Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part I: Home Maintenance and You 7
Chapter 1: Home Maintenance: What It Is and Why It Matters 9
Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your House and Its Systems 17
Chapter 3: Putting Together Your Home Maintenance Plan 31
Part II: The Energy Envelope 49
Chapter 4: Foundation and Floor Frame Fundamentals 51
Chapter 5: Roofing and Siding 77
Chapter 6: Windows, Exterior Doors, and Insulation 99
Part III: Key Systems: Plumbing and HVAC 123
Chapter 7: Plumbing, Part I: Pipes, Water Heaters, Water Softeners, and More 125
Chapter 8: Plumbing, Part II: Fixtures 149
Chapter 9: Plumbing, Part III: Sewer and Septic Systems 171
Chapter 10: Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems 185
Part IV: Inside Home Sweet Home 207
Chapter 11: Walls and Ceilings 209
Chapter 12: Floors and Interior Doors 229
Chapter 13: Cabinets and Countertops 249
Chapter 14: Appliances 267
Chapter 15: Don’t Get Burned: Fireplaces 287
Chapter 16: Maintaining Your Home-Safety Systems 299
Part V: Out in the Great Wide Open 313
Chapter 17: Walkways, Patios, and Driveways 315
Chapter 18: Decks, Fences, and Retaining Walls 335
Chapter 19: And Then There Was Rust 347
Part VI: The Part of Tens 355
Chapter 20: Ten Cleaning Solutions You Can Make at Home 357
Chapter 21: Ten Maintenance Skills You Need 363
Index 371