Book Description
Put on your grubbies, get out your tools, and get ready to tackle home repairs and improvements with the goof-proof instructions in this guide that combines the best of nine For Dummies home improvement books in one comprehensive volume. Whether you’re an accomplished do-it-yourselfer or a novice, the easy-to-follow instructions, complete with photos and illustrations, will guide you through: Basic home maintenance and improvement projects from the foundation to the roof, including windows, doors, and electrical repairs and replacements Painting and wallpapering Bathroom and kitchen remodeling, including installing cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and appliances Carpentry, woodworking and flooring Plumbing, including unclogging fixtures and fixing leaky faucets

Want to spruce up bedroom? Spiff up the kitchen? Shore up the porch? Build stairs? Replace creaky doors and drafty windows? Make the most of your space? Inside or out, major renovation or minor repair, the how-to is all right here. Think about it—if you do just one project yourself instead of calling a plumber, electrician, painter, handyman, or other service person, you’ve saved far more than the cost of this book! And you’ll have it on hand to guide you through the next project!

From the Back Cover
Eight books in one open the door to whole-house improvement Your one-stop guide to affordable home repair and renovation Dust off your toolbox and get ready to tackle simple home repairs and improvements with the goof-proof instructions in this hands-on guide. Packed with up-to-the-minute solutions from an impressive lineup of For Dummies authors – including Katie and Gene Hamilton, The Carey Brothers, Robert Beckstrom, and Jeff Strong – this fun, easy-to-understand book covers everything from remodeling a kitchen or bathroom and fixing a leaky faucet to installing new windows and doors, building stairways, making better use of space, and much more, all without breaking the bank. The Dummies Way Coverage of the essentials and beyond Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Thumbtabs and other navigation aids Tear-out cheat sheet A dash of humor and fun Discover how to: Perform basic home maintenance Work with hardwood floors and carpet Fix a roof or siding Paint (or wallpaper) like a pro Handle plumbing problems Hire professional help

About the Author
Roy Barnhart is a lifelong do-it-yourselfer and former professional building and remodeling contractor. He enjoyed eight years as Senior Building and Remodeling Editor for two national home improvement magazines. As a freelance writer, editor, and consultant, Roy has contributed articles to more than a dozen home improvement magazines, including Family Handyman and House Beautiful. He has also contributed to four books.

James and Morris Carey, known as the Carey Brothers, are nationally recognized experts on home building and renovation. They share their 20-plus years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions nationwide through a weekly radio program, daily radio vignette, syndicated newspaper column, and comprehensive Web site (www.onthehouse.com), all titled “On the House.” Morris and James continue to own and operate a successful home remodeling and construction firm, Carey Bros., and have been named to Remodeling magazine’s Hall of Fame Big 50, which recognizes top achievers in the industry. They’ve also been honored as one of the nation’s top 500 companies by Qualified Remodeler magazine.

Gene and Katie Hamilton have been working on houses and writing about home improvements for over 30 years. They’ve remodeled 14 houses and write a weekly newspaper column entitled “Do It Yourself . . . Or Not?” which appears in newspapers across the country and on Web sites. The Hamiltons are authors of 16 home improvement books, including Home Improvement For Dummies, Carpentry For Dummies, Painting and Wallpapering For Dummies, and Plumbing For Dummies. They’re the founders of www.HouseNet.com, the first home improvement site on the Internet and America Online. You’ve seen these veteran do-it-yourselfers appear as home improvement experts on CNN, Dateline, the Today show, Home Matters, Today at Home, and Our Home.

Don R. Prestly is a former senior editor for HANDY Magazine for The Handyman Club of America, as well as a former associate editor for Family Handyman magazine. In addition to his nearly 20 years of writing and doing home improvement projects, he spent several years as a manager for one of the Midwest’s largest home centers. Throw in the everyday upkeep needs of being a homeowner, dealing with the same problems and repairs as other homeowners, and it’s obvious that he has the background and experience to help you make your kitchen dreams come true.

Jeff Strong began creating sawdust at a very young age while helping his father, a master craftsman, build fine furniture. An accomplished woodworker, Jeff has designed and built countless pieces of furniture and currently accepts commissions to build his creations. His woodworking style marries Arts and Crafts, Southwestern, and Asian influences. Woodworking For Dummies is his third book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER