HomeSkills: Plumbing imparts a full understanding of plumbing work: materials, fittings, tools, installation methods, and updated codes through 2014. Add 300 foolproof how-to photos and the only thing you'll find overflowing is your wallet.

"HomeSkills: Wiring" takes a skills-based approach to electrical work, familiarizing you with each step along the way so you can conquer your home's electrical projects safely and efficiently--without paying a premium for it.

DIVAs part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Landscaping will make your lawn space the envy of your neighborhood./divDIV/divDIVTake a quick glance outside your window. What do you see? If it’s a sprawling panorama of flawless landscaping design, if it looks uncannily like a postcard, then you’re all set! But if, like most of us, your yard is just a bit lacking, then this is your how-to guide to finally achieving the outdoor space you’ve always wanted. HomeSkills: Landscaping offers a complete look at every aspect of landscaping, from early design to project execution. First, you’ll gain an overview of the many options at your disposal, exclusively featuring popular DIY products that are readily available and affordable. You’ll learn which design effect will best fit your particular home landscape, be it a flagstone patio, a vinyl fence or a healthy row of perfectly situated arbor vitae. And no matter which direction you take, this hardworking book will seamlessly bring you there by covering all the essential landscaping skills, from proper excavation and boulder transportation to planting shrubs and sand-setting interlocking pavers. Patios, walkways, overhead arbors, windbreaks, fences and gates . . . you’ll learn the best techniques for creating all of the beautiful planted and built elements that define any successful home landscape. Best of all, your new space will be cherished by family and friends alike—and the neighbors will quickly forget their jealousy when they’re enjoying it alongside you./divDIV/divDIVCheck out our five other HomeSkills guides on carpentry, deck building, plumbing, tiling, and wiring./div

BLACK+DECKER Essential Home Skills Handbookoffers 100+ beginner-friendly solutions for common household headaches, with achievable DIY projects and full-color step photos and illustrations. Whether you’re moving from an apartment to yourfirst homeor you’re inspired to tackle a particular home project, we’re glad you’re here! If you’ve decided it’s time to fix that dripping faucetor a small gutter leak before it becomes a big problem, let’s get to it. Written by the knowledgeable editors at Cool Springs Press—recognized experts in DIY home improvement and maintenance with more than thirty years of experience in home improvement and hundreds of best-selling books under the BLACK+DECKER brand—this is DIY instruction you can trust. While we also publish expert-level guides on everything from plumbing to wiring, this book is designed to be different: it’s a plain-language resourcewith directions not for experts, but for anyone looking to learn more about their home and make it better. Inside, you’ll find directions for 100+ common home repairs and maintenance tasks, with an eye toward the most common issues people have in their home. Whether you need to fix a leaky faucet, cure garbage disposal odors, stop a door from squeaking, or bring a dead electrical outlet back to life, everything a budding DIYer needs is between the covers. A sample of the projects inside includes: Home Heating and Cooling: Install v-strip door weather stripping, install adhesive foam window weather stripping, seal air leaks, insulate an attic or crawl space, caulk windows and doors, install a smoke detector, replace a bathroom fan, clean and maintain a central AC unit, replace a furnace filter, seal and insulate ductwork, install a ceiling fan, replace an exterior dryer vent. Structural Openings:Hang a new door, install a lockset, install a screen or storm door, install bi-fold closet doors, maintain a sliding glass door, replace a window pane, patch a window screen. Plumbing:Install a touchless faucet, repair a pop-up drain stopper, repair the four most common types of faucets, repair a kitchen sink sprayer, install a pedestal sink, unclog a sink, adjust shower water temperature, repair a leaking shut off valve, replace a toilet o-ring or flush mechanism, drain your water heater, recaulk a tub, insulate water pipes. Electrical Issues: Install undercabinet lighting, install a dimmer switch, upgrade an outlet to GFCI, install a whole house surge protector, fix a dead outlet, replace a light fixture. Interior Surfaces:Fix a wall crack, install a backsplash, hang a floating shelf, fix damaged tile countertop, fix floor squeaks, repair water damage. Exterior Concerns: Fix a roof hole, replace shingles, patch a steel gutter, install gutter screens, repair or replace roof flashing, maintain a garage door, repair damaged siding, stiffen or reinforce an unstable deck, install a floodlight. Clear, easy-to-follow instructions with photos of each step lead the way. This is a book that gives you morepower and control over your home, saves frustration, and ideally, helps save some moneyas well.

DIVAs part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Carpentry teaches you the essential skill of woodworking./divDIV/divDIVAt the core of every true handyperson is the ability to work with wood. In the home, the garage, or the backyard, the skill of carpentry will prove useful time and time again—it is the ultimate foundational craft of the do-it-yourselfer. With HomeSkills: Carpentry, we invite you to embark on building your DIY skillset by teaching you the basics of woodworking. You’ll learn how to assemble your starter toolbox and small workshop, and we’ll show you the ropes on using those fundamental tools that will remain staples in your construction arsenal well into the future. Finally, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions for accomplishing some of the most common home carpentry projects: building your own workbench or setup table, hanging a door, building an interior stud wall, working with plywood and sheet goods, and a score of other practical tasks. Accompanied by 350 detailed photographs, purposely set at a bargain price, and backed by the renowned reputation of Cool Springs Press, this one-stop how-to book will have you well on your way to becoming a bona fide home carpenter. And, dare we say it, you just might have a good time getting there./divDIV/divDIVCheck out our five other HomeSkills guides on deck building, landscaping, plumbing, tiling, and wiring./div

" ... Plumbing Complete is filled with trade secrets only a pro would know, as well as detailed instructions and over 950 photos and drawings that show every step"--Back cover.

Reprint of the Popular Science Books edition of 1987.

DIVAs part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Plumbing will give you power over your pipes./divDIV/divDIVIf you’ve ever had to call a plumber, you know firsthand that hiring a professional will cost you dearly. But saving money isn’t the only major motivation behind DIY plumbing, as the well-informed routine maintenance of your systems can protect your entire home from water damage and a laundry list of other inconveniences. With HomeSkills: Plumbing, you’ll gain a full understanding of the what, how, and why of plumbing work, from general theory and descriptions of the typical home plumbing system to detailed information on the most common materials, fittings, and tools. Your new set of skills—sweating copper tubing, solvent-welding PVC pipe, making solid compression connections, and others—will enable you to install or replace toilets, sinks, faucets, showers, garbage disposals, tubs, and much more. And you won’t have to worry about staying on the cutting edge of plumbing technique: we’ve included sections on modern troubleshooting and repairs, as well as all the latest materials (such as PEX tubing), with information that’s guaranteed to comply with current plumbing codes. Add to that the book’s 300 foolproof how-to photos and the only thing you’ll find overflowing is your wallet./divDIV/divDIVCheck out our five other HomeSkills guides on carpentry, deck building, landscaping, tiling, and wiring./div

As a father of three young adult children, a registered nurse, a former Boy Scout leader, and a former college professor, I noticed a serious lack of training offered to young adults in the skills needed to be able to live on their own. In the past, this training was offered in high school under the name of Home Economics, but these skills were no longer being taught in school. In these classes, students learned how to manage money, cook simple meals, do laundry, and do other skills needed to survive and succeed in the world. It also came to my attention that many young adults were not learning these skills at home. This project was undertaken with the needs of these young adults in mind. This resource is directed toward people who are in their late high school through college years. It is a structured means of conveying to students the information needed to survive and thrive on their own, outside of their parents' home. This curriculum is structured as a five–class course divided into thirty–two different modules, giving the educator versatility in its presentation. Each module can be taught as a stand–alone class or grouped together in whatever way works for the educator and their students. The topics covered include budgeting and other financial basics, cooking, doing basic home repairs, preparing to enter the workforce (including interviewing for a job), relating to and communicating with others, caring for their personal bodies and minds, and doing many others.

A modern and energetically designed encyclopedia of DIY with everything you need to know to roll up your sleeves and cook it, build it, sew it, clean it, or repair it yourself. In other words, everything you would have learned from your shop and home ec teachers, if you'd had them. The Useful Book features 138 practical projects and how-tos, with step-by-step instructions and illustrations, relevant charts, sidebars, lists, and handy toolboxes. There’s a kitchen crash course, including the must-haves for a well-stocked pantry; how to boil an egg (and peel it frustration-free); how to grill, steam, sauté, and roast vegetables. There’s Sewing 101, plus how to fold a fitted sheet, tie a tie, mop a floor, make a bed, and set the table for a formal dinner. Next up: a 21st-century shop class. The tools that everyone should have, and dozens of cool projects that teach fundamental techniques. Practice measuring, cutting, and nailing by building a birdhouse. Make a bookshelf or a riveted metal picture frame. Plus: do-it-yourself plumbing; car repair basics; and home maintenance, from priming and painting to refinishing wood floors.