Fundamentals of Home Maintenance: From Repairs to Renovations

Description

Millions of American homeowners report not having the expertise to implement even basic household maintenance—much less perform the more complicated jobs of installing a backsplash, hanging sheetrock, or repairing sprinklers. Knowing how to repair a leaking toilet, install a dimmer switch, and hundreds of other home improvements can save you stress, time, and thousands of dollars over the course of owning your home. And most repairs are safe and simple once you know how.

For some handy folks, our era of digital apps and internet advice has rendered the need for skilled tradesmen (and women) nearly obsolete. However, many homeowners still blanch at the thought of leaky pipes and clogged gutters and could use expert insights on everything from plumbing and electrical work to painting and landscaping. These homeowners can still end up shilling out thousands of dollars a year on maintenance, repair, and renovation projects such as:

• Unclogging a drain or replacing a faucet,
• Changing an outlet or upgrading your lighting fixtures,
• Patching drywall or caulking seams,
• Cleaning gutters or exterior siding, and
• Upgrading “smart home” features.

It doesn’t have to be this way. With the right toolbox, some basic understanding, and a bit of practice, you can roll up your sleeves and take charge of household repairs. If you have always wanted to be a DIY home maintenance person and never knew how to get started, look no further than Fundamentals of Home Maintenance: From Repairs to Renovations. Taught by home and landscape experts Andy Machin and Margaret McClure, these 41 practical lessons will jump-start your understanding of how to perform home maintenance.

Over this course, you will tour the standard plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems of the average home to understand the fundamentals of how your house is constructed. You’ll peer into walls to investigate insulation, crawl under the house to get an up-close look at the foundation, and step back to the street to reflect on curb appeal. So, you will quickly gain the information you need—each lesson is short, clear, and visual:

• Perform annual maintenance such as changing air vents, stopping leaks, patching walls, and troubleshooting problems.
• Upgrade your living spaces with new lighting fixtures, a fresh coat of paint, or decorative molding or trim.
• Create curb appeal by planning and executing exterior renovations, from container plants to vegetable gardens.
• Make a budget for annual upkeep.

So you can be ready for any project, your home and landscape experts will walk you through the tools you need—many of which you probably already have. With the insights you gain from Fundamentals of Home Maintenance: From Repairs to Renovations, you will find yourself transformed from helpless to confident in no time.

Walk through Your Home’s Systems

The first step in building a practical homeowner skillset is to get to know your house from the foundation up. Your expert Andy Machin shows you the fundamentals of home construction. After walking you through the basic principles of how each system operates, he shows you common repairs and upgrades that anyone can tackle. Your study includes:

• Plumbing: From PVC pipes to sprinklers to faucets, see how water flows throughout the pipes of your home. Then learn the basics of stopping leaks, unclogging drains, and replacing toilets and faucets.
• Electrical: Electricity is the life blood of your house, so learn how it circulates from the circuit breaker to the outlets and lights. Find out how to install dimmers, replace interior and exterior fixtures, and change outlets.
• HVAC: Heating and air is crucial for keeping your home comfortable year-round. Walk through basic maintenance, such as changing filters. See what a “smart” thermostat can do for you.
• Cosmetics: Your house is an expression of you, so you want to keep it looking sharp. From drywall to molding and from painting to power washing, see how to make your home’s surfaces look eye-catching and able to turn heads.

Upgrade with Ease

In addition to the basics of repairs and upkeep, Fundamentals of Home Maintenance: From Repairs to Renovations will prepare you to upgrade your home for style and convenience—helping you to save significant money in contractor fees. Whether you need advice for mounting TVs or hanging photos, or you want to build an elegant wet bar for entertaining, you soon will be able to tackle any project with confidence and grace.

Examples of ways to beautify your home include:

• Lighting: See how to replace interior and exterior light fixtures—safely. Also consider the effects of a dimmer in the dining room, or a new set of blinds or other window treatments to control natural light.
• Storage: Adding shelves on the walls—or more, excitingly, over a garage door—will give you more places to stow your stuff. It can also add handsome accents to a room. In the garage, consider adding a lawn tool organizer to keep your rakes and shovels in order.
• Hardware: Doorknobs are one of the more common items that need repair. They are super quick to fix, if you know how. Also, as you will discover, a “smart” deadbolt may be just what’s missing in your world.

Other upgrades you will discover include adding insulation, installing a kitchen backsplash, and touching up exterior paint and stucco. Not only will these projects spruce up your day-to-day life, but they might also add value to your home when it comes time to sell.

Be Prepared

Whether you are most excited about saving time and money, or impressing your family and neighbors, or getting satisfaction from a job well-done, there’s nothing like the feeling of being able to tackle home repair and renovations on your own. Fundamentals of Home Maintenance: From Repairs to Renovations is your first step in building skills that will last a lifetime.

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