DIY for Less: More Than 1,700 Easy Fixes That Will Save You Thousands

Description

This is the ultimate problem-solving and crisis-preventing home care guide - a perfect blend of ingenious tips, step-by-step maintenance advice and easy small repairs to keep every part of your home and garden in tip-top shape all year round. "Reader's Digest DIY for Less" has been written with one clear purpose - to save every home owner thousands in repairs by showing how to identify the tell-tale signs of damage that you can prevent. Cover Contents 1 HOME CARE: ARE YOU READY? Home maintenance basics Making time for home maintenance Building the perfect toolbox Household supplies Tool safety Getting professional help 2 THE INSIDE Plasterboard walls Plaster walls Painted walls Wallpaper Skirtings and architraves Ceilings Ceramic tiles Wood flooring Laminate flooring Floor structure Vinyl flooring Ceramic-tile floors Carpet Stairs and banisters 3 THE EXTERIOR Brick walls Rendered walls Timber cladding PVC-U cladding and fascias Painting your house Wooden windows PVC-U doors and windows Window security Doors Sliding doors Garage doors Ladder safety Pitched roofs Flashing Flat roofs Gutters and downpipes Chimneys Foundations and basements Insulation Double glazing Ventilation Draughtproofing Sealing gaps Conservatories Garages and carports 4 HOME SYSTEMS You and the law Top tips for saving energy Electrical emergency Electrical safety Wiring, fuses and circuit breakers Switches and sockets Light fittings Outdoor electrical fixtures Doorbells Communications Top tips for saving water Plumbing emergencies Sinks, basins and taps Baths and showers Toilets Septic systems Water supply and drains Hot water Central heating Thermostats and heating controls Boilers Electric heaters Refrigerators Cookers and hoods Waste disposal units Dishwashers Washing machines Tumble dryers 5 THE GARDEN Lawns Trees and shrubs Flowerbeds Water in the garden Drives Steps Patios and paths Decking Retaining walls Fences Sheds and greenhouses Ponds 6 HOME PROTECTION Fire and carbon monoxide safety Home security Pest infestations Mould and dry rot Bad weather Index Copyright