Popular Mechanics Complete Home How-To

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Overview

Here is the most comprehensive how-to reference from the most trusted name in DIY, Popular Mechanics. Everything that concerns a house or apartment owner is included, with information on planning ahead; decorating; repairs and improvements; security; infestation, rot, and damp; electricity; plumbing; heating; outdoor care; and tools and skills. And it’s easy to find the solution to any particular problem, without having to go from page to page of continuous text: the straightforward design breaks down the subjects into clearly defined, color-coded chapters. So whether you’re looking for advice on applying finishes, adding decorative paint effects, constructing walls, fixing the roof, or installing a burglar alarm, the
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More About This Book

Overview

Here is the most comprehensive how-to reference from the most trusted name in DIY, Popular Mechanics. Everything that concerns a house or apartment owner is included, with information on planning ahead; decorating; repairs and improvements; security; infestation, rot, and damp; electricity; plumbing; heating; outdoor care; and tools and skills. And it’s easy to find the solution to any particular problem, without having to go from page to page of continuous text: the straightforward design breaks down the subjects into clearly defined, color-coded chapters. So whether you’re looking for advice on applying finishes, adding decorative paint effects, constructing walls, fixing the roof, or installing a burglar alarm, the instructions are here.

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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal
Every library needs a good, all-in-one guide to home repair, and this one, which carries the Popular Mechanics imprimatur, fits the bill. Interior and exterior repairs are included, from simple tasks like replacing an electrical switch to difficult ones like constructing a wall or building a pond, as well as common upgrades. Everything is explained in detail, with a wealth of clear photos and illustrations. A section on skills and tools shows the use of woodworking, building, decorating, plumbing, and electrical equipment, and a reference section describes hardware/materials and defines commonly used terminology. A great general guide to home repairs of all types, this book will see heavy use in most collections. Essential. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781435137349
  • Publisher: Sterling
  • Publication date: 12/1/2011
  • Pages: 528
  • Sales rank: 247,163
  • Product dimensions: 8.50 (w) x 11.10 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Table of Contents

1 Planning Ahead
Forward planning 2
Assessing potential 4
Using professionals 7
Employing a builder 8
Seeking approval 9
Do-it-yourself 12
A basis for selecting colour 14
Using tone for subtlety 16
Taking texture into account 18
Using pattern for effect 19
Manipulating space 20
Interior schemes 22
Planning your lighting 27
2 Decorating
Means of access 30
Preparation and priming 33
Primers and sealers 33
Masonry 34
Plasterwork 40
Wallcoverings 42
Woodwork 43
Metalwork 50
Tiled surfaces 52
Applying finishes 53
Paints 53
Exterior masonry 54
Walls and ceilings 57
Decorative paint effects 60
Textured coatings 69
Woodwork 70
Painting doors 73
Painting window frames 74
Graining 75
Staining wood 78
Varnishing 80
French polishing 81
Cold-cure lacquer 82
Finishing metalwork 83
Panelling 85
Wallcoverings 88
Choosing tiles 97
Wall tiling 100
Ceiling tiles 104
Floor tiling 105
Wood flooring 110
Carpets 112
Sheet vinyl 115
3 Repairs & Improvements
House construction 118
Walls 120
External 120
Internal 121
Removing walls 122
Constructing walls 127
Ceilings 132
Suspended ceilings 132
Loft access 133
Plasterwork 134
Types of plaster 135
Surfaces 136
Mixing plaster 137
Plastering techniques 138
Repairing plasterwork 139
Plastering a wall 143
Plasterboard 144
Exterior rendering 151
Floors 154
Suspended floors 154
Solid floors 155
Flooring 156
Maintenance 157
Doors 160
Types and construction 160
Fitting and hanging doors 162
Dividing doors 164
Sliding and folding doors 165
Garage doors 170
Windows 172
Types and construction 172
Types of glass 175
Repairing glass 176
Double glazing 180
Repairing windows 181
Replacing windows 185
Roof windows 187
Curtains and blinds 188
Shutters 190
Staircases 195
Types and construction 195
Maintenance 197
Balusters and balustrades 200
Roofs 203
Construction 204
Roof maintenance 208
Sheet roofing 209
Flashings 211
Guttering 213
4 Home Security
How a burglar gains entry 216
Guarding against intruders 217
Securing doors 218
Securing windows 240
Burglar alarms 241
Protection against fire 242
5 Infestation, Rot & Damp
Infestation 224
Insect infestation 224
Animal infestation 228
Rot 229
Wet rot and dry rot 229
Preventative treatment 230
Damp 231
Penetrating damp 231
Rising damp 231
Condensation 234
Basements and cellars 236
6 Insulation & Ventilation
Insulation 238
Insulating plumbing 239
Draughtproofing 240
Insulating roofs 243
Insulating walls 247
Insulating floors 248
Double glazing 249
Ventilation 253
Ventilating floors 254
Ventilating the roof space 255
Extractor fans 257
Range hoods 259
Heat-recovery ventilation 260
7 Electricity
Economics 264
Basics 266
Safety 267
Zones for bathrooms 269
Replacements 270
Flex 270
Plugs and lampholders 273
Main switch equipment 274
Earthing systems 275
Consumer units 276
Fuses and MCBs 277
Circuits 279
Cables 280
Running cable 281
Assessing your installation 284
Power circuits 286
Socket outlets 286
Mounting sockets 286
Replacing socket outlets 288
Adding spurs 289
Adapting circuits 290
Fixed appliances 292
Fused connection units 292
Wiring heaters 293
Wiring small appliances 294
Cookers 295
Immersion heaters 296
Storage heaters 298
Doorbells and chimes 300
TV aerials 301
Telephone extensions 302
Home office 303
Wiring showers 305
Lighting circuits 305
Light fittings 307
Light switches 309
Installing wall lights 313
Low-voltage lighting 314
Electricity outdoors 316
Security lighting 317
Closed-circuit television 319
Garden lighting and pumps 321
Wiring outbuildings 322
Complete rewiring 324
8 Plumbing
Repairs and maintenance 326
Emergency repairs 327
Repairing taps 328
Maintaining cisterns and tanks 330
Drainage systems 333
Maintenance 334
Pipework 337
Metal pipes 337
Plastic plumbing 342
Plumbing installations 346
WCs 346
Washbasins 349
Baths 353
Showers 355
Bidets 361
Sinks 362
Waste-disposal units 363
Dishwashers & washing machines 364
Water softeners 366
Storage tanks 367
Hot-water heaters 368
Solar heating 370
9 Heating
Open fires 374
Fireplaces 375
Room heaters and stoves 379
Central heating 382
Boilers 384
Radiators 385
Controls 387
Fault finding 388
Maintenance 389
Underfloor heating 396
Storage heaters 398
10 Working Outdoors
Planning a garden 400
Fences 404
Choosing fences 404
Fence posts 406
Erecting fences 408
Gates 412
Gate styles 412
Hardware 413
Gateposts 413
Walls 414
Bricks 415
Concrete blocks 417
Stone 418
Mortar 419
Brickwork 420
Blockwork 428
Building with stone 430
Retaining walls 431
Paths, drives and patios 432
Working with concrete 432
Paving slabs 440
Crazy paving 442
Paving with bricks 443
Cobblestones and gravel 446
Tarmac 447
Garden steps 448
Concrete steps 449
Log steps 449
Building curved steps 449
Water gardens 450
Pond liners 451
Constructing ponds 452
Pumps and fountains 454
Rockeries and cascades 455
Pebble pools 456
Conservatories 457
11 Tools and Skills
Woodworking tools 460
Woodworking joints 473
Building tools 476
Decorating tools 479
Plumbing tools 484
Electrical tools 490
12 Reference & Index
Timber and boards 492
Adhesives 494
Fixings 496
Glossary of terms 500
Index 504

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 4 )

Rating Distribution

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(1)

4 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 7, 2006

    Useful, but poorly edited

    This book has some useful information, but I can't remember worse editing. Parts of the Table of Contents point to the wrong page or to topics that don't exist (example: Water Closets), or leave out other topics and/or sections that should be listed. I had to make my own table of contents for the plumbing section. There was also at least one section in this book cross-referencing other sections. All the cross-references were wrong. To me, it looks like there were two versions of this book, one for the UK and one for the USA, and the editors did a poor job of correcting the contents and cross-references.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 18, 2007

    Very Helpful

    This book has a massive amount of good information. Just remeber to use the index and not the table of contents for looking up page numbers.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 2, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 1, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

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