HomeSkills

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Ceramic Tile turns each of your bland surfaces into a blank canvas. To many homeowners, laying tile sounds like a recipe for stress, physical injury, artistic embarrassment, or all of the above. But we'll let you in on a secret: with some basic knowledge and a little persistence, anyone can do it-and you'll feel especially proud when you tally up the money you just saved by doing it yourself. With HomeSkills: Ceramic Tile, you'll receive expert instruction in the fundamentals of tiling your living space. Through user-friendly project descriptions and vivid how-to photography, you'll learn all the necessary tiling skills in a concise, accessible way: designing your layout and selecting the perfect tiles, handling and cutting them properly, working with grouts and adhesives, and putting the finishing touches on a confident installation. You'll be able to tackle any surface, from floors and walls to countertops and backsplashes, and at any pace you prefer-take it easy and get it just right over time or blast away and transform an entire room in an afternoon. So set your hesitations aside. HomeSkills: Ceramic Tile is your one-stop DIY guide to the custom tile job you never thought you could pull off. Check out our five other HomeSkills guides on carpentry, deck building, landscaping, plumbing, and wiring.

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Building Decks takes the fear out of adding the perfect outdoor element to your house. There's a reason that deck building is the most popular do-it-yourself home improvement undertaking today: not only are decks an attractive, customizable component of classic American construction, they also allow for entertainment and relaxation in a way that indoor spaces simply can't. So if your house is already in top working order, and your lawn is looking mighty green this year, chances are there's only one thing missing-a deck. Fortunately, with all the innovative new products and materials coming onto the market, decks are easier to self-design and build than ever before. As it turns out, you're only one how-to book away from creating the deck of your dreams. In HomeSkills: Building Decks, the expert editors of Cool Springs Press join forces to cover every aspect of deck building, providing streamlined project descriptions with crystal-clear photos that leave no room for guesswork. You'll learn how to plan and design, then select materials, dig postholes, hang joists, and install the decking itself. We even cover stairs, railings, overheads, and extra accessories like screens and arbors. With 300 illustrations and 10 supplementary diagrams, one thorough book prevents two things from collapsing: you and your shiny new deck. And that's good for all of us. Check out our five other HomeSkills guides on carpentry, landscaping, plumbing, tiling, and wiring.

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Carpentry teaches you the essential skill of woodworking. At 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. Check out our five other HomeSkills guides on deck building, landscaping, plumbing, tiling, and wiring.

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Landscaping will make your lawn space the envy of your neighborhood. Take 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. Check out our five other HomeSkills guides on carpentry, deck building, plumbing, tiling, and wiring.

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Plumbing will give you power over your pipes. If 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. Check out our five other HomeSkills guides on carpentry, deck building, landscaping, tiling, and wiring.

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Wiring will make you the brightest thing in your house. Few trades are more dangerous to the novice than working with electricity. In wiring, understanding the finer details is crucial to your personal safety-it is a craft that demands only the most reliable information, and HomeSkills: Wiring provides just that. Its skills-based approach to electrical work does more than simply tell you to connect the black wire to the brass terminal; it familiarizes you with each step along the way so you understand the larger purpose for every task. The book sensibly distills the fundamental components of successful wiring: an overview of home electrical service and how it works; discussion of tools, tool usage, and materials handling; and step-by-step instructions for stripping insulated wire, making connections with a wire connector, running cable through walls, wiring ceiling lights, hooking up receptacles and switches, grounding electrical loads safely, navigating your electrical service panel, and other common wiring jobs. Add to these dependable lessons the book's 300 beautiful how-to photos, with content updated to meet current electrical codes, and you'll soon be conquering your home's electrical projects safely and efficiently-without paying a premium for it. Check out our five other HomeSkills guides on carpentry, deck building, landscaping, plumbing, and tiling.