for Wallpapering
Clearing and Cleaning the Room
Preparing Wall Surfaces
Removing Wallpaper
Chapter 6: Hanging Wallpaper
Plan Before You Hang
At Last You’re Ready to Paper
Quick Fixes for Wallpaper
Border Incidents
Book IV : Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling
Chapter 1: An Overview of the Remodeling Process
Walking through the Stages of a Typical Remodeling Project
Bracing Yourself for the Destruction
Chapter 2: Installing Cabinets
Gathering the Right Tools
Marking Reference Lines and Mounting Locations
Hanging Wall Cabinets
Adding the Lower Level: Base Cabinets
Chapter 3: Installing Countertops and Sinks
Gathering the Right Tools
Installing a Countertop
Installing a Sink and Faucet
Installing a Ceramic Tile Countertop
Chapter 4: Fridges, Ranges, Disposals, and More: Installing Appliances
Installing Ranges, Ovens, and Cooktops
Installing a New Fridge Complete with Dispenser Unit
Doing the Dishes — Automatic Style
Taking Out the Trash — Sink Style
Chapter 5: Go Flush! Selecting and Installing a Toilet
Taking a Tour of Toilets
Roughing Dimension: Measuring Your Options
Dethroning the Throne
Preparing the Floor for a New Toilet
Installing a New Toilet
Chapter 6: Rub a Dub Dub! Replacing a Tub
Selecting a Bathtub
Bidding Good Riddance to an Old Tub
Putting In a New Tub
When Removing a Bathtub Is Mission Impossible
Chapter 7: Showered with Possibilities
Standing Room Only: Selecting a Shower Unit
Installing a Shower Enclosure
Installing a Shower (or Tub) Door
Installing Grab Bars
Chapter 8: Bowled Over: Basins, Vanities, Medicine Cabinets, and Faucets
Looking at Types and Styles of Basins
Putting In a Pedestal Sink
Installing a Cast-Iron Wall-Hung Sink
You’re So Vain: Vanity Cabinets
Much Ado about Medicine Cabinets
Getting a Handle on Faucets
Book V : Carpentry, Woodworking, and Flooring
Chapter 1: Flooring: Keeping a Leg Up on Foot Traffic
The Subfloor: A Solid Base
Hardwood Flooring
Ceramic Tile
Sheet Vinyl Flooring
Carpet
Silencing Squeaks
Chapter 2: Using Adhesives and Glues in Woodworking
Cluing In to Gluing: Understanding How Glue Works
Working with Carpenter’s Glue
Choosing Contact Cement
Relying on Resin Glues
Honing In on Hot Melt Glue
Chapter 3: Drilling, Driving, and Fastening
Trial Assembly Pays Off
Drilling and Power Driving
Driving Screws
The Nail Hammer: The Quintessential Carpentry Tool
Fastening with Staples
Getting Down to Nuts and Bolts
Clamping and Gluing
Guns for Pacifists
Chapter 4: Understanding the Building Process
Following Plans: Making Sense of Diagrams, Dimensions, and Procedures
Creating a Cut List
Preparing the Board for Milling
Making the Cut
Putting It All Together
Chapter 5: Finishing Wood
Filling Holes and Cracks
Smoothing Out Wood
Adding Color with Stains and Paints
Protecting Your Work with a Topcoat
Book VI : Plumbing
Chapter 1: The Plumbing Do-It-Yourselfer
Figuring Out When to Do It Yourself
Knowing When to Call a Pro
Understanding Building Codes, Permits, and Inspections
Chapter 2: The Plumbing System in Your Home
The Water Runs through It
Getting Water to Your House
Figuring Out Your Drain-Waste-Vent (DWV) Lines
Locating Shutoff Valves
Chapter 3: Materials and Tools
Finding Replacement Parts
Common Plumbing Supplies
Finding the Right Water Supply Pipe
Buying Drainage Pipes and Fittings
Stocking Up on Valves
Using Plumbing Tools
Chapter 4: Unclogging a Kitchen Sink
Unclogging a Sink Drain
Unclogging a Faucet Aerator
Unclogging a Garbage Disposal
Chapter 5: Unclogging a Tub or Shower Drain
Clearing a Clogged Bathtub or Shower Drain
Cleaning and Adjusting a Drain Stopper
Chapter 6: Unclogging a Toilet
Diagnosing the Problem (Yuck!)
Clearing a Clogged Toilet
Clearing the Main Line
Chapter 7: Fixing a Leaky or Run-On Toilet
Getting Up Close and Personal with Your Toilet’s Parts
A Sticky Tankball or Flapper Valve
Floatball or Ballcock Problems
Chapter 8: Fixing a Leaky Faucet
Stopping a Compression Faucet Leak
Stopping a Washerless Faucet Leak
Fixing a Dish Sprayer
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