This book is packed with DIY techniques and technology. It gives hundreds of ideas for renovating your home and shows you how with step by step descriptions.

What keeps houses from falling down? How can electrical safety be achieved at bargain prices? What can be done to keep basement floors from cracking? How can homeowners act as their own contractors? Popular columnist Duane Johnson answers these questions and more in this complete guide covering all aspects of home design. 200 illustrations.

Your guide to tools, skills, quick fixes, weekend projects, and even major upgrades—packed with pro tips! Developing your do-it-yourself skills can save you significant money, make your dream home a reality—and be just plain fun. Whether it's simple projects like a busted pipe or clogged toilet, or bigger upgrades like a new floor or a deck, you’ll find all the information you need to fix trouble spots, handle the unwelcome surprises of homeownership, and increase the value of your property. Learn about: Tools & Skills: How to build the ultimate DIY toolbox, outfit your workspace, and gain the pro skills that make even challenging projects surprisingly fun and easy. Quick Fixes: Quick yet durable fixes made easy. Fix a wonky toilet, ground an outlet, patch drywall, upgrade furniture frames and everything in between. Weekend Projects: Dozens of clever projects you thought would take you ages! Paint a room, redo a kitchen floor, spiff up cabinets, replace a toilet, patch a leaky roof. Big Jobs: Think you need a contractor? Think again. Create built-in shelving, install new flooring, construct a fence, build a deck, and more. With over three hundred handy tips, Matt Weber and the editors of Extreme How-To have you covered on all things home repair.

This beautifully illustrated, complete guide to herbs unlocks the secrets of these wonder plants—from planting and harvesting to cooking and storing—including their health benefits. Now you can discover the joy and pleasure of growing your own herbs—for spicing up meals, creating crafts, treating ailments, and more. In this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated herbal guide you’ll find information on their history, cultivation, propagation, and harvesting, along with a wealth of great ideas for using herbs everyday in a variety of ways. This guide unravels the mysteries of these versatile plants, with savvy tips and simple formulas for maximizing their powers. Did you know? · Mint can repel ants, flies, mice, and moths · Garlic can seriously lower cholesterol · Chives, fennel, tarragon, thyme, oregano, and winter savory are perennials · Rosemary was used in the Middle Ages for its tranquilizing effects, and it is still a digestion aid Known for alleviating common ailments, herbs are an ancient natural wonder—herbs are hotter than ever. Extremely informative and fascinating, this book will help you find which herb can treat various complaints. Throughout the guide are instructions for bursting-with-flavor recipes, health-care products, decorative craft ideas, insect repellents, cosmetics, cleaning agents, and much more.

For novices, DIY enthusiasts or professionals, this essential book continues to be the most in-depth, up-to-date and user-friendly DIY book on the market, covering everything from decorating and repairs to electricity, plumbing and much more. This fully updated version features an even more accessible design to help you navigate easily through the info, and thousands of new photographs and illustrations to make sure you get your job done quickly and safely.

Don't put yourself at risk of injury, fire or intruders in your home. There are many ways to ensure that you and your property are safe at all times. With this book, learn how to assess your needs and then find out how to make your phone more secure, by fitting door and window locks, a burglar alarm and security lighting.

Thoroughly revised to incorporate the latest information on wireless technology and home electronics, a comprehensive handbook furnishes a full range of repair and upgrade wiring projects, along with detailed circuit diagrams, instructions on how to connect and network home electronics, and the latest requirements of the National Electrical Code in regard to home wiring. Original.

This edition includes material on energy-saving DIY, information on assessing and improving your home's energy efficiency rating, government grants available for energy-saving improvements, and much more.