Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part I: Gearing Up to Fix Everything 7
Chapter 1: If Your Broken Stuff Needs Repair 9
Chapter 2: Tackling Basic Tools and Equipment 19
Part II: Repairing Your Home’s Interior 33
Chapter 3: Taking the Creaks, Cracks, and Holes Out of Floors, Stairs, and Basements 35
Chapter 4: Conquering Door and Window Headaches 55
Chapter 5: Closing In on Walls and Ceilings 79
Chapter 6: Tending to Cabinet, Closet, and Countertop Glitches 93
Part III: Conquering Simple Electrical, Air, and Plumbing Repairs 115
Chapter 7: Don’t Blow Your Fuse: Minor Electrical Repairs 117
Chapter 8: Handling Your Heating, Cooling, and Air Quality Systems 143
Chapter 9: Sailing Through the Waterworks: Plumbing Repairs 163
Part IV: Keeping Your Stuff in Good Shape 191
Chapter 10: Looming Large Over Major Appliances 193
Chapter 11: Getting Small Appliances to Work 221
Chapter 12: Fine-Tuning Communication Equipment 239
Chapter 13: Rescuing Your Favorite Furnishings 259
Part V: Working Outside Your House 279
Chapter 14: Sprucing Up Your Home’s Exterior 281
Chapter 15: Improving Your Outdoor Leisure Areas 305
Chapter 16: Repairing, Patching, and Sealing Concrete and Asphalt 323
Part VI: The Part of Tens 337
Chapter 17: Ten Repairs You Should Leave to the Professionals 339
Chapter 18: Ten (Okay, Twelve) Tips for Hiring a Repair Specialist (When All Else Fails) 343
Index 351