Popular Mechanics Home How-To: Building, Remodeling, Decorating, Repair

This book is something of my bible. It's clearly written, has excellent illustrations and, above all, treats the reader with respect and intelligence. I've used this book successfully with doing large electrical projects, plumbing, sanding floors, laying out a brick garden path, and many many others. The detail provided in this book to guide you is both extensive and clear. An excellent choice that will serve you well for years to come.

I bought this book for its section on electrical wiring. I had a problem with a couple of outlets at my house, and looked at several books that dealt specifically on home electrical wiring (ie Ortho, Black & Decker, Time-life and Better Homes) Pop Mech's "Home-How-To" book in my opinion far exceeded all other books on electrical wiring. This book went into more wiring configurations than the other books and explained them in simple step by step instructions with color diagrams to help. This book also explained alot about the different circuits (120v,240v,small appliance, lighting and individual) that are in your house and required by the NEC. There is even a small section on the process of getting a permit for adding extra circuits to your house. If your completely new to electricity the first few pages in the elecrtical section explains what amps, volts, and watts mean and even how to read your electric meter. So if you are new to home wiring and just want to know how to replace a switch or outlet then this book is for you, but if you are more knowleged and want to add a indoor or outdoor circuit line with a seperate circuit breaker in your main elec box, then this book is also for you. On a last note, I must again state that I am only rating and giving a 5 star rating on its electrical section, I have not had the chance or need to read into the other chapters.

This is the only home repair book I've seen that doesn't treat the reader like an idiot. By assuming that the reader already knows how to use a hammer, the editors are able to devote far more attention to actual home repair projects. For example, this volume devotes about 8 pages to plaster repair - a critical task for anyone maintaining an older home, yet one ignored by every other comparable book on the market. This book fills a needed gap between beginner do-it-yourself volumes and advanced instruction for the professional tradesperson.

Lent to me by a friend when I needed instructions on how to run electrical wiring in the home, I've spent months trying to find this in book stores and hardware stores to no avail. I perused many other "How To" books by well known sources, and was unable to accept any as a substitute being that they didn't cover any of the subjects to the extent that this book does. Clearly written and illustrated, the descriptions and instructions are easily followed and provide a wealth of information. Also included at the end of the book are illustrated descriptions of tools and their uses, as well as illustrations and descriptions of mortised and angled cuts, joints and their uses. Possibly more than most people would need to know, but if you need it -- you'll definitely find it here. Doesn't matter if it's your closet, the sprinkler system, a little furniture refinishing and touch-up, or like myself -- learning how to install additional electrical wiring and security lights. Can't recommend it enough!