Best Books for Home Remodel
November 29, 2010 3:14 PM Subscribe
Can anyone recommend a great book (or magazine or website or series) on DIY home repair and remodeling?
I'm looking for a gift for my husband for Christmas. We'll soon be moving into a charming dump of a house with the goal of fixing it up as a project over the next several years. The house will need significant work, from plumbing to flooring, and my husband wants to do as much as possible of it himself.
He's a mechanical and electrical engineer and a serious hobbyist with a fair amount of building experience, including helping friends renovate their houses, but this will still be the biggest project he's ever tackled - so what I'm looking for is something geared towards the skilled and motivated newbie, with practical advice on things like installing dry wall or putting in tile, etc.
Any recommendations?
I'm looking for a gift for my husband for Christmas. We'll soon be moving into a charming dump of a house with the goal of fixing it up as a project over the next several years. The house will need significant work, from plumbing to flooring, and my husband wants to do as much as possible of it himself.
He's a mechanical and electrical engineer and a serious hobbyist with a fair amount of building experience, including helping friends renovate their houses, but this will still be the biggest project he's ever tackled - so what I'm looking for is something geared towards the skilled and motivated newbie, with practical advice on things like installing dry wall or putting in tile, etc.
Any recommendations?
I got some great suggestions when I asked a similar-ish question a couple of years ago.
posted by dersins at 3:47 PM on November 29, 2010
posted by dersins at 3:47 PM on November 29, 2010
The Black & Decker series of books is good.
Started with this one, then this one.
It made it look easy... too easy.
posted by Gucky at 4:11 PM on November 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Started with this one, then this one.
It made it look easy... too easy.
posted by Gucky at 4:11 PM on November 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's not comprehensive or anything due to the format, but I recently used some airline miles to get a subscription to This Old House, and I really enjoy some of the ideas and tips.
posted by hansbrough at 4:13 PM on November 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by hansbrough at 4:13 PM on November 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
My dad has been giving me The Family Handyman for years. I've done several of the big projects and picked up some useful pointers in their tips section.
posted by iscavenger at 4:24 PM on November 29, 2010
posted by iscavenger at 4:24 PM on November 29, 2010
I've found publications by Taunton Press to be good.
There is also http://www.finehomebuilding.com/
posted by llc at 6:26 PM on November 29, 2010
There is also http://www.finehomebuilding.com/
posted by llc at 6:26 PM on November 29, 2010
Second the recommendation for Taunton Press, and their "Fine Homebuilding", either in dead trees or on the web.
And the guy who runs LumberJocks, a great little woodworking site, also runs HomeRefurbers. The latter isn't yet "there", but a bunch of us are hanging around and I think it'll start to gel as a community in not too long.
posted by straw at 9:18 PM on November 29, 2010
And the guy who runs LumberJocks, a great little woodworking site, also runs HomeRefurbers. The latter isn't yet "there", but a bunch of us are hanging around and I think it'll start to gel as a community in not too long.
posted by straw at 9:18 PM on November 29, 2010
I've subscribed to Dave Osborne's site a couple of times when undertaking fairly major DIYs. I've found his advice sound and his explanations clear. He also will respond to specific questions from subscribers.
posted by Neiltupper at 9:35 PM on November 29, 2010
posted by Neiltupper at 9:35 PM on November 29, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Very easy to understand, great diagrams,
sounds lame, but isn't...
posted by mmf at 3:26 PM on November 29, 2010