New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual

Yes, it doesn't cover the latest in home tech, but toilets still flush the way they always have. The hand done technical drawings are much easier to understand than simple pictures ever can be. Unfortunately, it's a lost art. I've used this edition many times over the last 30-ish years, so bought a new copy for my son in honor of buying his first house. He's already used it to solve problems.

This 1991 hard-cover, heavy book has 528 pages, almost all of which have hand-drawn color graphics and a few black and white photos on them. This book has 17 chapters.I also have the original 1973 edition (without the word ‘New’ at the title beginning), which has 600 pages and many more photographs – color – than this book, so we use both of them as a reference. One of the other differences besides page numbers is in chapter 17. In the 1973 edition, for example, the chapter has 50 projects that the buyer might want to build, so for this chapter alone, the 1973 edition is worth keeping and consulting.Another difference between the 2 editions is that the 1991 edition has more current tools and accessories that are demonstrated to fix things.I am not a contractor and have never fixed things in a house before we bought our first home. I am an educator, so I have lots of different books on different topics to consult in my library when something needs fixing in the house. I also do online searches, print them out, and use them in conjunction with these 2 Reader’s Digest DIY Manuals.Both RD DIY Manuals are priceless resources in keeping a home running smoothly. If we have a major problem that can’t be fixed from consulting the books and online sources, though, we get a professional in to fix it. During the process of home-DIY, we learn about our home and how to keep it in good working order.If I should come across an even more current edition of DIY, I would buy it and use it in conjunction with the other 2 books.These books are something that every household should have.

This book has been a lifesaver and money saver for me. It covers just about everything I need to know to maintain and do repairs in my house and it’s saved me a LOT of grief! The basics go from the simple use of hand tools and power tools and the equipment you’ll need to do all the things you’ll eventually need to do in a house. The basic explanations cover everything from ‘The Nature of Wood’ to ‘Steam Heating Systems.’ It’s a marvelous compendium of a LOT of information in a plain, understandable format.Using this manual, I have been able to repair a ceiling, install drywall, repair a cement walkway and stairs, install a new window, and fix a tile floor. My only investments were time and some materials from a local big-box home store. I can’t calculate what these would have cost me if I had to hire a handyman to come in and do these things for me.The other great thing about this book is that it’s also a reference manual! It has clear explanations of all the different systems you actually have in a house – plumbing, electrical, masonry, exteriors, interiors, and on and on. The book is loaded with excellent explanatory illustrations that are so clear and detailed that you almost don’t need to read the text in many cases.Even if you need to know something simple as how to replace a faucet washer or something as big as installing a zero-clearance fireplace, this is the book you will need!

ALL homeowners should own a copy of this book, in my opinion! Very handy!

I purchased this book many years ago and hadn't really bothered to look at it...until my grown son came over one day to do some repairs to the kitchen plumbing. He was complaining about not knowing how to do something, when I remembered the Reader's Digest New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual. I pulled out the book and my son quickly found the answers he needed to finish the job. He then spent another two hours reading through the book, often exclaiming how "awesome" and "fantastic" it was. In fact, he expressly told me that he wanted his own copy for a birthday present. I ordered it for him and he was thrilled (seriously, he loves it).After that, I looked through the book and was amazed at not only the detailed yet easy to follow instructions for home repairs, but also the helpful tips and tricks to make life easier. One of the tips was to fashion a gutter scoop out of a plastic milk jug that easily scoops out wet leaves from the gutters and has a built in handle to keep your hands from getting wet.I recommend you buy the book...you will save the cost of the book when you do your very first repair or project. Amazing!

When something needs to be done around the house, and you think you can save yourself a few dollars, or you just enjoy DIY, this is the first book to consult to see if you have the skills to execute (get er done). It has all of the basics and a lot more. If you have a large project, you may want to get a specialized book for that project. But this book will help you decide if you can tackle the problem yourself, or if you want to hire a contractor. I have done plumbing, electricity, insulation, dry wall (plaster and lathe) repair, with the help of this book. I won't touch a floating deck, flooring or roofing because I can look in this book and see that those are beyond my skill set.I regularly give this as a housewarming gift to new homeowners.

I was given this when I first bought my home. I referenced it constantly and supplemented with the obligatory internet search and internet video search (Google and YouTube) but it has always been a great reference starting point. I have gifted it to handy friends who are first time home buyers as well. Great book extremely comforting and useful to have at hand.

very good for solving, saving, and treating the household works. Must have in every house, even in rental housing, as tjat can help in reducing the stress and risk of living

great must have book